Friday, April 18th, 2003

Hoping someone else has time to post today. I woke up with an impending headache so I decided this was an opportune time to read/post DG site.
The man at the transmission shop just replaced the transmission filter and said he thought that was all that was needed at this time. With so many miles on the van tho a replacement any time now isn't unreasonable so we will be keeping that in mind. I think it is still doing something unusual in the transmission but it's intermittent so it's hard to find or even tell him about.
We has some fabulous rain on Wednesday. It came nice and slow so it could all soak in. Probably only an inch or less but so welcome. I stayed out in it weeding and planting most of the day. The soil was so dry I had to use the hose sometimes to get the weeds out without breaking off tender young plants at the ground level. No point in leaving roots to come back again. One bed has a LOT of wild garlic that I have fought for years. Only way I've found to control it at all is removal of the entire plant.
I'm so glad Shad got the lawn mowed Tuesday. But since it has rained it almost needs it again already. I used some herbicide last weekend but I really don't see any results yet. I'm having to do some serious control of the henbit this year. I still really like it for a ground cover and insect repellant but it can become overpowering sometimes. I think I like Gill Over the Ground better tho. It stays shorter, doesn't dry up like Henbit in the heat, etc.The two plants are fighting for top position in most of the flower beds. But they are sure better than Giant Foxtail, Crabcgass, etc.
We have tulips coming into bloom in several beds this year. Most are from bulbs I rescued from PG last year. Will get lots more this year. I have to use aqua baskets, bury pots, etc. to keep vermin of various types from eating/digging them out
I got out the canna rhizomes yesterday as well as some other bulbs/rhizomes. Most are badly dehydrated. I soaked them and the Elephant Ear bulbs in a systemic insecticide for several hours. Hopefully that will protect them for a while against the mealy bugs, aphids, etc. which had been such a problem in the plant room this past winter. I'd like to get them planted within the week. I'm usually so late getting that done. Perhaps I'll plant some in the ground this year or at least bury the pots.
GOD bless and keep each and all of you. .