MORE rain, I can't believe 3 weeks later and it's just been more of the same! Had over 1" the other night, probably have that today since it is pouring (though not overflowing the gutters since DH cleaned them out after water started pooling under the porch and coming into the basement). Planted a couple dozen pepper plants on Friday, still haven't put out tomatoes and the rest of the peppers (put them back in garage this AM, we've been going in and out so much I don't know if they know they're hardened off LOL). Tomato trellis is all up and I started digging for squash bed but yesterday the tomato trenches were wet on the lower end (a couple really wet) and the squash bed looked like a hog wallow. I did add some pebbles to the bottom of 1 trench, dug out farther for drainage, and added some partially-composted wood chips and more top soil to all the trenches. We'll see how it looks Monday when the rain stops. I don't know if I'm even going to plant squash this year - though I finally started 6 cukes inside the other day. I bought 2 rain barrels - didn't hook them up, but just left the tops off this AM - we'll see how much they collect in 48 hrs! Need to get the sauerkraut washed out of them. I'm just hoping I can plant out 60 tomatoes and about 30 peppers b/t Monday and Thurs - then the rains come again! With the drought and the floods in the South, and all this rain in the Northeast, is anybody going to be able to grow any crops this year? CA doing OK? How's FL? Are we all going to have to live off canned goods for the next year?

ingrid, When I first started reading GW, I couldn't understand how people could SP a healthy rose. But now I know. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't. It's simple. I too maxed out on Austins, and probably will not add anymore. I think I have every possible color anyway:) Strange things do happen. When I first moved here 7 years ago (after never having gardened in my life!) I planted 6 white bearded irises. Well now I have about 100 from that 6 and they are in bloom now. I think I get more comments about them as I do my roses. And now the irises are intermingled with the roses (I do have to dig them up, separate them and redistributed a bit more this year) and it looks great. So a simple HD bag of irises does wonders. I probably should look at reblooming ones, but now I have an emotional attachment to these. And I can't say enough about alfalfa. Last year was the first time I used it and I do think it makes a huge difference. I have the biggest fattest buds this spring and am seeing many basals. I've also noticed that the root balls of many of my roses are thick with feeder roots where they were not before. So I'm sold. I'm really excited because I have 12 bands from Vintage (11 teas, one HP) and am planning a new rose bed on the other side of my yard. I too have fallen in love with teas and yes, the lack of pruning required is a plus! I just hope I get to stay in this house long enough to enjoy the fruits of all this labor!

Chellamaral, I hope you are still visiting this site on occasion because I have another question. I can't stop looking at the potted bromeliads - the one with the three beautiful bright neos. It is the third picture (your picture) in my post above. I would really love to replicate it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and I would greatly like to flatter you in the sincerest way. Can you help me? 1) What potting medium do you use? I have read in the Bromeliad Forum that a fast-draining mix is the best. Many use a mix of pine bark, peat and perlite. Some use 50% pine bark, 25% peat, 25% perlite. Others use 100% pine bark. Some mix it in even thirds. What did you use? What do you recommend? 2) Also, your pot looks fairly deep. Did you put the mix all the way to the bottom of the pot? Or do you fill the bottom portion with rocks or something else? 3) How do you get your broms so shiny? In all of your pictures, the neos look absolutely perfect. What do you do to get them that way? I appreciate your time and expertise. Thank you so much! Carol

If you're having early frosts, with warmer weather probably returning (as it is for us here in Monmouth County), try protecting your crops. A non-woven frost barrier is best (I have one that protects down to 27F), and will serve also to provide temporary shade to new transplants or a barrier against some pest insects, and is reusable. I've not seen them in any local garden centers, so had to order online. Last year saw several rolls in, of all places, a Tuesday Morning ... for $3.00/roll!!! I should have grabbed them all. Lacking the frost barrier, a sheet, lightweight blanket, or even light tarp will suffice. It's hard enough to call it quits at the end of the season, harder still if you know there may wall be another 2-4 weeks of good weather on the way. If you haven't already done so, now is the time to remove any flowers, as they'll never develop into fruit, so best let the plant put all its resources into those fruits already set and with a chance to make it to maturity before the frost gets them.