Nancy, I would love whatever seed you have to spare. I just updated my trade list, so see if I have anything you'd like in return. I have a large, shady yard that has a lot of open areas that I'll like to fill with natives and easy ground covers. I WS'd some Pesicaria and it's beautiful. I'll try to collect my own this year. but I've got a lot of spaces to fill. Let me know if we can trade. I'll send you an e-mail. Martha

David, our last frost date here is May 15th. I'll probably start putting them out the third or fourth week of May, but if the weather doesn't cooperate it's no big deal since they're out in the greenhouse anyways, and I'll just keep potting them up until it's safe to plant them out. I really wanted them to get a good head-start this year which is why I started so early. Last year we had to wait until August before any of the tomatoes even put on fruit...so this year, we decided to get a head start, and see if we couldn't get things producing a bit sooner. I planted out small seedlings at the end of May last year, so I thought maybe if I had bigger plants ready to go out at the same time this year, we'd have fruit earlier. Hopefully that will work. I'd really like to have tomatoes to enjoy *before* the growing season is almost over!

Eileen, a toddler can drown in just a few inches of water. Their brains are not necessarily developed enough to tell when their faces are underwater, and they're often too top-heavy to easily get themselves out of water when they've fallen in. Unless a yard is securely fenced with locked gates, standing water should not be left unattended. Lido, unless you're moving around quickly outside try out the new Off! Clip-On. No DEET, no smell, nothing on your skin. We live close to wetlands and a small river, compounded by all the people who leave their kiddie pools full of water, so the mosquitos and other water-reproducing insects like blackflies are just horrible. We've had very good results from the Clip-On. Save your receipt in case it doesn't work for you. The active ingredient Picaridin (Cutter Advanced, GoReady) is considered safer by some than DEET, and it doesn't stink; it's recommended over DEET by the WHO. (The World Health Organization, not the band!) Although it's relatively new in the US it's been used for more than a decade in Europe and Australia. Permethrin is ineffective when applied to the skin, but you can spray it on clothing and shoes, tents, etc.; there are some questions as to its safety with long-term exposure to large amounts and it is HIGHLY toxic to fish and cats. For the all-natural stuff, Lemon Eucalyptus is the only plant-based substance recommended by the CDC as a mosquito and tick repellent applied to the skin, with effectiveness comparable to a 7% DEET formula, but some people find other substances to be just as effective. You may have to try a few different natural repellents to find one that gets along with your body chemistry - what works well for one person often doesn't work at all for another, which is attributed to differences in body chemistry the same way perfume can smell very different on two people. They do need to be reapplied much more frequently, sometimes lasting as little as an hour, and they're very strong-smelling. Do know that the essential oils the natural repellents are based on can cause photosensitivity and skin reactions like rashes - "natural" does not mean "safe" - and sunscreens can dilute the repellent. Also, do not use it if you have pet birds or cuddly cats, or wash it off before coming into contact with them, as both species are very sensitive to essential oils.

Looks lovely, I agree with others new installation shock and absence of stuff could be major influence on how you feel. I always give my self a week to adjust before making a final decision to return, redo or replace. Ask yourself if this would keep you from buying this house? I have over the course of eight previous home paid to redo elements I knew I hated. But only after giving it some time and consideration as to why it had to change and the dollar cost vs emotional cost. Had a beautiful, but not for me master bath redone and never regretted it.