Bagman, oddly enough, we have a large population of hawks in our rural area, yet our chickens are never bothered. Maybe because we chose large breeds, instead of Bantams? The hawks regularly kill native birds, but do not attempt to attack the 5-6 lb Buff Orpingtons. The Silver Leghorn Rooster is also a terrific deterrant. He even scares my 195 lb husband(G). There are no problems with Foxes, Raccoons or othe poultry predators due to the Mastiffs and a Jack Russell Terrier guarding the property. We have no coyotes to deal with, but we do have Bobcats. Locking up the poultry at night keeps them safe while the dogs are sleeping in the A/C. Here in Florida, I see so much waste of fruits. I admit it does cause strong feelings and I don't know why people do it. Can you explain why you would let fruit/nuts fall to the ground instead of harvesting them? Why plant 50+ fruit trees if you plan to let the fruit fall? Or did I misread your post? Lisa

Hi Yale, thanks for asking! From the info Jekeesl provided, I think the plant with the purple-backed leaves that I've always known as C. repens IS the real C. repens. C. cordifolia is still the best match I can find for the other one. It's understandable that most people would think they are the same plant, unless they have both to notice the many subtle differences. So many 'reputable' sources have pics of the plant #2 that makes extremely conspicuous flowers, labeled C. repens. I don't understand all of the anatomy words, but here's the full description of both. Without pics, I'm lost reading these. I can't find anything in the C. repens description indicating purple-backed leaves, but may just be from lack of comprehension. What does everyone else think? Thanks for your interest, Tiffany 6. Callisia repens (Jacquin) Linnaeus, Sp. Pl., ed. 2. 1: 62. 1762. Herbs, perennial, mat-forming, repent (flowering stems ascending). Leaves 2-ranked, gradually reduced toward ends of flowering stems; blade ovate to lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong, 1--3.5 ô 0.6--1 cm (distal leaf blades much narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), margins scabrid, apex acute, glabrous. Inflorescences sessile in axils of distal leaves of flowering stems, composed of pairs of sessile cymes (sometimes reduced to single cymes). Flowers bisexual and pistillate, odorless, subsessile; petals inconspicuous, white, lanceolate, 3--6 mm; stamens 0--6, long-exserted; filaments glabrous; ovary 2-locular, stigma penicillate. Capsules 2-locular. Seeds 1 mm. Flowering early spring (Tex.) or summer--fall (Fla.). Shady, rocky or gravelly places, and in citrus groves; introduced; Fla., La., Tex.; West Indies; South America (to Argentina). *************** 7. Callisia cordifolia (Swartz) E. S. Anderson & Woodson, Contr. Arnold Arbor. 9: 117. 1935. Tradescantia cordifolia Swartz, Prodr., 57. 1788; Leiandra cordifolia (Swartz) Rafinesque; Phyodina cordifolia (Swartz) Rohweder; Tradescantella floridana (S. Watson) Small; Tradescantia floridana S. Watson Herbs, perennial, mat-forming. Leaves 2-ranked, gradually reduced toward end of flowering shoot; blade lanceolate or lanceolate-elliptic to ovate, 1--3 ô 0.5--1.4 cm (distal leaf blades much narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), margins scabrous, glabrous. Inflorescences terminal and axillary from distal leaves, pedunculate, composed of pairs of sessile cymes; bracts linear to linear-lanceolate, 2--6 mm. Flowers odorless, 4--5 mm wide, pedicillate; sepals distinct, maroon, 2--3 mm; petals white, ovate, 2.5 mm; stamens 6, nearly equal or antipetalous stamens slightly longer than antsepalous; filaments glabrous; ovary 3-locular. Capsules 3-locular. Seeds 0.6--0.7 mm. 2n = 14 (as floridana). Flowering spring--fall. Moist, usually shady places with calcareous soil, e.g., hummocks, fern grottoes, shell middens; Fla., Ga.; Mexico; West Indies; n South America. The...

From USDA Piccalilli 6 cups chopped green tomatoes 1-1/2 cups chopped sweet red peppers 1-1/2 cups chopped green peppers 2-1/4 cups chopped onions 7-1/2 cups chopped cabbage 1/2 cup canning or pickling salt 3 tbsp whole mixed pickling spice 4-1/2 cups vinegar (5 percent) 3 cups brown sugar Yield: 9 half-pints Please read Using Pressure Canners and Using Boiling Water Canners before beginning. If this is your first time canning, it is recommended that you read Principles of Home Canning. Procedure: Wash, chop, and combine vegetables with 1/2 cup salt. Cover with hot water and let stand 12 hours. Drain and press in a clean white cloth to remove all possible liquid. Tie spices loosely in a spice bag and add to combined vinegar and brown sugar and heat to a boil in a sauce pan. Add vegetables and boil gently 30 minutes or until the volume of the mixture is reduced by one-half. Re-move spice bag. Fill hot sterile jars with hot mixture, leaving 1/2-inch headspace.For more information see "Sterilizing Empty Jars". Adjust lids and process pints and half pints 5 min. NOTE: if you want to skip boiling and sterilizing the jars, use clean jars and process 10 min.

I seldom read on Conversations but drop in and read select threads on Home Decor. We're retired and travel a bit but we have a portable internet connection so I'm rarely far from the 'net except where cell service is unavailable. I occasionally post but I know I don't care as much as many others here about changing things in my house. We have a fairly new home on a large acreage and I like our accumulations of "stuff" in our home so will probably seldom post pics as I'm not looking for advice on changing things. I find lots of inspiration here as well as on other MB's and sites. There are some posters homes here I could happily adopt! ;-) As others have also said my favorite shopping places are yard sales, vintage, antique and consignment stores. I could probably start a store with my finds but I just play around and rotate them frequently. I mostly post on Garden Junk as I'm really into that right now and they're a very friendly group. I finally learned to post pics and it's not all that difficult, if I can do it anyone can. I also "read" and infrequently post on several other forums when the mood strikes. Here's a YS find I just couldn't resist! LOL