At the site you mention, there is one kind of Hydrangea listed, H. arborescens, a white-flowering shrub. The blue ones that most people are probably referring to are not part of this, they are H. macrophylla. The linked site also mentions that the toxicity is gastrointestinal distress, not death. I get gastrointestinal distress if I eat too many bell peppers... Many plants are also labeled as toxic if they, to be blunt, give you a buzz, and would be considered desirable for that reason in certain cultures. Most new gardeners go through this same "toxic phase" that you are experiencing, realizing a plant they like is "toxic." You are in good and abundant company. There are hardly any plants that would cause an emergency from a nibble. I would be more worried about dogs becoming sick from fertilizers, 'cides, lawn treatments, than from ingesting plants that dogs don't eat anyway. Knowing that a particular plant is toxic to a particular critter is a moot point if it is never ingested. I have kids and a long series of dogs throughout my life also, and have never had any issues with Oleander, nightshade, Foxgloves, Castor bean, Nandina, tomato leaves, and many other plants with high toxicity. Since the beginning of humanity, part of a parent's job is to teach kids to NOT eat things without knowing what they are first. Nobody is being condescending or judgmental by encouraging you to do so also. Such advice and encouragement is always offered in response to fears about toxic plants. Just like baby-proofing your home, with plants that make berries, just trim them off at the level where small kids can reach them. Very soon the kids will be grown enough to understand your instructions and it won't be an issue.

I am a new gardener, but I had success in growing pole beans in containers in Zone 10. The ones I had were from Burpee. I used Miracle Gro potting soil with a little bit of Vigoro 12-10-5 fertilizer (pellets) mixed in the soil. I watered almost daily and a month or so in, I added some more Vigoro, but I doubt it was needed. The things took off and I quickly discovered that my little "teepee" stick trellis was much too short to control them. I had to cut the plants down because of this trellis problem and because I had to moved my garden. I would suggest a sturdy, tall trellis. I have seen online where people use 6-foot wire rack shelves such as you see in closets across America. Kinda ugly but it would work well, as would wooden lattice. I am in Zone 10. The biggest issue I had was some rust and white flies, but the flies didn't do any damage to the bean plants, they just kind of lived there until I treated them with a dish soap/water mixture. I sprayed the rust (or whatever fungus it was) with a baking soda/water mixture that seemed to work. Overall, the plants were pretty strong. I'm about a month into Black eyed peas in containers and they're also sky rocketing (I added some inoculant to the seeds). It seems like beans and peas are good for new gardeners -- just make sure you trellis well (for non-bush varieties) and also be careful with the tendrils of the black eyes when you train them to the trellis -- they break easily.

You will soon be deluged in suggestions! Mark, I'd start out by asking do you like your green beans with a lot of bean (seed) in them, or do you like lots of tender pod with little seed? Most people tend to go with the latter. My folks used to raise Kentucky Wonder Pole beans, which were best used with the seeds barely developing in them. Kentucky Wonder is a great bean, and very prolific. Many on this forum will recommend Fortex. Another name which I've heard, quite a bit is Blue Marbut. Jeminez gets rave reviews by some. I'm going to try it this year. Take a look at Sandhill Preservation Center for these two and some other good ones: http://www.heirlooms.org/catalog.html My favorites are those which can fill out quite a bit and stay tender. Most beans like this also have strings and and need to be strung when prepared. But they stay tender longer and they tend to have a more "beany" flavor. Below is a link to Sustainable Mountain Agriculture, which promotes such beans and sells seed. Twenty-four feet is a very respectable planting. May you have a wonderful productive gardening year! George Tahlequah, OK Here is a link that might be useful: Sustainable Mountain Agriculture

Corn...I only grow the mini Asian,(Chires), it loses flavor quickly, so I peel and food saver bag it, then freeze. Cabbage, I just cut into wedges and put in a baggy. No..it's not soggy...it gets soft when cooked, but it's cabbage?? Not sure I get the question. I use it in stews or casseroles. I think the issue with frozen vegetables getting mushy is because they were blanched first. I never have that problem.