Ive been in and out of trouble......... but thats for another forum, or at least for the conversation section of GW LOL. Thats the thing i went through a couple jobs this year because of "monitary growth" or should i say lack there of, so i havent had time for anything in the garden. I made time enough to take all my purchased DLs from last year, and year before, and a couple select seedlings and made a new smaller bed, everything else is overgrown and/or dead, thats why i gave away all my crosses. AND SOME WERE GOOD CROSSES too!!! They included pink stripes on some spufs and spiders(brooke you'd like those, if we ever get pics) And some from seedlings i had. I just moved to Baton Rouge from the country, to no yard, no sunlight, so im gonna have to start growing mold and mildew i think...... Thats why i want to see some of the green i gave away, even if someone lies and says its mine, i would be happy lol cold, dark, and damp in baton rouge......

I've been using bunny poop for the past 9 years. I don't even bother composting it and I've never had it burn my plants. My only problem is that my rabbits are litter box trained so I either have to separate the poop from the litter or allow the litter to decpompose. I use recycled newspaper litter so it's fine to put in the garden along with the pellets. my rabbits will be 10 in Sept and I don't think they'll be around much longer. I wonder if the chinchilla poop will work as well? They eat pretty much the same food as my rabbits. Karyn PS: I don't use the bunny poo on my passies but I do dig some chopped banana peels into the soil every 6 weeks.

Lileecoi I'm in the DC suburbs and winter my passies over inside with no problem. There's still time here for fruit to ripen before we get a frost. My passies are container grown but I do sink many of the pots in the garden. I just cut the roots that have grown out the drainage holes when I lift them. When you dig them up you are root pruning and will have to cut back the vines accordingly. I'd try to dig up as big a rootball as possible, pot them up and give them some B1 and/or Superthrive to lessen transplant shock. Just from the shock of transplanting the fruit will probably drop but I have to cut most of the growth back anyway just to get them inside and lose the immature fruit from pruning. If any of your fruiting vines are small enough to get inside without pruning you can see if they'll ripen. I've had several fruit on container grown plants that weren't sunk in the yard continue to ripen once brought inside. I use artificial lighting and many of my plants continue blooming. None of my plants go dormant but I do cut way back on watering while inside. Why do you keep it in the 90's inside? I'd melt! I grow several orchid varieties and keep them relatively cool over the winter. You should keep a fan going on your plants to keep the air circulating, especially if they are crowded. Good luck with your passies over the winter. Karyn

Molly, i feel for you and i know exactly how you feel when your Dh gets depressed over this. My dh and I are in the same situation. His kids come eow. Now they're average once every 2 months or so... It bothers my Dh alot but i told him its not his fault for several factors. 1. Its natural at their age to want to be with their friends. (his kids are 10 and 13) Especially the 13 year old is now always talking about her friends and now makes alot of plans with her friends..she skipped coming for 2 months. She showed up last visit but next visit she says she not coming..she just wants to plan something with her friends. Your dh should not take this personal. We all didnt' want to hang around our parents at that age. 2. BM does not encourage them to come and we do know from reliable sources and the kids that she downgrades us....due ot her own insecurities etc..etc..wont waste time discussing her. We have a toddler ourselves and yet its difficult. My son is much younger and cannot do the same activities. The connection with their dad is an on and off one..again due to BM poisoning...but also after the years of let down my Dh also has given up and just doesnt' make much of an effort anymore either. That is his side and his fault and yet i understand the burden. I saw show last night and it shed alot of light and these kids go through alot of pain, confusion, anger...and at their age they're also dealing with peer pressure and hormones. The only advice i can give you is based on what i do. Support your husbands emotional needs, stand by his side and keep doing activities eow regardless if they come or not. Dont' revolve around their world. My Sk have cancelled so many things, from tickets , to different shows, to family pictures. After a while resentment builds up. Until you just let go and say, you come eow to visit. If you dont want to be part of this family , no one forces you but its yoru decision , your loss. Life continues and you just have to plan things around your core family not counting them in 100%. When they decide to come ,you just add more people to the party. Thats it. Your core family with you, your husband and son should be your focus. Dont wait by the phone eow like i did and my husband. Its an emotional rollercoaster i got off of 2 years ago and have no intention of hopping back on. My attitude is if they come, great, if they dont, whatever, life goes on. Your husband like mine will have a better relationship when they get older. They're growing, they wnat their friends now, its all about them. and there is nothing wrong with that. Let them breath and just let them know the door is open.