6/27: Soil conditions determine color of hydrangeas

Editor, the Forum:

You recently had a question about Hydrangeas. Adding lime to the soil rises the pH of the soil. Some refer to this is less acid. Some refer to this as more alkaline. Adding sulfur (in many forms) lowers the pH--making it more acid.

Lime can leach from the foundation of house, sidewalk, driveway, etc.--anywhere there is concrete.

Acid soils tend to make blue flowers for hydrangeas while alkaline soils cause pink blooms. A pH under 6 (acid ) makes blue blooms, over 6, pink flowers. You will have to take several separate soil samples from around you plant to see where the pH changes enough to causes two colored blooms (on the same plant).

Old time gardeners used to bury old tin (not aluminum) cans around hydrangeas to alter bloom color but I can't remember which color this changes to. I know if the soil is acid to begin with the metal (from the cans ) reacts with the moisture in the soil and the plant is able to take up different elements. You may have a can or two (or some other metals) buried around the plant.

-- Jerry Queen, LaFayette, La.

6/20: Wants information about neighborhood speed bumps

Editor, the Forum:

My neighbors and I are deeply concerned about dangerous drivers speeding through our neighborhood. We have many small children (under 10) in our neighborhood that are very active outdoors. Nearly everyday we have the terrifying experience of vehicle speeding down our streets and seem powerless to do anything about it.

We fear for our children's lives and must do all we can to stop this illegal activity. I would like to request information on how we can have the county install speed bumps or something on our street.

-- Keith A. Hubbard, Rams Court, Tucker

6/20: Finds positive aspects about Gwinnett County Schools

Editor, the Forum:

Having written more than a few letters over the past three years to the editors of local newspapers, and recently to this publication, that may have portrayed the Gwinnett County Public School System in a negative light, appears to have enticed the editor of this publication to challenge me to produce something on a positive note. No problem, since I feel a lot of what is happening in our schools is positive.

Gwinnett County hosts some of the most modern, technologically advanced schools in the state. We have been able to pick teachers from the cream of the crop graduating from Universities around the country for the past several years and have been more than successful at retaining experienced teachers from year to year. New schools have been built and brought on line at great savings to taxpayers, debt free, at what could be considered break-neck speed. The purchasing of portable classrooms appears to have at least come to a temporary lull.

Gwinnett County continues to lead the state in graduating student's eligible for the Hope Scholarship, and the number of students that are accepted at their first choice College or University is nearly unprecedented. The school system is financially sound and its students have historically scored above norm on standardized tests.

We have been fortunate enough to hire and retain great teachers dedicated to their profession, teachers that will often go that extra mile to assure their students success. Gwinnett is inundated with involved parents that continue to support the schools at the local level.

We have been blessed with taxpayers that understand the importance of an education in today's society, and have shown their support by passing two separate SPLOST's to finance education in Gwinnett. We also have a group of business partners that continue working closely with the school system to assure student success. While there is always room for improvement, these are the things that make Gwinnett County a desirable location to raise a family and this is what will eventually make our schools the best in Georgia.

-- Jim Dumond, Buford