TouCan2, Nice looking plants. Although I've gardened more years than I can remember this is my first year for rasied beds also. The reason I made it was because black walnut roots had migrated into that area and was making it hard to grow anything there. So far the results have been great. I used a raised bed mix from Soil Mender. It retains moisture well but also drains well. It is next to the eaves of the garage so drainage was important. My plants here usually don't get as big as they do elsewhere. And that is for several reasons. The weather conditions here are so severe that if a plant is in the open and carrying a fruit load their size is limited by the environment. Where plants have windbreaks(trees, buildings, ect) they will get taller and also in the milder years. If I put shade cloth over the top it helps also. I read a post in the Soil Mender site about a man in the Tulia, TX area who grows his garden under 10-20% shade cloth. Mine most years is in the open with some minor wind protection and it fends for itself. I fertilize with the intent of growing a large root structure more than foliage and plant size. The root structure is all that kept many of my plants going during the last heat spell. Celebrity hasn't done much this year. I remember now why I quit growing it several years ago. Arkansas Marvel is the only plant I haven't picked a fruit from and may not. The hail hit it hard. Not only did it beat it up it stressed the plant and it aborted all blooms and took a couple of weeks to even start recovering. It has one small fruit that I doubt has time to mature. All of the plants I planted in July have fruit and have either produced or will have ripe fruit soon. This is a typical year in that the plants planted after Memorial Day have out performed those planted in late April and early May. Jay

quirkyquerus: I totally agree. We don't really have any pet stores to speak of in my area other than Petsmart. I have never gotten a pet from a petstore except for hamsters and guinea pigs and fish. I think when people buy at a petstore it's more for convenience. They decide they want a pet and they go shopping. I tend to buy from breeders unless I can find the specific breed I want from rescue. In the past I have gotten rescue animals but what I learned is that sometimes you really do need to pick an animal that will fit with your family better. This is a long term committment. Too many people buy because the breed is popular or cute and then they find out it doesn't get along with kids or cats or whatever and the dog ends up being abandoned. Research is really important. I spent a year and a half researching my current dog before I got him and he's better than I could have hoped for. My last dog was with us for over 14 years (a retriever)who was perfect for our family then.

People bred the pit to be aggressive and now people are upset that they bite. Until laws get passed against the PEOPLE who breed and misuse them nothing will change. If pits are outlawed the idiots will find another big dog to make aggressive. Some people just love the idea of having a big dangerous dog and some sick people get off on watching them fight. I have rescued and euthanized 3 dogs for aggression. Two were pit bulls, one was a German shepherd and all had been abused. Two other equally abused German shepherds are the world's sweetest dogs and my pit girls are dolls. Every dog is different and you just can't lump them together by breed, which is what BSL does. They need to be evaluated as individuals and aggressive dogs do need to be removed and even that gets into that slippery slope of taking away our rights. Izzie, no dog attacks out of the blue. People may not know what the trigger is and we can't ask the dog. I use an animal communicator, something most people scorn. But something made that collie bite the little boy. What a pity it cost so dearly in harm to a child and death for a dog. livvysmom, if you or your children has a friend with one of the breeds who has been known to be aggressive and they do not keep the dog far from the children you should not go there. They are not being responsible and your child is not safe. I KNOW my dogs will not bite. When a child comes over they are not allowed near the child with the exception of 3 of my dogs who I know adore children and then only with supervision. My son was raised with my Dobermans, German shepherds and rescue dogs without incident, but not everyone is so fortunate. By the way, the worst bites I've gotten have been from those yappy little toy dogs. My Shih tzu/Yorkie is the most aggressive dog I've ever owned. Fortunately at only 12 pounds she doesn't do much damage and the big dogs just think she's funny.

Wow....what an amazing list of people.... too many of them no longer with us or active here. It is nice to remember some of their names and their struggles that we shared. Thanks for the memories.