Nice, Jnfr! I just noticed a tomato on one of the plants in the Earthbox showing color too, and then when I looked closer the bottom had a huge brown spot. Do you guys throw the whole tomato away, or cut the bad spots out? It only seems to happen to my container plants, the ones in the ground don't do that. I tried to be more consistent with my watering this year, but there was a day or two that I missed, and before I could get there, the foliage was droopy. Almost immediately the brown spots showed up on the bottoms of some of the fruit. Anyway, I have quite a few full sized tomatoes that should ripen before the first frost ... if it's not earlier than usual, that is. Oddly enough, I have some pie pumpkins that are already orange. Never knew them to ripen this early, but it's been a weird year all around.

I think the reason people talk on forums like this about celebrities is because many of us have seen the t.v. show, movies or attended a concert etc. of that celebrity, so we have had the chance to form an opinion about them, right or wrong. If I were to tell you all that my manager's cousin who has 3 young children just found out her husband was cheating, some people would post to express good wishes for her in the struggles she will face. Additionally, all the people directly related to my manager's cousin (family and friends) are no doubt discussing their opinions, but that may only be a few hundred people in total. However, when similar news about a celebrity occurs, you must multiply the discussion by millions, since more attention is obviously generated by someone whose face is familiar to millions of people. They are not any more WORTHY of attention, simply more likely to get it, because of their occupation. So if discussion is considered 'gossip' then we are all guilty of it, whether or not it is one of us discussing the breakup of a friend's marriage with one other person, or millions of us discussing the breakup of a celebrity's marriage. It's just a difference in numbers, not importance.

It's sad that she has hit this point, but, like you said, iti's the best thing that could ever happen to her. Some people have to be shattered, not just cracked, before they realize they need to be fixed. If she can stick with this, she will come out an even better and wiser mother than she was to begin with. And the girls are still young enough that she can repair the damage she's done and they may not even remember much of it. Doodle - you are a special person caring for someone who has hurt you over and over. Most of us don't have that capability. You are an example for the girls and they will appreciate the grace you showed their mother.

My easiest bloomers are H. bella (with aome moracle grow bloom busters), and Hoya multoflora. My multiflora does not seem to ever want to stop blooming. (also called javanica, some evidence they are separate species but not officially confirmed. Most of what is sold as multiflora is technically (depending who you ask) javanica) my H. multiflora (javanica) Both need to be kept pretty wet, bella doesnt like to dry completely (will drop leaves if it gets to wet) and multiflora grows well semi hydroponically. I grow mine in a regular soil mix with some extra perlite, and water them often. I am still pretty much a beginner, others I am sure will come along with input. I know the pubicalyx typesare supposed to bloom around the 2 year mark (mine are all a year or less), ilagiorum is also supposed to be an early bloomer with beautiful tomato red flowers. Nummularoides is another one I hear is eager to bloom. Also, inconspicua and DS- 70, I think. I grow these types, but mine are babies yet. :)