We live in Columbus OH and while mowing our hay fields unfortunately hit a mother mallard who had built her nest in the hayfield. The 9 eggs were not damaged so I put them in an incubator. Nine days later, 8 of them hatched. They are now just 2 weeks old so I have a few more weeks with them. From what I have read on the internet, their instincts should take over and come Fall, they should fly South for the Winter as nature intended. For now, they are in a large blow up baby pool in our home office with another one just like it outside with shallow water in it for swimming. For now, I carry them to/from the house in a big box so they can play in the pool outside. I put a board in the pool so when they are ready they just walk up it and jump out of the pool. Since they have imprinted on me, they follow me around our yard foraging for bugs and whatever else they find of interest. Since the pool wont keep them contained for much longer (I dont want to come down one morning and find them all running around the office leaving their calling cards)we are in the process of modifying a 10x10 dog run in our backyard for them to move in to. We fashioned a floor from plywood so predators cannot dig underneath and get them and are putting on a "roof" along with a tarp to protect them from rain. We also put up a 2.5 foot barrier around the edge attached to the walls for extra protection. We will most likely put in some sort of "house" or box for them to get into at night for sleeping. The plan is as they start to grow their adult feathers and attempt flying we will allow them to come and go from the "coop" during the day at will and will lock them up at night for protection. Then, when it is time Im assuming they will leave. I bet they will come back next year though; hopefully. It would be nice to see them again and see how many were able to avoid the hunters.

Hey, Billy Rae! Go for it! You have nothing to fear! My only advice, up front, is this: Don't buy a braided group of plants. In my opinion, the braided plants are doomed to failure. Now, onto the story of how I came by my Pachira: My brother has a Pachira that used to be braided...slowly, all but one of the trunks died. The remaining trunk had been the largest/healthiest from the start, which is why I always suggest that a buyer simply purchase a full, healthy, single-trunked specimen. Anyhow, my brother is rough on plants. During one of his "moods," he broke several leaves off his Pachira...I can't remember if he bit them off, or if he was swinging his glow-sticks around the room like weapons. Long story short, he placed one of those leaves in the bottom of a plastic cup, filled with generic peat-based potting soil. The soil was constantly moist/wet because there were no drainage holes in the cup. He handed me the cup, and said here, take it. So I did. I brought the leaf from Sacramento to Auburn, where it sat from February to May on a warm Eastern window-sill. Surprisingly, it grew into a full-sized plant! Now, I summer my Pachira on the front deck (western exposure), beneath a large maple tree. One year, I put my Pachira out before the maple had leafed-out...big mistake! Nearly every Pachira leaf was sunburned white. New leaves grew when the dead leaves dropped, but now I know to wait until I can offer filtered sunlight. After a period of acclimation, Pachira can handle quite a bit of sun. Josh

If your plant was healthy when you repotted, it will have plenty of energy (especially at this time of the year) to push a new flush of growth, You have the right idea .... keep it barely moist & in the shade (outdoors if possible) and wait. It's probably transplant shock, possibly made worse if you didn't take pains to keep the fine roots wet while you worked on them. Sunburn (photo-oxidation) is unlikely if you're only concerned about the amount of time in the sun during the repot, but if you're looking for symptoms - leaves turn silver or whitish - never red. The sun releases a free O- radical (the same one that is so loosely attached in hydrogen peroxide) which bleaches (oxidizes) the pigments in the leaf so they turn silver/white. It can't turn leaves red. Al

Correct me if I'm wrong but as advised by one person it is now OKAY to let people break the law as a daily habit because we are worried about an outcome ? Professorroush if someone did this to one of your garden areas what outcome would you of Un-predictably NOT be concerned with that would you would let let it slide off as a WHO CARES WHAT SOMEONE DID ATTITUDE. Personally I USE TO think better of you than that and perhaps you wouldn't of let it be just another day in the garden brush off. I don't mean and never meant to sound encouraging you seek a manner of revenge as suggested by some of the feed back that is now posted either, I understand that some are as upset as you are there is a big difference between actions and reactions I'm supportive to there is no need to let this person continue doing what they do YES as hartwood said you do NEED TO KNOW AND HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW what they used and EXACTLY what they used to the details NO IF'S ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT IT Labeled products that are: herbicidal,insecticidal,fertilizing (and some others) have CLEARLY WRITEN INSTRUCTIONS on how to use, where to use,how much to use, storage,disposal and more. ANY MISUSE of application by a licensed or unlicensed person is a CLEAR VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAWS as printed prior to (and again at the same time as the ANY QUESTIONS CALL 1 800 number) parts of the label(s) Simply put to let ANY applicator slide as if this never happened at all allows them to continue there habits in a manner that is unlawful (as seen by the wording neighbor) Other than that I read your post originally as the roses where near the fence and also meant yes you do have the right to tell someone who is paid for a service to not conduct a service specific to an area regardless of the product. Meaning. They ARE not to act in a manner not consistent than what you requested with out reason. ( by what you now posted as I understand it rest assured They have no reason) Just as a reference Diesel fuel leaves nice greasy stains on greens and jeans, if your grass looks like it's been moon lighting as a mechanic then you have a fuel spill problem. As to what can and can't grow in a fuel type spill is somewhat relative to what fuel is at the spill, how well it is cleaned, how much, how sharp the area is, other climate and environmental factors. The wording I used is meant to read, a heavy fuel ( such as diesel) does stay residual for an extended amount of time and can severely limit what grows in the effected area during it's residual time. Still confused ? See also: oil spills, Exxon oil, BP oil