Dear Sun Spots: I have two requests and hope that someone out there can help with both.

First, I would like to know the exact portions of potting soil, dry cow manure, and peat moss I should use in my planters for my spring/summer outdoor pots. I’ve been using a mixture of these three ingredients for many years, but don’t really use exact portions and, last summer, I obviously got it wrong as my flowers didn’t do well at all. Like the ingredients for a cake, I probably should pay more attention to exact portions.

My second request is for some gathered, cotton eyelet in “ecru/cream” color. I’m having a very hard time finding it, after checking every craft and fabric store in my area. I am specifically looking for eyelet measuring approximately 1½ inches wide. Any and all I could find would be appreciated and I will gladly pay for any postage applicable. For all of you who are doing spring cleaning in their craft rooms and don’t longer have any need for this item, send them to me instead of throwing it all away. Thanks and keep up the informative service that you provide. I can be reached via phone at (207) 642-3359 or via post at 26 Elliott Ave., Buxton, ME 04093. – M.Caron, Buxton.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, Sun Spots checked with gardening columnist Jody Goodwin who says last summer was not good for anyone. It was too cold, too wet and there was not enough sunshine so you should not think that it was entirely your fault!

The trick, Goodwin says, to container planting is to have enough texture to the soil that it will hold moisture to some degree but not stay soggy. Cow manure if not aged and dried completely will burn plant roots, so in container planting you are far safer to use a planting medium that has a built-in fertilizer or to mix in a timed-released fertilizer with the loam. Peat moss serves the purpose of helping to retain moisture. However, with the summer we had last year, Goodwin would guess you retained too much. Add that to the lack of warmth and sunshine and you had a recipe for not good results. You can add moisture- retaining products to the loam-fertilizer mix that will accomplish the same purpose but not allow the plants to remain overly wet and/or soggy.

Goodwin says she wouldn’t question your method as much as she would question the weather conditions for the outcome of your plants last summer!

Here’s hoping this year will see a bumper crop of flowers and more in your flower beds!

Dear Sun Spots: Winthrop High School classes of 1959 and 1960 will hold a combined class reunion on Aug. 13. We are unable to locate the following: Class of 1959: Sue Marston, Fred Finnegan, John Higgins, Eddie Smith, Walter Smith, Peter True, Debbie Turnbull and Faye Warren. Class of 1960: Peter Sturtevant and Ralph Sears.

Anyone with information can please call Jackie Kempton at (207) 377-6680 or Gini Brown Longley at (207) 897-3122. Thanks so much. I really enjoy this column. – Gini Longley, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: My name is Ben Oberg. I am a fifth- grader at Conway School in Washington. I have chosen Maine for my state report. Every summer and winter I visit Maine. I was wondering if you could help me by putting my letter in your newspaper. I need representations of Maine such as: emblems, patches, flags, coins, historical relics, old license plates, food, pictures, plants [seeds], and other representations of Maine. Here is my mailing address: Ben Oberg, 21320 Egret PL., Mount Vernon, WA 98274. Thank you for your time and any assistance that you can provide. – Ben Oberg, Washington.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to [email protected].