mosha

Plants in raised beds are OK at best, lagging behind normal growth.  Peppers and tomatoes in open garden did not appreciate growing in a  pond and are stunted....now adding some humus and fertilizer and spraying to deter blight.  If this continues, will plant rice next year.

Her pleasant and insightful comments were like "fresh air" gusts on the forum.  Best wishes to her family.

Thanks for the help...will be getting some.

There are a couple rows of attractive light blue flowers in landscape islands along the B-Line (near the DuBois Plaza).  Does anyone know the variety, ie: some form of sage?

Trumpet vines are the worst "weeds" I ever planted.  Cut them down to ground and it took 3 years of Roundup and lawn service to finally kill off the suckers which sprout throughout the yard from the roots.  Also quite invasive via roots and seeds.

I also had a father and uncle that worked at this camp.  The pictures are the best I have seen of the actual camp.  We presently own the private property behind and south of this camp so am very familiar with the locale.  Thanks for posting these valued pics.

The best green bell pepper I have grown over many years has been Lady Bell (Stokes) and is commonly found at many greenhouse operations.  You might find them at Valley Rainbow in Weedville or elsewhere.  Peppers are very sensitive to weather fluctuations in this area, both hot and sweet.  The hotter the weather the better without going over 90 degrees for any length of time.  For my soil, they seem to need a good bit of amendment ie: fertilizer and woodchip mulch around the base of the plants mainly for cutworms, etc.

Just got my box of Jung's seeds today...will start the peppers first.  Have also not been able to find Penn State Ballhead cabbage as Lavender indicated...used to be common.   Early spring has been great for fruit tree pruning, only two trees to go.  

Wildflower:  Blossom End Rot is an indication that there is not enough calcium in your soil.   Add hydrated lime to your garden.  You can also sprinkle some around the base of the plants when you plant them as it also helps to deter soil-crawling bugs from getting to the plants.

Hint for buying seeds from any discount displays:  You get what you pay for.  Some of the old varieties are still quite good, but some may not be what you hoped for and therefore a waste of garden space.  Check with others who have grown varieties you are not sure of.  There is usually a good reason why many are called "heirlooms".

I was thinking that the State Store moved into a portion of the Acme Market Building in the 60's.

I think Ed is close on this one.  The car looks to be about a 1950 Hudson.  We had a '52 Hudson Hornet which looked a bit sleeker than this one.   Early 50's.

Happy to get my tree/shrub seedling order placed with the Pa Game Commission Howard Nursery last week.  Trying to improve some scrubby acreage on Rockton Mtn.  Lots of work with digging in rocky ground and tree tubes, etc., but still can't wait...better than shoveling snow.

Great video...entertaining and informative.  Thanks for passing it along.

Tomato plants are doing great this year...some problems with early blight (usual) and septoria leaf spot (unusual) but sprayed twice with Fung-Onil (chlorothalanolil) and that helped a lot.  Plants are 3 to 4' high and loaded with fruit.  No blossom end rot this year.

Last year I bought some "Italian" tomatoes from Sherwoods in Sabula which they grew routinely and mentioned parentage from folks living in the Valley. Fruits are a large roma-type paste tomato but big enough to slice for sandwich use.  They also resemble the description of the Polish Louisa tomato in the seed catalogs.  Checked with Sherwoods this year and they said the blight wiped out their supply and none available.  Fortunately I had saved seeds from last year's larger fruit and those plants are now nearly 4' high but none ripe yet.  Garden is in Erie area which was spared much of the blight problem from last year. Celebritys are loaded!

I was thinking that Harris was a "chain" theater system, similar to Warner and Columbia.  Not sure, though.

I start pepper seeds around March1, tomatoes April 1, as pepper plants are slower growing.  Make sure they get at least 12 hours of light each day, more better (artificial ok).

Haven't seen the article, but have used Bonide's Fire Blight Spray on fruit trees.  It contains 21.2% streptomycin sulfate and is labeled for fruit, flowers and shrubs (not specifically vegetables).  This product is available at most farmfeed/nursery stores but might be hard to find at non-specialty outlets.  

Thanks for clarifying the url.

Some other sites for shows:

Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, D.Lawrence Conv. Ctr., http://pghhome.com; 2/27 to 3/8  (site not fully developed on this date)

Erie Home and Garden Show; Bayfront Conv. Ctr.; www.eriehomeandgarden.com; 2/26 to 3/1  ( "       "    "         "          "    "     "   )  

Every year we attend the Home and Garden Show at the IX Center in Cleveland near Hopkins Airport.  If you have never been there, you will be amazed.  Fully 22 acres of the 30 acre IX Center is devoted to this show which runs from Feb. 7 to Feb. 15.  This year the theme is the gardens of France, and there will be numerous gardens with trees, water etc.   We normally eat at the catered area beyond the gardens expo as they feature reasonably-priced foods in the French tradition (this year).  Lots of other food and drink outlets inside (beer, liquor avbl).   Some houses to walk through and lots of space devoted to outside structures, equipment, etc. ...also entertainment at designated hours.   Many towns in western Pa have daily bus trips but probably not from central PA.  

There is a limited amount of direct sales of plant supplies from major seed companies , although Petitti always has an extensive display of multiple seed vendors, including Thompson and Morgan.  My wife like the Lora Paganini food cooking seminars.

We always find this to be a real winter-buster, and if you are so inclined, a large ferris wheel can transport you above the crowd and through the roof with a view of the airport and the city in the distance.  Nothing quite like this anywhere in PA.

All the information is available at www.homeandflower.com.  

I've heard that some folks who had too many "cold ones" would jump into the pond/fountain out front...hope you weren't one of them.  Never got there myself, but wasn't of drinking age until '71, and it may have been gone then, not sure.  Just remember my aunts/uncles refer to it as a "dance hall".

Actually, that's quite a hike from Clearfield.

Looking for any info on the Crystal Springs Lodge which was located on Crystal Springs Rd. near SB Elliot State Park.  Saw picture of this large, beautiful building in Leitzinger's store display case.  Older relatives called it a dance hall in the 40's and 50's...Rumored to have been built in late 1800's by one or more Pgh. businessmen (Mellon one name mentioned)....out in middle of nowhere for such a building...supposedly became a fraternal lodge after original owners sold it...then bar/rest....burned down in early(?) 60"s.   Any info out there?

Global warming can't happen fast enough for me...need more of Snellma's climate.  A winter with no snow plowing, icy roads etc. would be just great!

Buy some mums...

Got some better than expected garlic from Jung's...was surprised because they are principally a large mail-order seedhouse.  Haven't tried their tulips, etc.  Always get the bulb ads from Van Bongourdiyen (?) etc. but haven't used.  

Quick calculation for my 25'x60' garden:

60 tomato plants      5 doz. x $5 = $25

24 pepper plants      2 doz. x $5 = $10

Lime/Fertilizer          10 lbs x $0.50=$5

Fungicide/Insecticide   2 lbs x $8    =$16

Tilling-paid or amort.                     =$40

If result is 200 lbs tomatoes and 40 lbs peppers only (not including other crops in same space), cost would be $96/240 lbs,

or $0.40 per lb.  Big caveat is LABOR NOT INCLUDED!

Good question and informative exercise...

Waiting till next week...too cool lately.  Plus have to till a little more.