Count me as another one who can ditto Jazmynsmom. I never thought about the issue of another gardener working in my garden, but I guess I can sum up my reaction in two words: Get out!! Well, maybe I'd add "please." Over the years I've lost interest in doing much with annuals, except I still plant a small bed of various kinds of sunflowers with zinnias in front. People seem to love to see them, and they provide a lot of closeup photo ops for me. Plus I planted a pot with lavender zinnias in the middle of one flower bed, and I'll have impatiens on the porch. I told my cousin (a Master Gardener) the other day that I failed to inherit the garden design gene, which she has in spades. She said, "Yes, but you plant so many things that I've never had in my gardens." I don't know what she was referring to specifically, but I used to grow most of my flowers (and all our vegetables) from seed, and got fairly adventurous with it. These days, looking at my flower gardens, it seems clear that I prefer tall plants to short ones. It's also clear that I've planted some in the wrong spot for their size. I love the "spires"Âlike lupines, foxglove, and delphiniium. I'm a latecomer to iris, but find them enchanting. I'm still in the process of becoming a decent rose gardener, but I'm pleased with the amount I've learned, particularly on these forums. Random . . . eclectic . . . cottage . . . I'm all those things. I'm also a gardener with a cautious eye on the future. I'm 65, with fibromyalgia and a noticeable diminishing of energy and stamina every spring. I've watched the best flower gardener I know give up her pride and joy when she became too old to keep it up. Before that day comes for me, I want to garden to the max. Which explains why I bought so many plants this year. Susan

Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal

Hello Everyone, @orgmacdonald : I am glad your problem was solved, as I suspected it was caused by the basic sites on the hydroton which have now been neutralized. This is a very common problem with this type of expanded clays which is increased when they are stored for long periods. For the past two weeks I did measurements of basic sites and surface area of a similar product to confirm this, as I suspected basic sites increase with storage time as a consequence of oxygen presence (storage in an enriched oxygen atmosphere increases basic site regeneration rate). The fizz, as the rep mentioned, should a consequence of the decomposition of the surfactant you used which degrades as he mentioned not a product of carbonate reaction as this would have been observed earlier - upon acid addition - as james mentioned. @lucas : I do not wish to make a part of the argument currently being carried out (side-tracking this topic) but I do think I must encourage you - without any offense intended - to look at how you are negatively contributing to this forum. Calling names and initiating such pointless arguments does not benefit anyone and in fact removes any possible intellectual benefit people may take from discussion that may be carried out here. Instead of putting the blame on others you should review the discussions you have participated in and how this has affected their quality and their point. Provocation and personal discussions do not belong in technical forums, especially when helping others deal with problems. So - for the sake of discussion - I invite you to become less offensive and more geared towards listening and helping. I do not mean to offend or lecture you in anyway but I encourage you to participate in a more productive manner :o) I will however refrain from commenting any further as this is just an opinion I want to give, not something I want to make this topic about. Best Regards, Daniel

Goodmorning Everybody ! :) I heard from my swappers last night...:))) Mariann I have a couple of surprizes for you...We love putting surprizes in our boxes Regina started it.. Chell you are so creative and your writing is so much fun to read... I bet the boys loved playing pirate.. I can see their smiling faces now...What a great idea to make a hideout.. They will always remeber their hideout mom made for them... Norma I havent traded with you but I am sure you went way above in sending her nice cuttings..I seen pics of what you send...They are awesome boxes..:)) Please dont be sad..:)) Regina howdy :) I am so sorry about Mark having to have surgery and the heart condition would just send me into heaven.. Wow I am so glad to read it all went well...Shooo My heart sank for a minute...He will be all healed for college this fall..:)) You empty nester dont go through what I went through...Stay busy and call them alot... I miss my kids so much it hurts sometimes... Dogs are okay but they cant replace our true babies...I love reading about chell and her boys... It makes me smile so much... Frances lol You poor gardener..ahhah You need a break from mother nature..Really..:)) Oh big snakes yucky... I would be screaming... I love chippies...They are so cute...Havent had many around with a cat now...Kiki has brought home two gardener snakes...He was very proud of himself... Yesterday I was getting ready to go out and play in the dirt...The crows or blackbirds were screaming...It just like a scene in the movie the "birds"... It creeped me out really bad...I couldnt see what they were yelling at.. I watched tv...Than got bored and went coleus shopping..lol The master gardener sale for the next county over is tommorow... I cant wait to see what they are going to be offering..I have never been to this one...Oh I almost forgot..I heard from the master gardener I met...Looks like we are building another gh..lol She wants to do it closer to fall since everyone is busy with their gardens...I am glad we could help her..They are a pain to build.. well I gabbed enough lol must be the strong coffee and I got a lot of sleep...:)) Have a good day everybody..Barb