"Very simply, the tree in the picture is planted too deeply." I REALLY doubt the problem has anything to do with being planted too deeply. It's possible, but so is "Reason Number 67: Your neighbor put a curse on the tree". This off-the-cuff diagnosis is certainly not backed up by ANY pertinent facts. One possibility, though only one of many, is Botryosphaeria canker. This problem has been reported in your area and symptoms look similar to what I can see in the pictures you've provided. I would contact your local extension office and they should be very familiar with the issue! More information / better pictures / first hand inspection may be necessary for proper diagnosis.

There are many variations - but I suspect that yours may be starting slowly from too much heat. Can you arrange some shade/filtered sun using other plants nearby? If you started from seed, Allium can look like tiny grass the first year when it sprouts - so be careful not to pull grass-like seedlings in that area! Yes, for several years new seed and small bulbs will grow larger and be more rewarding each season. And if you cut (mince and eat like chives) the leaves about the point where they flop, you may find that your Allium begins to feed bulbs and multiply from the base. The flowers will throw seed - or you can collect the seed when it begins to dry - and perhaps begin seedlings indoors, or in shade before planting out, to minimize heat-struggle. Flowering Stalks should be firm - so provide mulch &/or Am water if possible. Once flowering begins, it is normal for leaves to flop and die back to feed bulbs. We have opposite problems. I recently moved massive droopy peonies that were not blooming enough, and some over-vigorous clumps of ornamental Allium (medium size purple-globes) to the sunny front garden, and took care - so that the ground does not parch in peak sun...as that is the only spot where that is a risk for me. I added compost and to help hold moisture, and bulbs are aided by a top moist mulch, and the variety of other plants all around for filtered shade at the base. I intend to eat most of the spicy leaves as I don't care for more Sword-play in my garden by late spring - after masses of tulips, narcissus, and hycinths have quit and the lillies and iris are taking over...and Crocosmia ileaves are waiting to join the dance. I'm adding a Dahlia border to the sword beds...and am excited that a Bachelor's button has already pushed thru the mass of swords to bloom cutely. All are worth growing - in their display seasons. Growth and dormant seasons is balanced with other Perennials and annuals. Adding sheer Dahlia foliage mass to existing Roses and monster Rhodies - and by gosh, there's not much dang subtlety about who rules each season in this section of the urban rain forest. Whoo-ah...now to get back to that rain-or-shine deadheading - or the jungle-look will rule. Having so much Spring rain in the PAC NW - we wind up with too much foliage & dense shade unless we deadhead, prune, pull, divide and hack back plants regularly. Wonder if I'll get the courage to prune that lush Magnolia this year - for more light?

I have a couple of potted Bananas that are off-shoots of what would have been a three year old this year. I bring them in every winter and they do just fine growing in the north window of my home. One of the two has six new shoots(About 12+ inches tall) the other has three. My only problem I do have with them is they get spider mites. I have treated with Neem oil since I am unwilling to treat with any other pestiside. They are in Misco Plant Spa self watering pots that are filled weekly from the bottom and use all the water each week. The only browning I have on my plants leaves are the result of the mites. Check your plants to see if that may be the problem or else try more water since they tend to be a very thirsty plant. Good Luck.

I will do a counter top reveal soon. The fabricators did an incredible job of scribing the counters to the walls and matching the veins on the mitered edge of the island. Sadly, my counters are covered with junk right now. We just had to move my parents to assisted living, and a bunch of their stuff ended up here for sorting since they down sized (and they did no packing or sorting before we arrived to move them from 3 hours away). Here pictures I took of the counters the day after install, before they got buried: I would really love feedback in my closets thread: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0614465421334.html If I don't get the details nailed down soon, DH may divorce me.