My two Therese Bugnet, usually first to bloom anyway, were blooming first of May - weeks earlier. They took a break, but still had a stray one here and there, and are now going at it full tilt for second time! Weird year for all of them, really, including a Linda Campbell totally forgotten and neglected that was a rush of red at the back of the leachfield against the blackberry/hemlock wasteland, lasted three weeks, there is still one stem full of bloom down there. Not a typical year at all.

Even here in my zone 7b/8a it is a late bloomer - mid-August or later. I have buds setting now but even then it seems forever before it will bloom but it is worth the wait. All September through till a killing frost my back porch is just enveloped with the nightly scent. I don't do anything special to the soil - in fact they get little to no fertilizer - last year late September back landing I have found patience is the key for moonflower vine..... Lynne

Had a moderate frost hit the backyard two nights ago, but the stuff in the front was untouched. The rudbeckias, snaps, cosmos, sunflowers, hollyhocks and Primrose Gem annual chrysanthemum are still holding their own. Although, the large flowered marigolds have froze, the flowers are still showing nice color. The last while has been miserably WINDY as heck and killing frost is in the forecast for tonight ... thus, I'll be gathering up whatever else needs to be brought in. Yep, it's over for yet another season! Lois, sorry to hear about all the fallen trees and damage there. Terry

loodean, That's the problem everywhere - the CSA I work at is having serious trouble with their carrots, beets etc and the radishes are ALREADY done! We had two weeks worth when we normally get 4-5. The heat and dryness aren't allowing them to germinate properly and when they do, it's slow growing. The snap peas are in bad shape, lots of pods - but no rain so they are mostly empty. They are in Osceola and seem to have gotten even less rain than we have here in northern St. Paul. -Marie