Allan, do yourself a favor and visit the Dirt Doctor and see what he says about organic gardening, native plants, container gardens, etc. Howard Garrett is in Dallas, and though his web site attracts people from all over, it's heavily used by locals. Carol, there is a compost guy in Alabama you might want to check out at this site. It's an art, and he's done some remarkable stuff. Go into the section headed "compost" and you'll find him. He's one of the moderators on the site.

Allan, if you're doing container gardening here in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, you have to keep in mind how hot it gets and how quickly pots dry out. Use big pots, prepare the planting medium and potting soil well, and see what Garrett says about keeping them wet enough without over or underwatering. There are some really good organic garden centers in the area. You'll find information about them at Garrett's site.

Carol, hold that thought about spring being just around the corner. I'm sitting in my office looking out at a day as cold and gray and wet and bleak as any the Pacific Northwest could muster. We have daffodil and quince blooming already--I think they were fooled by a warm spell--but everything else is dormant still. If I have to suffer throught these damned hot summers here, I ought to at least get to enjoy an early and lingering spring!

SRS