I tried something new this year with excellenbt results...I have been cutting off foliage of perennials (and annuals as I get around to it) and running over it with the lawnmower. It is yielding me a lot of nice material for my compost pile. As an aside, if you put your garden remains in the trash, do you know where YOUR trash goes and what happens to it after it leaves your property? You should, so you can do the best and most educated job you can of clearing your garden. In many communities, the garden waste goes to a landfill, which is considered a no no. Not because it's toxic, but because it is wasteful of the landfill space. Some communities recycle waste and sell the compost, usually through a third party. Garden waste which is treated like this should all break down within 12 months, but they have equipment that helps it along. In stil other communities, the waste is burned, then the heat exchanged and sold as power. For these people, wet leaves and garden waste are the no no because it takes a whole lot more fuel to burn wet stuff as opposed to dry stuff. One of the best things you can do is find out what happens to your waste. It will make a difference on how you dispose of unwanted things. Might also help you make more informed choices when purchasing, too. Lime

Chinacat indicated that some of the 'annuals' will live through the winter in your area, especially if they are well-mulched and in a protected area. I am in Amarillo; snapdragons, pansies, and dianthus will live through the winter on the south side of the house, and Columbines (a perennial) will grow new leaves in winter. I put down a thick bark mulch in winter to protect my roses that are exposed to the north, and roses on the south side don't need it. I remove the bark in mid-March so seeds from annuals have a chance to germinate and grow. Sometimes I put a thin layer of bark to slow down weed germination and help retain water in the soil. To enrich the soil, I pull the bark away, add compost (or a cup of bone meal and alfalfa pellets for my roses), and put the bark back. Over several years, the bark will break down, and I can add more as I need it. You might wait until Spring (late Feb.-early Mar. for you) to make a decision about removing mulch or spading it in to see what lived through the winter and to see what will come up from seeds. You can always thin seedlings and prune plants that lived. If your mulch is too thick, seeds will have a difficult time. Or you can always dig out the old and put in the new if that is what you want. If you are concerned about what it will look like in the winter with dead, dry stems sticking up, just wait for things to die back and pull out or rake the dead stuff, leaving the live vegetation and mulch. Although most of the soil in the DFW area is very dark, rich loam that will grow about anything, there is a wide variety of soil types. You will need to decide what type you have and enrich the soil as needed.

I still haven't brought them in because the containers they are in are too big. I didn't plan this when I bought them, I didn't know anything about them and thought of them as annuals. I don't know if they will survive until the weekend as tonight it will be in the low 30's as will tomorrow. The only hope for them will be to dig them out of the containers, which will cause root damage. I'm not sure what to do. I grow orchids and my house is overflowing with them. I'm not sure whether to put the Plumerias in a dark place over winter or grow them under lights with the orchids. I fear bringing mites into the picture. I've struggled all summer with them on my orchids and think I finally have it controlled, but I'm sure the Plumerias have them. I don't want a reinfestation. I don't know what to do with them. I should have researched them before buying them. They won't survive much longer outside. Jane

What I assume are the last two packages arrived (kellyk49 & sassybutterfly_2008). I am working on the sort and should be done in time for the "extras post" on Saturday. As we get closer, I'll post an update. farmergirl2009 . . . Received Julianna . . . . . . . . Received highalttransplant . . . Received Pash . . . . . . . . . . Received Shanta . . . . . . . . . Received kellyk49 . . . . . . . . Received Nancy Plants . . . . . . Received fabraholic216 twopinenuts . . . . . . .Received sassybutterfly_2008 . . . Received wendeyzee . . . . . . . .Received plant one on me p-piper . . . . . . . . .Received denise_w (waiting to hear from so I can forward my address) october17 . . . . . . . . Received gardenerz . . . . . . . . Received lisa831 . . . . . . . . .Received gardenunusal2 . . . . . .Received dieg01991 . . . . . . . Received mchill320 . . . . . . . Received clay lady . . . . . . . Received alice_aky . . . . . . Received booberry85 . . . . . . Received treebarb . . . . . . . Received spacetogrow . . . . . .Received