As for that "swamp Basket oak" I can never seem to get ANY tree to grow there. It's RIGHT on the property line, and I can't help but think that maybe the neighbors are killing these trees. That Swamp Basket oak just died, it hadn't put on any growth for about 3 years, then it just withered away to nothing. Really, I've tried 3 different species of trees there, and NONE of them have lived. I tried to grow 2 different oaks And a Silver Maple, which I only planted because the neighbors had planted a row of them MANY YEARS earlier, and their trees had been growing well for many years. I have hated their Silver Maples, they drop branches and send out seedpods all through out my yard, but, I did like there to be a consistent row of the same trees. But, for some reason all of those new Silver Maples I had stupidly planted ( really just 3 seedlings) they all seemed to die for (who knows) some reason, I'm really glad they died, I don't really like Silver Maple trees. But, anyway, I will be trying a Sycamore again in my yard. The neighbor who has the Sycamore tree that I had planted years ago, when it was my property, his Sycamore had shed seed far enough into my yard to where I have a Sycamore baby (about 20 feet away from his mama tree) and so I'll be digging up this small seedling, and planting it in the place that I had once had a small Sycamore seedling years ago, but, the seedling died, and I had then planted a Chinkapin oak seedling there, but, THAT tree didn't grow well there. I know that it's likely this Sycamore seedling will likely not do well either, but, I have gotten this Sycamore seedling for free, and this is the place that I want a Sycamore tree to grow, so I really am hoping that once that I dump a good bit of natural fertilizer, and some new soil, which is from my pots that I had tried to grow some flower seeds in, maybe I could get a Sycamore tree to grow there. I also think, I need to spread some Garden sulfer there because we had buried a couple of horses and dogs there, and I seem to remember that LIME was used because my parents were told that you need to spread lime when you bury an animal. Our soil has been deemed PH 7 so nuetral, but, if you add lime where pets, some being big like Horses, and we'd had to bury at least 3 horses on my current property, so maybe there is Lime under the soil. But, really, if you haven't had to bury an animal, or know of there being Lime added to your soil, I would just say that if you smell something foul around your Plane tree or Sycamore tree, just post here and maybe we can figure out where and when these foul smells take place.

I am using pro-mix for professionals that I buy from a greenhouse or a good garden center. To sow regular perennials or annuals, I use only pro-mix but when I sow more delicate plants such as alpine and rock garden plants, I use pro-mix and add grit or small vermiculite, half and half. The mixture allows a perfect drainage and it is easier when comes the time to divide the seedlings and transplant. Sometimes, especially for sowing paeonies, I use only pure sand. Using soil is dangerous as the seedlings will have more tendancy to damp off. If you need more help, you can contact me. Denyse, President of the Quebec Alpine and rock garden Society Here is a link that might be useful: Quebec Alpine and Rock Garden Society

While I have not had huge stretches of the plant, I have never seen damage on the Sweet Woodruff or my constant rabbits eating it.

I don't think of CP as really sweet, I do like CP, BK, BW for bigger tomatoes. I like a tomato to taste like tomato - with some acid. But I tried Sungold for the first time this year, that is really sweet and yummy! So is Black Cherry. My dad swears by Super Sweet 100 but I am going to have him try Sungold. He probably won't try BC. I have Galinas yellow cherry that just started ripening and they taste very bland to me. I think Green Doctors are just ripe today, I have to try some. Ester Hess is very bland too, and Dr. Carolyn isn't doing anything (sorry, not you Carolyn, I mean the tomatoes aren't ripening!).