Yeah, let's try to keep it 'nice' here, shall we? It's a gardening forum, after all. Nothing makes you look worse than trying to insult someone's intelligence when you can't even insult them using correct grammar and spelling. Anyhoo, thanks a bunch for the advice... I am getting a little worried as the plant it is attached to does seem completely dead... It's exactly a week until the fair. Should I cut it off and put it in the fridge to avoid the 90 degree temps we've been having here? I'm afraid it will start to get soft! Also, do you think the fact that it is orange will disqualify it, or is that normal for a zucchini that has 'ripened'? Thanks again!

Could you build a "crib" around it without shading the surrounding plants too much?? Even in my large garden, I sometimes build a little fence to gain a bit of control. At times, this is a single string on short posts to hold bush beans out of a pathway. Or, I will drive 4 posts close together so as to fit boards between them - creating a "retaining wall" to keep cucumbers from overrunning nearby ground. looking down (posts o, boards -, planting .): _o____________o_ ..o........................o Additional horizontal boards can be added just by dropping them in place if the posts are tall enuf and as the plants grow. Perhaps, you would only need to retain the plant on 1 or 2 sides. Steve PS always have trouble with my diagrams - GW doesn't like the space bar . . . . .

I'm baaaaaaack! Got sidetracked a bit being out of town and then came home and hubby had to be hospitalized with pneumonia. He's on the mend now. Sooooo, to all of you out there, speak now or forever just hold it! We are likely ordering tomorrow and this is the latest plan: We are going to go with a 16" inch overhang which is the shorter one in above pics...still not short, but shorter then 18. And I was sold on the clipped corners from the start, but now I don't think I'm going to do them. Interesting. We are going to have the corners just slightly rounded...there won't be a point. Guy asked if we wanted a dime size curve, or nickel, or coffee cup. Think the dime will be sufficient. We will also do the three inch overhang on the two sides. Top will likely be 2 and 1/2" thick end grain. That is the height you see in my pics with the 1/2" particleboard and the 2" sample board on top. And finish will be the permanent marine grade which I hear is Waterlox. That's all I can think of. If anyone has any comments, alternate ideas, or if you're just absolutely horrified, I would appreciate a shout out...sooner rather then later. Thanks, pup

Too bad it isn't closer to Halloween, eh? LOL It probably won't last that long! I put it on my front deck for now. Dh figures i should use it for something. I did, i did! LOL