@Bayarea_girl z9ca I have a JM on my front yard that's upright and stands at about 15ft plus tall. The leaves on my JM don't turn green and stay red all year round. Even if it's extremely hot abd sunny in the Summer it just turns into a darker red like more of a purple/wine coloured shade of red instead of it "Bronzing out" like @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) said. I'm not sure what type of JM i have but through the seasons i know my JM turns into a really super bright almost neon red in the Spring, then during the Summer it turns into a purplish/wine coloured red, in the Autumn/Fall it changes to a brighter blood red color until the Winter time when it turns into a darker burgundy colored red four like a week then all the leaves fall off.

I purchased what was labeled as an American Cranberry Bush from Home Depot this past spring after the late freeze. It looked healthy and was on sale for $6.00. The picture looked really pretty and the information said birds love the berries. I was not surprised it did not flower after planting but am hoping it does next spring. Reading through this thread makes me wonder if the cranberry bush needs a pollinator? I am sure someone here can answer that question for me. We are having very hot/dry weather here in TN and even though I believe I am keeping it well watered some of the "older" leaves are turning a "reddish" color. The planting directions said full sun. Does this plant really do well in full sun? Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

OH dear. This is a very hot topic here. You may get some "not so nice" comments. First off I love cats, I have 4. They were brought in as strays and they have never set foot outside since (except my Ernie who likes to run out the door in the spring, I grab and bring right back in). Cats are killers of native wildlife as you have seen. There are many reports of the damage cats do to wildlife including birds. I am sure someone will send you links. There are also ways to let your cat enjoy the outdoors without puting your birds and critters at risk and I am sure you will get those links too. Please consider the safety of you cat and the safety of the critters and keep the cat inside unless you are with it. One other thought, and I am fighting with this now, your neighbors may not be any too happy with your cat in their yard. My neighbors let their cat out. First, I am a certified wildlife habitat with 5 nestboxes and 5 feeders, I have the right to not have the neighbors cat killing my critters including the frogs and toads in my pond, the cat does not belong on my property. Second the cat pees and poops in my garden. I should not have to put up with this , it's MY property. As you can tell I'm quite angry about this. Also I worry that any day I am going to see that cat dead in the road, I like the cat and would be extremly upset. Please reconsider letting your cat roam. It's not safe for the cat, your critters or birds and your neighbors will be happier. Hopefully someone can send you the link to the cat outside enclosures (I think Starlinka has one). Bells don't really work as birds do not know bells as being a threat until they have been attacked. Bless you for taking the cat in , now please keep it and the critters safe.

I have Rainier cherries. It seems that the birds do not know that they are ripe when yellow and might be waiting for then to redden. Up until this year, they rarely touched them. I when I saw a cardinal in the tree, I decided to net everything. The trees are pruned to be low and wide to make for easy picking and now easy netting. For harvesting, I rip open a section, reach in and harvest. I close up the hole with with "twisty things". Aside from the mummies, I lost very few to critters.