1) Check with your state's Extension Service. Each county should have it's own Cooperative Extension Office which provides free publications and information for the asking. They will have valuable vegetable/gardening tables available specifically for your area determined by universities, and horticultural research scientists have collected data from growing those crops in your state. See how detailed these examples are: Vegetable Planting and Planning Calendar for Missouri (download the pdf) complete with spring and fall planting dates (underneath the spring planting dates for appropriate crops), how much to plant per person, etc. They can also tell you the average last frost date for your area and ideal planting times for specific crops and varieties in your area. Here is an excerpt: 2) Get your soil tested by a lab. You actually save time and money by only adding what you need based on an accurate soil test. Check with your state's Extension Service. They'll tell you what you need to do to get it tested. It's usually only $6.00 -$12.00 (mine was only $9.00) which is comperable to what home kits cost but don't tell you nearly as much as a lab can tell you. Then you won't be guessing as to what state your soil is in or wasting money on amendments you don't need. They'll tell you exactly how much of what elements you need to add to your soil per square foot (if any). 3) Do you want to ingest pesticides? Do you need to take antibiotics if you're not sick? If you grow your own vegetables, then you can actually control what you put in your body. The only reason to use pesticides or herbicides is if you have a problem and do not want to use natural methods of control. Just start browsing the existing threads in this forum. You'll learn a ton.

Well guess what, Misssherry! I went out last evening, thinking I'd comb the area in the woods where I saw the cat on the road. There was a line of storms coming in on us so I knew I did not have much time. I had not even entered the woods when I heard the thunder approaching, and decided to wait until I had more time/better light to do my looking. I was scurrying across the YARD, and happened to see a very small plant at the base of a hickory that had the right sort of leaf pattern, so I plucked it close to the ground and kept going ahead of the rain. You know what I'm about to say. It's Virginia snakeroot. And not only that, but there are three red eggs in a tight cluster and one by itself out on a leaf, all on the ventral side. SO now that I have potentially screwed things up for these cats, I'm hopefully doing the right thing for a change... I have the plant in a glass of water and watching it closely for signs of hatching. Am I assuming correctly that they are ST eggs....seems like I saw a link somewhere with them on it... THis is an area of the yard that was formally an attempt as grass, which in the woods is rather a silly endeavor. And unnatural as well. I quit mowing much of anything here about 4 years ago and now there is a thick blanket of virginia creeper, wildflowers, and young elm seedlings. I had not expected the snakeroot to be that diminutive and I'd been walking right past it, as it's only about 4-5 inches tall with 4 leaves. And honestly I was really expecting to come across a vine that had been overlooked. So now I know....but I wonder why I see so few of the adults? THey are close in size to a zebra, right? thanks again for the help...I learn something every day!!

Welcome : Sept. ends fertilizing Neem is more pesticide it does have fungus born disease control features to some effectivness under light conditions Backing soda dish soap mix what happens when you apply it is it elevates the PH on the leaves and midlews and fungus find an uncoftable home to grow on but it doesnt last very long at keeping a leaf PH changing Compliments to you on your rose choises and the home work you already did too carpet rose is about as easy growing as they get it will boast a very dencly packed foilage and is very winter hardy as well disease tollerant Yes it will grow new leaves its a real hardy rose I have two and I did just two days ago end of season leaf cleaned em it took 45 minutes on 2 different days ( they get bigger than that too ) I dont have any knock outs but I see enough of em to know there as disease tolerant as the carpet rose how to PREVENT mildew born and fungus born diseases has been done by many in differant manners Example I have no idea what Dr Brooners is as I use Serinade to combat these diseases as well K-neem and the backing soda dish soap idea ( yes this idea is more myth then fact I find it ineffective at best ) someone else might use dramatic K in place of serenade there both organic products I am told that dramatic K is not as harsh this disicion is up to you Theyll tell you not to water leaves. the day after it'll rain watering the roots of a carpet isnt that easy I use gloves and lift with one hand and water with the other any rose plant needs good ventilation Go figure huh I just got done saying dencely packed leaves too dont take this the wrong way as it is I only apply the following growing technics to my caprpet roses only ( I dont have any knock outs here ) and only MY CARPET roses grow this way I fertilize them from march till early sept and water em one maybe two times a week if needed during that time I bend stalks for the shape I want it to grow in. I dead head off about 4 realy nice small tree shaped flowering canes per month I will use serinade on them at the same time as my other roses I donot pluck trim or otherwise remove any leaves exept those that got dead headed untill the last fertilizing week Sept this task takes a long time to do 45 minutes a day on 2 different days and maybe one more time befor winter Yep a self tested carpet is in fact disease tolerant I am including a link for you for extra guidance on rose growing and disease information As you read it do enjoy the humorus side of Bob http://www.rose-roses.com/problems/fungi.html#rosewilt

I'm sorry you haven't gotten any answers. People probably look at the post count on this and assume you have. I'm not one of the people who is good at the "guess my favorite color because I can't guess it" questions, and we get tons of those here. I can't even guess what color *K* like, and have a garage full of paint to prove it. lol! But I'm happy to give your post a boost so someone else will see it. What colors do you think you like anyway? Happy... I think of yellow, or gold, or something in the softer red tones. Green is happy for some and depressing for others. Blue is a calming color so no happy energy there, though if you mix yellow with it so it's aqua, that helps. Also, could your problem be that you need more lighting in the room, or need to change the type of bulbs you use? If you're depressed, try full spectrum. Different types of bulbs can give different casts to your wall. Your room is attractive as it is, I think. Maybe you just need a stronger accent color, like some red tossed around? Interesting contrast with the white furniture and the heavy masculine leather furniture. My suggestion is did you look at the living rooms thread in our gallery? There are tons of gorgeous pictures there. Save the ones you like to your own folder, then think about what you like about them for the next few days, and see what they have in common. You might even find an inspiration room. Here's a link to the gallery but you can always find it by exiting the thread and looking for a link near top right, and on the bottom of the page. Check out the room threads, then check out the color threads. Enjoy! Here is a link that might be useful: Gallery