Heather, How far from the fence is your bamboo? The new culms will probably appear several inches out in a concentric circle each year if left unchecked. AK will also grow to be 25' tall. (I hope you knew that when you bought it.) Because AK is a clumping bamboo, I wouldn't worry too much about trying to contain it with a physical barrier. It should take about 5 years for it to reach its mature height, but there are some things you can do to slow it down. First, cutting down culms, and removing branches will decrease the amount of leaves providing energy for the plant to grow. Each year, the culms shoot all at one time and the energy they need for rhizome growth and culm growth is provided by the leaves. So, fewer leaves, fewer new culms and shorter new culms. The next thing you can do to aid the process is remove many of new shoots before they ever grow. It will save you all the effort of cutting it down later when it's all bushy. You should be able to snap them off at the soil level with a swift kick or a sharp pruning knife. Do this to *every* new shoot on the fence side over the next few years and eventually the plant just sort of "gives up" trying to grow in that direction. If someone comes to dig out part of your bamboo, make them dig out the half closer to the fence. Digging out the bamboo yourself is not a very good idea, unless you have a huge amount of energy and the right tools. A rhizome saw is a huge help, and I do a lot of digging and moving and hauling of regular garden things (I spread 400lbs of manure this weekend), but dividing bamboo is beyond my physical capabilites. If you leave all this bamboo unchecked, the number of culms is likely to double each year. The old saying goes, the first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, the third year it leaps! You should be able to cut at least 50% of the culms off at the base and have the plant be totally fine. It's a very vigorous grower, especially here in Houston. And if you're leaving town, you could probably get someone to come over once a year and do the same thing for you. Good luck! -Maggie

The Organicide sounds like a good product. I've never used it, but I do use Fish Emulsion which can leave foliage sticky..it doesn't last too long.. Do you mist/shower plants? If so, by doing this Organicide should eventually wash off, BUT, don't hose off until all sign of scale's gone. There may be info on the container advising when you can hose off plants. But please follow container directions. BTW. scale leave a sticky residue, so are you sure it's not the scale that caused this problem or did it happen after you applied the Organicide? I give my citrus a last feeding in Oct (when they come indoors) using Osmocote. It's supposed to last 3 months. I also use Fish Emulsion as an insect repellent and foliar feed. You can also use a 3 month Citrus ferilizer..Toni

I know I can't make anybody change habits - Aunt Matilda probably learned from her mom or MIL (though I don't remember my grandma canning anything), and for all I know uses open-kettle method. I had no problem eating her jam since I knew she used SureJel so followed those directions but anything else would make me leery. I just was asking for advice on how to broach the subject with her DD, whose house I saw the jar in (and who probably cans hers the same way if she's had time with a newborn). Cousin's DH is laid up with broken leg, looking for reading material - think I can sneak my copy of The Busy Person's Guide to Perserving Food (1995, Janet Chadwick) in the bag I'm dropping off? He says he likes reference books, and misses working in the garden, so he may read it. Then *he* can say to his wife, gee, do you and your mom add vinegar or lemon juice to your salsa? Since he's the one eating it...

Hi again. Further responses have given us more to think about. There won't be any reception after the couple return. Because we both have such large families, they are basically eloping (but graciously gave immediate family the option to join them) because they cannot afford the expense such a large reception would entail. Phoning the absent friends and relatives would mean calling almost 400 people, so everyone thought a mailed announcement would be much less time consuming. However, I can understand how some people feel that any type of formal announcement would appear to be a gift solicitation. My future DIL truly is a very sentimental young lady who has saved every card she has ever received since she was about 10 years old. She honestly hoped she could receive cards commemerating her MARRIAGE to my son, even if they could not invite our huge families to their wedding. But it has been pointed out that this is tacky or might not be possible without appearing like there is some ulterior motive. Well, I'll pass everything on to them and let the cards fall where they may, I guess. Thanks for all your input!