John - - - >In the PNW, spring, summer, and fall are the main >gardening seasons, but winter isn't shabby either. Summer gardening in the Northwest??? The only thing summer is good for is hiding inside with air conditioning and a cold drink. In the last few weeks, I've been busy planting Highbush Cranberry, Oregon Grape, Yellow-eyed grass, Evergreen huckleberry, Oceanspray, Douglas Meadowfoam, and Currants. I'd much rather plant stuff in the rain than on a warm day. In another thread, Trudi said: "As long as the ground isn't frozen and I can muck around in it I will. It makes up for summer here when fifteen minutes outside in 90+ degrees instantly wilts me." Ditto here. Only make that 75+ degrees. Maybe I should move further north. :) -Carla

Oh, my..what pictures! Many of those would be lifers for me. Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful birds, and photos, with us Wish I could duck down to Florida for the weekend again. It was eight degrees this morning and there's a wind. Fun.

Too bad folks still think "feeding" various wild bird species is in any way a part of the answer to preserving them as species. It's a good way to screw them up. Far better to work to preserve habitat-wild habitat-where they can live as they are adapted to do. Handouts-usually of fairly questionable food items-is not a part of their salvation. +oM

I'm friends with Deb, aka "dirtygardener". I told her that several people on this forum had been asking about her. Deb asked me to post her response. Rhonda "Hi all, Sorry about the abrupt departure, but I need to cut back on social media, and this was one of my most tempting places to be. I was spending way too much time here, to the detriment of my pocketbook (I work online), my house and my garden, so I decided to leave. I should have said goodbye. I'm sorry, but I left here once for years and years and no one seemed to miss me, so I figured that would be the way it would be this time. It had nothing to do with the replies on the Python post. Lord knows, I've posted enough controversial stuff here not to get my feelings hurt when people disagree. In fact, as many of you know, I'm pretty crotchety sometimes, and can give as good as I get. There are so many knowledgeable people on this forum. Thanks for the love, seeds, and plants I have gotten from the generous people here over the years, but I have to do what is best for me right now. If you want to keep up with me, my blog is still up and running at http://theconsummategardener.com. Happy Gardening! Love, Deb"