Nitrogen availability depends on soil temperature whihc governs the activity of the Soil Food Web, which is why most soil test labs no longer test for N. Most often when someone has a soil test done by a good soil tesing lab the recommendations come back to apply 2 pounds of Nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, which if you think about that is a pretty minimal amount. I have found the soil test kits sold from the garden centers to be very unreliable. In comparing two different manufacturers kits I got widely divergent results. If the water in your home was acidic enough to have any affect on your soil you would not be able to drink it. If you have finished compost available now spread it on your soil now and let the Soil Food Web slowly work it into the soil.

Hi Paul That plant is from one I originally bought from an old chap who was selling out due to ill health. It wasn't showing any colour when I first saw it and I didn't know what it was, but he said it was nice when it coloured up and I took his word for it and bought it. Since then it just continued to multiply to the extent that I now have them all through my front garden which at the time of planting was suffering badly from visiting cats damaging anything I planted; not any more, they don't like the prickles! What I like about them is they can take all the sun they can get,(even the Jan 43 degree C. day) without any damage and when they colour up in a large group they are quite eye catching. If I can find a pic of the garden bed I will post it and you will see what I mean. All the best, Nev.

Now, see, Paula, I would be putting a big heart emoji here now. You guys are the best, and all of us can easily see why you do it; and when you pass the baton, all of the rest of us would love to take it up. As much as I'd like to have it here, I must admit, you are the perfect place, and even Kim can make it that far. Jack, Jay, Jacob, and the rest of you who are in the netherlands, you should try it just once. (Hmmm, is there something about J's?) You do it because you have a big heart, and you love your fellow members, and because your place is perfect. I don't see most of you as often as I'd like. . . which would be 6 blocks away, max and with 10 minutes notice for visiting. Okay half an hour away. Like many of the rest of you, the LAST thing I want to do is to leave my gardens and the property. I'd be a lot more engaged with groups and folks and clubs if I could do it at MY home. :) I HAVE gone out on a limb and connected with Amy and Eileen in the Tulsa vicinity since I have willingly foregone time away from home for that. And now, having forged a bond there, I'd probably even make up an excuse to see those two characters. AND even their hubbies! I miss George, and think of them often. I think about Jay and Jack, and Carol and so many others who don't check in often. And now Jacob. As you all have noticed, I check in here often. I moved down here four years ago. Didn't know a soul. Have many dear friends in Wyoming and Minnesota. Miss all of them so much. I pretty much know this is what drives my fondness for OKGW--I have found a community of like-minded souls that has filled the emptiness in my heart for my other friends (many of whom I still visit, virtually, or because they come visit, or because I make trips and see them.) But it came about because every time I had a gardening question to figure out, 9 times out of 10, the Google results pointed me here. And rightly so. Speaking of that, I am going to Minnesota in June. I haven't been back for nearly 2 years now. I am so excited. We had two very important life events come up in Dec. 2017. One granddaughter graduating June 7, another getting married on June 9. What were the chances. I didn't even realized it until about 2 months ago. When it finally hit me, I talked it out with GDW. As we saw it, the only option was for me to go to Mpls, and for him to go to the wedding near here. It's good, in that he'll be here to take care of the cats and dog and garden. It'll be good for me, as I'll be visiting many close friends up there. AND I get to see my revered and precious beauticians, who will fix my hair! (LOL, they have become very close friends of mine outside of the hair stuff.) Nevertheless, I'm kind of sad about it. I would so much prefer that he and I were there for both. This is certainly not a post before driving to OKC to see all of you. Well, maybe it is. I have so loved getting to know you all better, even if not in person, and will be so tickled to see you all.

Donna, we do get lots of rain at the moment (which is good) and we had sun during the winter here in the north of Germany but no snow. It was rather a very long fall than a winter... This is very good news you're telling about Mystica and a nice cross you choose! I have buds on both and maybe I'll try the same cross :-)) Fred, two years ago we all got #1807 and/or #1810 instead of the #1820 we ordered. They are both dark purple with white stripes and there was a discussion about the difference in the big Sonatini thread:https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/4498261/sonatinis-2017#n=263. #1820 has small dots. Mine is about to open, I'll post a picture of it soon. I don't know when #1875 was offered but I would have ordered it :-))) Anja