Oh yeah, still terribly afraid. DH took the pics. He was about 3 feet from her nest. I was an additional 10 feet back from him, watching the whole thing. We have quite a few cicadas right now. It's not the 13-year cycle, so it's not disgusting, but they're pretty thick. Sitting outside Saturday night, 1 got in my friend's purse. That was gross. I'm going to let the Cicada killer live. As long as she's killing the cicadas & leaving me be, she's welcome. The cicadas will fly up to us and hit us. The killer doesn't, as long as we don't do anything silly. Also, the killer's only active in sunlight. The cicadas are active all day and night. They are so loud between 4 and 6 pm that we cannot hear the outdoor speakers on the deck. You have to yell over them to the person sitting next to you.

Mia, I think overwintering cannas in pots in central OK is iffy. Your success would vary from year to year depending on how cold it gets. Last winter they likely would have survived in pots, but the year before they would have frozen. The general rule-of-thumb with any container plants is that they are considered to be growing one zone colder since they are above ground and subjected to outdoor air temperatures without the insulation of the ground all around them. So, if you are in zone 7a in OKC, your cannas in containers would be overwintering outdoors in conditions the equivalent of zone 6a. I also think whether they survive in a container is dependent on how the weather cools down. A long, slow gradual cool-down before freezing temperatures arrived would be better for them than going from warm weather to shockingly cold weather in a matter of a few days. With a long, slow cool-down the plants acclimate better to increasingly colder conditions over a prolonged period of time and seem to handle it better than going from hot to cold pretty suddenly. Dawn

Did not get them staked too soon! Had a few less-than-optimal bamboo remnants from another project and rather haphazardly propped up the tallest plants ahead of an expected storm front. When I went out afterwards I found the SHORTEST plant, one I had suspected would not be at greatest risk of "toppleage" had indeed doubled over, but the stalk was not yet fully crimped. I was lucky and got er upright AND STAKED before the damage was irreversible. I decided to make good use of an unloved phragmites patch over at my mom and dad's and now have more canes drying than I really need. WHen you need some garden stakes and the stuff you're using is invasive anyway, it's hard to stop cutting! I find that good wooden clothespins do a fair job of keeping things anchored to the supports...don't clamp the stems to the canes, rather, use the open end to keep it there, one on each side. THese can be adjusted easily as the plant grows, too. THe tallest lobelia is now about 6'3 or so, and has shoots coming off every few inches on the stem where I can expect more blooms. I used to think nothing was as red as cannas but I am totally blown away by these beauties. Has to be because of the constant downpours we have had this summer, along with the composted muclch in that bed. The tall bellflower is beyond belief as well, there is just blue everywhere, and it just happened, I did not plant it. thanks for the replies, everybody.

ms500 - I hate to hear you are having such a hard time. I too am divorced - my ex wanted to devote 24-7 to building his own business and didn't want the responsibilities of a family to hold him down. This after almost 17 years of living our life around that business which included losing almost everything, including our home. It always came first and so I shouldn't have been surprised when he said he wanted out. I look back now and realize what a doormat I had become and now that my oldest son had tossed me aside, I don't know why I am surprised. He learned from his dad to put everything above family and if family gets in the way just walk away. I asked my counselor why, what I did - provide a loving and supportive home, be the nurturer and the disciplinarian, and not leave, did not influence him as much as what his dad did. His answer was - my son knows where his rock is when he needed someone. He knew who he could rely and he has no reason to believe you will not always be there. On the other hand - he doesn't have that with his dad and therefore will not push him or take him for granted because he doesn't trust him as much. I still remember people telling me that the payoff for raising kids came when they were older and understand what it is to be a parent. So yes I feel cheated in more ways than one. My ex who wanted more than his family is the one that gets to enjoy his family. What is fair about that. Yet I believe that in time you reap what you sow. I know what I have sown and what I am experienceing now is not my reward. I believe the same for you. For some reason they seem to be in denial of the neglect and abuse you took on their behalf because of their dad. Have faith and hope that in time you will be rewarded for your effort. I can say "that" even though I have never even met my only grandchild - because I believe someone greater than me is in control. Good luck and best wishes.