It was said "you still need to fertilize them, but with the beans there, "normal" fertilization (similar to what you would do for tomatoes, squash or peppers) will do." Unfortunately, even though it's widely believed that beans provide nitrogen for nearby plants, that's not so. The facts are these: The bean plants use the nitrogen captured in the root nodules to produce their beans. In other words, the nitrogen doesn't leak out of the nodules during the growing season. But it will "leak " into the soil if the plants are either cut to the ground prior to flowering, or turned into the soil prior to flowering.

Hummerlover, you've gotten some very good suggestions on plants, but here are some more: Aquilegia canadensis (the eastern native columbine) I had good luck with these this spring. I was discouraged for awhile that my hummers seemed more interested in my feeders than in my plants, but this is one that they definitely visited. Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) I just planted mine this spring, and as they are a late summer bloomer, I don't know yet how they'll be. Everything I've read, though, suggests that they're at the top of every hungry hummingbird's list of favorite flowers. They like moist to wet soil. Fuchsia "Billy Green" is similar to "Gartenmeister Bonstedt," but more of a two tone pink color, instead of red. I think I saw one of my males visit it. I'm sorry I didn't get a clear look, but I was looking out the window, and there were some trumpet vine tendrils partially blocking my view. All I know is he lingered there near my Billy Green, and was probably feeding from it. As for ones already mentioned, Salvia coccinea is also working for me. Trumpet vine is also excellent, but you may have to wait for years for it to bloom. I have three Agastache plants that I planted this spring. I have a single plant called "Pink Panther," that has been blooming for a few weeks. I have not seen any hummers at it, and am starting to wonder if Agastaches are as good as everyone says. The other two plants are a variety called "Big Bazooka," and they are just on the verge of blooming. They are taller than "Pink Panther," and later blooming. Like "Pink Panther," they also have rosy pink flowers. Once they start blooming along with the "Pink Panther," I'll have a larger stand, and maybe the hummers will become more interested. I'm thinking that maybe they're lazy, and figure just the one plant isn't worth the trip! Maybe three plants in full bloom will get their attention. I do think that large masses of attractive flowers are more likely to be successful in attracting hummers. I have no real proof, just a suspicion.

This is a new era of buying and selling after the real estate "bubble". Two years ago we sold a condo in Florida and a custom mountain lake home in Tennessee. Both buyers were obtaining mortgages, one being a jumbo mortgage. The Florida condo was appraised slightly below selling price. It was completely remodeled by us (new kitchen and two baths, etc.). The inspector told the young lady she would never find a condo in better condition. All new appliances, new water heater, new air conditioner. We owned it for two years, but decided even as snow birds we would rather have a house. But her Daddy told her not to pay over appraisal. The comps were condos in the same development that had never been upgraded or maintained. Many had been rented out. We sold it to someone else for our asking price. They didn't obtain a mortgage. The home in Tennessee was not on the market. A realtor showing another home in the neighborhood asked if they could see our house. They came back with an offer the next day, which was not the greatest offer We decided to accept the offer and move to the Florida house we had purchased two months before. It gets confusing, I know. :) The inspector was ruthless, but came back with nothing wrong in our new custom built home. The pest inspector came back with nothing (yup the bank required it). The appraiser on the other hand was a bit rude. When I said I wasn't too concerned about the appraisal price since the sell price was below tax appraisal value, he said, Oh, we often appraise homes below the tax app. value now. He told us our home was beautiful, but every home in the neighborhood probably had the same upgrades. No they did not. In the end they said there were really no comps, which wasn't true. But the most chilling experience I had was that the two appraisers used exactly the same words in two different states. It is beautiful, but this doesn't count. This is overkill, it doesn't count. Only the comps matter. Only square footage matters. I have bought and sold quite a few homes in my life. In a brand new builder developed area you get the basic house for the price of the model. Upgrades are paid for as an extra expense. Years ago we had no inspectors and no formal appraisals. It seems the banks do not want to pay for the upgrades, and are driving the prices. Now it has eroded into buyers with cash that look at comps and again do not want to pay for the upgrades. Even 11 years ago I sold a home in Ft. Lauderdale by myself (height of the market) and the buyer had an inspector, obtained a mortgage, but no appraiser came to my house. I sold my "model" for a higher price than anyone had ever sold for. Does anyone think that perhaps the banks are running the market??? Money makes the world go 'round.

Don Juan is not your usual climber. It starts blooming right away. Its kind of like a pillar rose in that it blooms all over, not just on lateral canes, so you can train it up a pillar and it will still bloom. It will bloom even more however if you "peg" it (train it as horizontal as possible). I don't know how cold hardy it is, because I live in South Florida, but I do know that it is one of the best performers for our heat, so that makes me believe that it does not like the cold. I once asked the owner of a local nursery why she didn't sell roses and she said it was because it was just a "slow death" for them here in SoFl (my rose garden would beg to differ) and that the only rose she knew that did well here was Don Juan. Well, there are many roses that do well here, but Don Juan does not only do well here, it thrives. But many others just perish in our heat or succumb to disease no matter how much to fuss over them. Save yourself alot of heart ache and get yourself a rose that is KNOWN to do well in your area. It will be worth your time and money for many years of beautiful blooms and alot less work to get them. You don't want to be fighting an uphill battle, especially when there are SO many great roses that will do will in your area. :)