I think your answer is pretty simple and you recognized it right off the bat :-) It IS a nitrogen deficiency and it is caused by the mulch. Wood-based mulches, and especially those that are quite fine, tie up nitrogen availablity at the soil surface, or if incorporated even accidentally into the soil, further down into the soil level. This is seldom a concern with larger woody or perennial plants but can be a real issue with annuals or shallowly rooted veggies. Change the mulch or supplement with a high nitrogen fertilizer to offset. Since nitrogen is extremely mobile in the soil, you may need to do this repeatedly during the growing season. A couple of other issues: compost is compost :-) Once it is fully composted, it doesn't make any difference what the raw ingredients were or how wide the variety, the nutrient analysis will be very similar. Leaf mold or just composted leaves is a very desirable (and expensive to purchase) soil amendment and has an NPK analysis very similar to that of a mixed ingredient compost. And finished or aged compost of any kind will have a pH of near neutral. Contrary to common belief, evidence has shown that wood mulches don't have any significant impact on soil pH either...perhaps a slight lowering at the soil surface again but not much more. And the vast majority of plants, including most veggies, will prefer a slightly to moderately acidic soil. I would agree on the soil test, however. Over the course of attempting to 'fix' your soil, you might have gotten things a bit out of whack and it is always a good idea to have a base or starting point you know from which to work in any necessary amendments.

Val and nat4b. Thank you for looking and commenting on my photos. That pink at the front of the Emmerich bed is Count It All Joy. Even though Karol Emmerich is a northern hybridizer, her introductions always do beautifully here in the deep south. At this point, I water with sprinklers, but I plan to introduce emitters and try that, at least in one area. I had an old sprinkler shaped like a rabbit that worked well for watering a designated area, but it has sprung such a leak as to render it useless. I have a new sprinkler that I used for the first time yesterday, but DH set it out, and we have different goals in watering. I will let you know how it works when I set it up in the back bed which I plan to do tomorrow. kay

Oh my gosh, my kitties are soooo jealous of your Jack! Now I'm going to have to search the thrift stores for doll beds to remake for them. I have two boys and a girl. All well under two years old. I'll have to make three or Mollee our Mainecoone (as in very large) will lay on the boys if they don't let her have it. ;^)

I can't really see what's going on, so I have questions.. Is the gray bit the foundation? If so, do you have to have it? If it's a queen size comforter, can you bump up to a king? Basically you need more comforter to cover the foundation (also get one same color fitted sheet as your comforter and cover the foundation with it...for a start)