Full sun is best, but mine grows in more shade which may be why it is a bit larger and taller. You may look into some of the other B. mult., or it's varieties, such as Al Karr, which grows to about 20 feet tall here, but can easily be trimmed to any height you desire. I tend to think that a well-drained sandy soil would be best, but I have seen some growing in black gumbo. Plant in a high spot as opposed to a low area where water may stand for long periods of time. I purchased my Golden Goddess online from Gib Cooper, at Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery in Oregon, but there are several bamboo nurseries out there that carry it. I like to plant it after the threat from frost is gone, usually in early March, but it can be transplanted at almost anytime of the year, with varying degrees of success. Early Spring will give the roots/rhizomes a good length of time to develop in their first critical growing season, and remember to keep them watered well during their first season and if you do fertilize, do so very lightly in it's first season. Depending on the size of the plants you receive, sometimes you can divide them into two and maybe three plants each. If not, plant them in the ground, and after a year or two, you can take divisions from them, which will keep your original purchase price down, but will take a bit longer to get thick coverage. I would suggest planting them between 4 and 8 feet apart, depending on how fast and dense of a barrier you want. I like taking a 'before' and 'after' picture so that you can see the difference. Take one of the fence before planting, take one after planting, and then one at the beginning and end of the growing season each year. I always realized that the bamboo grows fast, but I never realized how fast until comparing photos from the beginning of the season to some later on in the Summer...you will be surprised. One other thing, don't expect a whole lot of growth in it's first season, since most of the growing is going on underground. It's second season, and especially in it's third season, you will really see some growth, especially with help from extra waterings and some fertilizer. Good Luck Kt

I was hoping somebody closer to you would answer, but here goes. My only experience with them is from what a buddy who has an orchard has shown me. He has had them for about 10 years, since the Varroa mite hit here. his hoeney bees dies out, and the USDA farm at Beltsville, MD helped him out. The link below tells more than I know. Another friend who burns wood has found a species of bee that bores into her hickory and pollinates her squash. She allows the face of the wood to remain, and the bees come back every year. Also, I have found a beehive to be anything but kid unfriendly. For 2 years we had one about 5 ft. from our front door (that's where I caught the swarm), and I was too lazy to move it. When I did, it was put under the head of my hammock and I was never stung. After the mites killed that one, I went out of the bee business since it is quite labor intensive to manage only 3 hives. If you want honeybees, take the Mrs. to see one. Beekeepers are quite willing to educate the public about bees. When I had bees, I had one hive so gentle that the local nursery school visited every spring. I opened the hive and the kids watched from about 10 ft. away behind me. Never a sting, and the ones in the van eventually came out to get closer. Hope this helps. Article: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~dailey/SolitaryPollinatingBees-2010.pdf

Hi Dan, I think that's why the person over there suggested I post my inquiry over here and he mentioned you supecifically because of your work with the LSU fig varieties. :) I would like to be able to plant varieties of figs that are good in rainy weather and the heat and humidity, as well, which resist splitting and souring. I don't have much room and as it's going right now, the whole back yard will be taken up with fig trees! I told Mike that he should be happy about that because he'll only have to mow the front and side yards. :) I already have two Celestes, then got what I thought was a Smith and also got a Hunt baby this April. I got an older baby that is supposedly an LSU Purple and it's ripening two figs and the one that's riper is indeed purple and it's a bit older baby than the others. Not sure just when I should pick that fig, but I'm watching it. I also have a young IC, a young BT and a young TX Everbearing. The last three are not good in rainy weather, so I don't know why I got those, but the TX E came from Mark Simon and he said it does pretty well for him and he lives here in this area. I got the Smith from him, as well. I saw a post last night where it said there is more than one variety of Smith, so now I'm hoping that the Smith I think I have will be a good one. I was thinking of the Scott's Black because I was told they are good and ripen in August and that would stretch out the fig season for me and be a different fig, also. I would like to be able to just have a few trees, but a longer season and I really need the advice of someone like you and others who live here because y'all know the weather and I consider that very valuable. All input from people all over the country is very welcome. I'm not getting any younger, so it would be great if I didn't have to muddle around with fig varieties and could just go for the ones that do very well here. Does the Scott's Black drop its figs in hot, dry weather, here if its mother is a Celeste? Marty invited me to go visit him and taste the SB when the figs get ripe and I'm going to take him up on it, gratefully. He lives around here. I only wish I'd found GW and F4F years ago. The people on the sites are so kind and helpful. I appreciate all the input people share here and hate to be a pest, though. Thanks so much, Vivian

Maude: I have two purple prarie trillium potted up for you. Kerry: I have two purple prairie trillium potted up for you and some yellow merrybells. I would love to get some pink lily of the valley. Pam: I have two purple prairie trillium potted up for you. Paws: I would like some white beebalm and larkspur. Iowagardenangel: I would like the Snow Angel coralbell? Were you looking for butterfly weed? Or would you trade for a Marmalade coralbell? I also have potted up three pots of baby jack-in-the-pulpits (aren't blooming yet) and one huge jack-in-the-pulpit that didn't bloom this year, but maybe will next year. Anyone have interest in unnamed iris (tall bearded, dwarf bearded, and a purple Louisiana)? How about blue sage? or yellow loosestrife? I have little coreopsis plants just starting to bloom. Also have some threadleaf coreopsis. Could bring red beebalm. Please let me know if you want any of the ones not spoken for. Ruth