Annette.... Growing fig trees is probably one of the easiest, and most delicious things you could do. Decide whether in ground, or containerized. Decide on location. (Full-sun, and heat, is good) Figs grow/develop on new wood, so prune if you must to control growth. Read postings on this forum about when/where to prune, and pinch new growth. The winter will be your problem. If containerized, and heavy...buy a dolly @ Home Depot and roll the plant(s) around. Read postings on winter storage/dormancy. Buying a twig/small, rooted-cuttings is a waste of time. Get a bearing-age tree, and you'll have fruit this year. Check your local garden centers for good trees. Twigs die out if not grown perfectly, and in the long run, you'll get more bang for the buck by starting off with a larger plant. I grow my 6 foot tall, single-stem trees in large storage tubs (with drainage holes), and all branches are grown at the top of the long bare trunks. I roll the trees around on dollies. This saves the back, and I'm hernia free. If you can store the trees (containerized) in an unheated garage or dark, cool, storage shed you'll probably solve your winter problems. Buy a short-season fig variety. If at a bearing age, and growing vigorously, pinch back new growth to 6 leaves on each branch for earlier ripening of main-crop figs. You'll be chowin' down on figs by September, or earlier! Seriously, this forum is the only place to get good, solid, up-to-date, fig-growing information. If you are going to buy figs through the mail, stay away, no...run away! from Ty-Ty, and Willis Orchards. Why?...search this forum. Also, west-coast nurseries are known for selling fig trees with mosaic virus. I learned the hard way. I personally have grown only one short-season variety called "Atreano"...which makes a very large, golden-yellow fig that's really sweet... if, ripened correctly. Do a search for this excellent, smaller-growing fig variety. It's a good start. Deer might not be a problem, but birds could be! Hope this helps you decide what to do. Read everything about growing figs on this forum, then decide how you will want to grow the tree(s)...then, go shopping. It's fun, and you'll be hooked. We were all normal once. : ) : ) BronxFigs

Looking again at the Forums page, I think the Subject Areas should be left for use by occasional visitors who need to know what's available on Garden Web. For frequent users who want to get to a forum quickly, you need a comprehensive list that doesn't involve a lengthy scroll. In my case I check "Building a Home", "New England Gardening" and "Soil, Compost and Mulch" every day, so these appear on my bookmarks menu along with the "Garden Webs Forum" page (and some non-GW sites). If there's something interesting going on in a particular forum I'll keep a tab open for that forum. I avoid using the main Forums page because it's annoying to have to scroll down. Claire

could be an add on that blocks certain types of scripts or ads or something like that, what browser is this and what add ons do you have? if it is firefox go to start> all programs > mozilla and then select start firefox safe mode this will start firefox plain with no add ons at all so you can see if it could be an add on causing it. If it is Ie you can also disable your add ons to see if that could be the cause.

I think I've made things worse. I downloaded malwarebytes and super anti spyware which did scans. Nothing but tracking cookies were found. Anyway,and this actually made IE worse than it was,but I updated to IE 9 and now when I click any favorites they just sit and spin. So,IE is basically useless to me now. I'm thinking I could maybe use my cd's that I ordered when I first got the computer over eight years ago to put the computer back like it came but seriously I'm thinking at this point I've messed it up so bad that only getting a new computer is my answer. Really wanted to wait until the new Windows 9 or 10 came out. Now I think some aspirin is in order for me. LOLOL Really appreciate all of you guys/gals for your suggestions.