My approach in keeping the Herons out of my ponds both large and small and still accommodate my bullfrogs need to forage on land and return to the water when threatened has worked for me for many years. For the smaller ponds I push small aprox. 1/4" bamboo sticks every 3-4 feet around the perimeter of the pond along the edge. Then I stretch the net over the pond leaving a 3-4" gap for the frogs to come and go until they go into hibernation in early winter at the bottom of the pond. Then I pull the steaks and use rocks to hold the net in place which helps keep leaves out till the next spring. My large pond 16 x 19 is too large to stretch a net and since I need access to the lilies during the warm months and in the fall to cut them back I use a fido electric fence, not expensive at Tractor supply, around the pond. I employ 1/4" green tomato stakes cut 4' long pushed one foot deep. I then string the fencing around the pond wrapping around each post and continue around the pond. I one string at the top one in the middle and one 6" off the ground. This keeps raccoons and herons out but the frogs and ducks are fee to come and go. Of course I leave an access point where I can disconnect the wires to do my pond maintenance when needed. Both systems are safe and easy on the eye. It takes me maybe 0ne hour to set it up come spring once I remove the winter net.

Andrew, I do not know who gave you that info, but I have never found that to be true. I have rooted literally nearly 1000 cuttings over the year and have never had an issue with them flowering the following year. The only thing I can think of is that maybe the root system would be more established the following season if you keep it growing all winter. The issue is that you will have to deal with Mites and other issues if you keep them indoors all winter under lights. Again I personally would your newly rooted plants go dormant depending on their root system, they can establish them selves next growing season. Good luck

We here in North Western Virginia were overwhelmed by these little (explitive) stink bugs last summer. They destroyed the local apple crop, corn, tomatoes and more. And by the sheer number of "tick-like" babies I saw, this growing season will be a huge challenge. I have attended several lectures sponsored by the local Agriculture Extension folks who admit they do not have a solution in site. With that in mind I am considering some kind of netting for my tomatoes in particular. The stink bugs do not seem to assault greens, onions, leeks, beets etc. I hope to find the proper netting and secure it to heavy duty tomato trellis' with clothes pins. I realize this will be a bit of a hassle when harvesting but that's got to be better than watching the tomato crop destoyed at the height of the season.... it's heart breaking. I'm going to Wal-Mart to check out the "tulle netting" suggested by "noinwi".

I clipped a cutting from a local restaurant who has huge hoyas hanging each of their windows. (Yes, I asked first.) It is really light in color and has thick leaves. I'm not sure if it is always this light green or if it is because it is in front of a window. We haven't had a very sunny spring this year. Here is a cutting from another. I'm sure this is a krimson princess, which I already have, but it was hanging high and I wanted to be sure. I think the manager thought I was a little crazy asking for a cutting of their plants, but I tipped well. LOL