Hi Duane, Awesome photos! I just wanted to add my two cents to the great comments above. 1) Congratulations for removing the original nursery stake that was tied to the trunk of your tree! (I'm assuming there was one). Most people don't know that it's best to remove it and, if necessary, use two wooden stakes placed outside the rootball to stabilize their tree. BTW, what is that slender pole/rod near your tree's basin?? 2) The best time to fertilize is in February/March so when the trees come out of dormancy there will be nutrients available. You can use an all-purpose fertilizer or something like ammonium sulfate. Follow package directions for your size tree and broadcast over the soil surface and water in well. 3) You may find that after you mulch your watering basin (taking care not to pile it against the trunk of your tree) that watering once per week in summer is adequate. To test, gently pull some mulch back and if the soil is moist underneath you can wait a day or so before applying more water. It's always better to water deeply but infrequently in our heavy clay soils. 4) Yes, leafcutter bees make those semi-circular or nearly circular 'holes'. They like the tender new leaves best and use the pieces to line their galleries where they raise their young. Best of luck with your tree. aztreelvr (certified arborist)

Nice shot Nancy! Couldn't have picked a better flower for the holiday! That starburst effect is Awesome! HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to ALL! Nancy

My dear Jeff and Lavonne, God sure has blessed us by bringing the two of you into our lives. Thank you for such a beautiful letter to us all. I wrote a letter of thanks to Jan and Jim earlier today for having such a good son that he is willing to protect each of us from harms way. I can think of nothing any harder than to have to give your son or daughter into God's hands in a strange land. I know that God is protecting Bryon and his family. It's hard to believe how far our Nation has come in such a very short period of time. We are a young Nation compared to so many in this World, yet we are the World's leaders. When our fathers started this nation, I wonder if they thought that they were starting the stongest nation of the World. Did they know that by believing in the strenght of God, that he would make this Nation so very great? And to think, people actually want to take God out of our Nation. Out of our Nation after he has given to us the greatest stength of the World. We must all stand firm in our beliefs that with God we can do anything and without God, we are nothing. Priase to the Lord for all the men and women that are protecting our homes and Nation from evil. Thanks to all the men and women and most especially to all their families for allowing them to be away from their homes on this holiday. A very specail thanks to all of the wonderful people that I have had the pleasure to meet and now love from your great state. I feel so blessed to have met Jan and Jim and all of my wonderful friends from Tennessee. You are all so very special to David and me. I give all the Glory to God and ask for his blessing for all this holiday weekend, Mona

Trying some more. My newest seedling from So Lovely and Priscilla's Rainbow continues to change. It has a full cream edge now. The eye is darker that the photo, and the throat just glows. It has become more lavender and veined. Wilson Spider is going to have a small year. I thinned it last fall so less scapes and buds. Metaphor looking exceptionally good. Main bed shots. They come out better using panoramic view on the camera. That's all for today. These 5 were easy to post. Brad