Fabulous! Great sucess story! I would say your little peach is a peach! Keep painting the trunk every year, and watch for borers. Some areas of the country have more issues than others, and now you know this is an issue. PLC is easy to treat, follow the directions in your area for several sprayings with copper during the dormant season. Here in my neck of the woods (S. Calif. coastal area) we just remember the 3 holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day. If we can sneak in a 4th late spray if we're having a particularly wet winter and early spring, even better (like this year and last). Even with a good spraying program for PLC, everyone across the country has had some issue with PLC. Just was our lot with the weather. Particularly bad out here on the West coast, but not a fatal issue for your tree like borers can be. Well done!! Patty S.

One side of him is almost flat now - the other side still sticking out a bit - he was like that when this first started, kind of lopsided. Re whats in the water - well I guess I was in the first group of fish owner - total denial - nothing's wrong - then in freakout mode, lurching from treatment to treatment. Salted the pond (very lightly) then found out - no never do that with a bloated fish. Took him out put him in tank with Melafix, then did several water changes over a couple days = 75%, then 4 days of Maracyn 2. I've been done maybe 2 50% water changes over the course of several days, plus put in a fresh charcoal filter (pondmaster filter) Oh. Then more Melafix when the Little Reds were added and now in the process of water changes to get rid of it. I wonder if that stuff is really all that great and might be what was irritating him. He was not flashing/racing as much last night. (BTW, I had sort of an ichy rash on both hands/wrists - I think maybe from putting my hands in the water w/ melafix?) So.... there may be some residue of that stuff, but hopefully not much. Would the proform be OK to use in that circumstance. Ive decided to take out the Little Reds - I think they just annoy and nip at him although they got him out of hiding - and bring in Spot, one of his original pals who has also shown symptoms of parasites at times. Then observe, then possibly treat them together. Mike I gotta thank you for your interest and getting me thinking in a more coherent, less fatalistic way about this. You're the only one (of the many Ive talked to online and in person) who pointed out the social needs of the fish - and indeed what was looking to me like a fish at death's door (cringing, hiding) was him going into survival mode as a prey animal needing to be with others of his own kind. It helps me to know that no matter what happens I did right by him.

Just stopped in to say Hi to everyone. Dan so glad you got your surprise! I am looking forward to the fall swap and with God's help, John will have had his transplant and be healthy again. If I miss the posting for the swap later in the year, I am counting on you all to let me know. I had a picture of all my rooted plants all potted up but I was cleaning pictures out of my FULL camera and must have accidently erased it. They all went into the new hoop house my husband built me (except the house plants and banana). All the cuttings went into the propagator. I put the 3 cut potatoes into large pots and will either leave them there or very carefully transplant them out into a larger home when the frost has past...but it will probably be too late by then. I still have 10 more potatoes to plant, YIPEE, when the time is right. I put all the iris into a huge pot and am sure it will be beautiful. Later in the year, they should have multiplied (as iris do) and then I can divide and replant out in permanent beds. I was hoping to get some flower beds together this year but it probably won't happen until the fall now. Of course the more stressed I get, the more work I seem to get done LOL. I get a nervous energy that I wish I could package..well that and insomina due to worry (that I could do without). I still have to figure out what to do with the garlic since technically it should be planted in the fall. I think I can plant into pots or garden and let grow in the summer and then transplant in the fall. I have some growing in the hoop house now that I planted last fall (if you look at my blog you will see where) behind the lettuce. My next job is to make a list of 1) everything already planted 2) everything in the propagator and 3) what I have left to plant (potatoes and garlic). I want to put this on my blog. I especially want to be able to update the blog later to let everyone know how my plants are doing. Oh yeah, Jordan was over for a couple hours last night and just kept saying OH COOL! when we looked at all the plants...and of course she helped me pot up a few things. Well gotta TRY to sleep as I work the next 2 days, 12 hour shifts. If it is not too crazy at work, I may have a few minutes to check in. Kim Here is a link that might be useful: Kim's blog

See? Things can work out on occasion! Glad it worked out so well and kudos for standing up and doing something, taking it back and writing the manufacturer. This is a situation where they really do want to satisfy people. Kudos to both companies for taking care of their customer too.