Chicken scratch is normally edible, whole grains to give them something to pick at, not necessarily as their main feed. A grit intended for chickens can be suitable for mixing with your soil but it may be too fine and it may contain limestone. For a large outdoor bed you should be looking for a quarter inch or half inch grade, a mix of grits is OK. Any limestone or shells in their aren't the end of the world but may cause some plants to be unhappy. You don't need to wash chicken grit or any other grit unless you have reason to think it includes salt. Taste it, you know what salt tastes like. For a pot you might want to wash or sieve away any fines but it won't matter in your bed. Simply mix it with a reasonable non-clay loam. If your own garden soil is heavy clay then buy in some topsoil. Play with your soil in a big pot and see that water runs through quickly and that it doesn't become soggy. Add more grit, the plants will spread their roots in a big bed to find even tiny amounts of water. Last thing, remove the bottom from your container and stand on a surface where water can drain away. Or at the very least put holes in at and then raise it so that water can drain away from the holes quickly.

Bob, Thanks for sharing your version of Coq au Vin. Good save using the ingredients that you had on hand. I'm sure it was delicious. ~Ann

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 14, 2013 - The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily recalled specific lots of dry pet food because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. These lots were distributed in the United States and represent roughly one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of annual production. No Salmonella-related illnesses have been reported to date in association with these product lots. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. This issue is limited to the specific dry pet food lot codes listed below. This affects roughly one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of total annual production. The affected product was distributed to select retailers across the United States. These products were made during a 10 day window at a single manufacturing site. P&G�s routine testing determined that some products made during this timeframe have the potential for Salmonella contamination. As a precautionary measure, P&G is recalling the potentially impacted products made during this timeframe. No other dry dog food, dry cat food, dog or cat canned wet food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement. P&G is retrieving these products as a precautionary measure. Consumers who purchased a product listed below should stop using the product and discard it and contact P&G toll-free at 800-208-0172 (Monday � Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST), or via website at www.iams.com or www.eukanuba.com. Media Contact: Jason Taylor 513-622-1111. Products affected by this announcement: EUKANUBA DRY DOG FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Eukanuba Dog Food Base Large Breed Mature Adult 15 LB 31874177 19014270156 6Nov14 30 LB 31874177 19014270309 6Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Maintenance Mature Adult 30 LB 31954177 19014149308 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Maintenance Puppy 16.5 LB 31884177 19014042234 7Nov14 33 LB 31884177 19014609468 7Nov14 5 LB 31884177 19014039852 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Small Breed Adult 16 LB 31904177 19014010516 9Nov14 4 LB 31904177 19014039722 9Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Small Breed Puppy 16 LB 31944177 19014010509 13Nov14 4 LB 31874177 19014039678 6Nov14 40 LB 31874177 19014011070 6Nov14 31944177 19014011070 13Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Boxer Adult 36 LB 31944177 19014019588 13Nov14 31954177 19014019588 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Chihuahua Adult 4 LB 31884177 19014607037 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Labrador Retriever Adult 36 LB 31954177 19014019564 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Premium Performance 30/20 Adult 33 LB 31884177 19014609475 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Professional Feeding Bag Small Breed Puppy 44 LB 31874177 19014113194 6Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Weight Control Large Breed Adult 30 LB 31894177 19014269303 8Nov14 31924177 19014269303 11Nov14 IAMS DRY DOG FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Iams Dog Food Healthy Naturals Chicken Adult 13.3 LB 31884177 19014612017 7Nov14 31904177 19014612017 9Nov14 31924177 19014612017 11Nov14 31934177 19014612017 12Nov14 31944177 19014612017 13Nov14 2.9 LB 31944177 19014700165 13Nov14 25.7 LB 31884177 19014700646 7Nov14 31894177 19014700646 8Nov14 31904177 19014700646 9Nov14 31914177 19014700646 10Nov14 31934177 19014700646 12Nov14 5 LB 31904177 19014612635 9Nov14 31914177 19014612635 10Nov14 Iams Dog Food Healthy Naturals Weight Control Adult 13.3 LB 31894177 19014612024 8Nov14 Iams Dog Food Premium Protection Chicken Adult 12.1 LB 31894177 19014611362 8Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Breed Mature Adult 30 LB 31884177 19014611331 7Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Breed Senior Plus 13.3 LB 31934177 19014612000 12Nov14 26.2 LB 31934177 19014700615 12Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Chunks Adult 15 LB 31944177 19014610815 13Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Small Breed Adult 13.3 LB 31874177 19014610990 6Nov14 31894177 19014610990 8Nov14 31924177 19014610990 11Nov14 3.1 LB 31874177 19014700110 6Nov14 31894177 19014700110 8Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612055 6Nov14 31894177 19014612055 8Nov14 31924177 19014612055 11Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Small Breed Puppy 5 LB 31904177 19014700943 9Nov14 IAMS DRY CAT FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Iams Cat Food Healthy Naturals Chicken Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014611881 6Nov14 31944177 19014611881 13Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612697 6Nov14 31944177 19014612697 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food Healthy Naturals Weight Control Adult 5 LB 31894177 19014612703 8Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Chicken Adult 10.8 LB 31864177 19014612086 5Nov14 31904177 19014612086 9Nov14 31914177 19014612086 10Nov14 31924177 19014612086 11Nov14 31944177 19014612086 13Nov14 17.4 LB 31864177 19014611836 5Nov14 31864177 19014611836 5Nov14 31914177 19014611836 10Nov14 31924177 19014611836 11Nov14 31944177 19014611836 13Nov14 3.2 LB 31904177 19014612659 9Nov14 31924177 19014612659 11Nov14 31934177 19014612659 12Nov14 31944177 19014612659 13Nov14 5.7 LB 31864177 19014612499 5Nov14 31914177 19014612499 10Nov14 31924177 19014612499 11Nov14 31944177 19014612499 13Nov14 6.3 LB 31944177 19014611621 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Chicken Kitten 17.4 LB 31904177 19014611867 9Nov14 3.2 LB 31904177 19014612628 9Nov14 31954177 19014612628 14Nov14 5.7 LB 31904177 19014612505 9Nov14 31904177 19014612505 9Nov14 31954177 19014612505 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Digestive Care Adult 16 LB 31904177 19014611904 9Nov14 31954177 19014611904 14Nov14 3 LB 31904177 19014700202 9Nov14 31954177 19014700202 14Nov14 5 LB 31904177 19014612451 9Nov14 31954177 19014612451 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Hairball Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014611911 6Nov14 31954177 19014611911 14Nov14 3.1 LB 31884177 19014700219 7Nov14 31914177 19014700219 10Nov14 31954177 19014700219 14Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612420 6Nov14 31884177 19014612420 7Nov14 31914177 19014612420 10Nov14 31934177 19014612420 12Nov14 31954177 19014612420 14Nov14 9.8 LB 31894177 19014612161 8Nov14 31914177 19014612161 10Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Hairball Mature Adult 5 LB 31954177 19014612604 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Weight Control & Hairball Adult 16 LB 31884177 19014612147 7Nov14 31914177 19014612147 10Nov14 31924177 19014612147 11Nov14 31934177 19014612147 12Nov14 31944177 19014612147 13Nov14 2.9 LB 31914177 19014700240 10Nov14 31924177 19014700240 11Nov14 31934177 19014700240 12Nov14 31944177 19014700240 13Nov14 31954177 19014700257 14Nov14 5 LB 31884177 19014612789 7Nov14 31914177 19014612789 10Nov14 31924177 19014612789 11Nov14 31934177 19014612789 12Nov14 31954177 19014612789 14Nov14 5.5 LB 31924177 19014611652 11Nov14 9.8 LB 31884177 19014612130 7Nov14 31914177 19014612130 10Nov14 31924177 19014612130 11Nov14 31934177 19014612130 12Nov14 31944177 19014612130 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Weight Control Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014612178 6Nov14 31934177 19014612178 12Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612680 6Nov14 31934177 19014612680 12Nov14 9.8 LB 31874177 19014612123 6Nov14 Iams Cat Food Professional Feeding Bag Chicken Adult 33 LB 31914177 19014105458 10Nov14 31944177 19014105458 13Nov14

· Posted by: hnwillis z8 SC (My Page) on Thu, Nov 29, 01 at 15:22 Ya'll gotta be some of the funniest people. After going through the ordeal of many a gardenia suicides, I decided it was time to plant them outside (great humidity and heat-Z8 SC). I hate to say this but two years ago I planted 2 gardenia plants on the northwest side of my house. They have been doing just fine. They are just at 2-3 feet tall. I have pruned them together this past sprng into a low hedge next to my white picket fence. I have planted the trimmings amongst a groundcover of Gerbera Daisies in a 24 inch plastic pot that I also planted a 10 ft crooked willow tree on the southside of my house. I also put some trimmings into small pots with cheap Wal-Mart garden soil. To my surprise, they have taken root and are growing like crazy. I put one particular cutting into a pot by itself to be able to bring in the house. I left it outside all spring and summer (it rained constantly when I first planted them). This one stayed in 5 inches of water/dirt for 2 months. I have brought the sole potted plant into my sunroom and placed it inside a miniture greenhouse. I doesn't seem to be growing like it did outside. I'm really thinking that it likes to be outdoors in humidity, heat and southern exposure. Go figure? So from 1 pruning of two plants I have successfully propagated 10+ little ones. I can't wait until they bloom. Also, the main idea for planting them outside is that my neighbor has a 10 ft tall, 7 ft wide "gardenia bush" that is heavenly when it blooms. I have taken pictures of it because people don't believe me. I know she doesn't do anything special to any of her plants. One thing we do have in common is acidic clay soil which our azaleas and camellias seem to thrive on. · Posted by: bedou z10 Ft. L. Fl (My Page) on Fri, Dec 7, 01 at 1:15 Its 1:09 in the morning. My laughter must have woken my husband up, so I suppose I should put the kettle on! From a nude plot of land in Ft. Lauderdale, I have tried to fill it up with fragrant choices. Yes, Gardenia included. Its yellow leaves tend to give me a good contrast against all those green ones that are flourishing. Alas, they tend to fall off, so I just use them as mulch where they land. Time to find something else! I certainly shall not spend time agonizing over it, from what you have all said. Oh well, I had such high hopes!!! Joanmary · Posted by: fpogoda 5 N NJ (My Page) on Mon, Dec 17, 01 at 12:21 Just wanted to be sure regarding the indoor gardenia temp. issue: is the optimum temperature 70 degrees during the day, then 55 degrees at night? Thanks · Posted by: yugoslava 6 ) on Sat, Dec 29, 01 at 20:56 I have been fairly successful with azaleas and rhododendrons and wonder if it would be possible to keep gardenia dormant over winter and bring it out in spring, plant it among rhodos and leave it until it gets cold. I have admired gardenias from afar for the longest time, but I knew indoor conditions in the winter were not the best, so I have never had one to call my own. Would it be possible to keep gardenia cool over winter as I do with my fig tree and brugmansia? The scent is absolutely intoxicating! One word about people who live in warm or coastal areas. You have no trouble growing tropical plants which we can only see when we take tropical vacations for which we have to pay dearly. I live in Great Lakes Region with short seasons but we all dream of exotic plants growing luxuriantly indoors. Which is why we fret and fuss endlessly. · Posted by: Jenn z9/19 SoCal (My Page) on Tue, Jan 8, 02 at 10:16 This has to be the funniest thread I've ever read at the GardenWeb. I laughed so hard I could hardly talk and had tears in my eyes!! I printed out the whole thread to share with other pour souls who have tried to grow Gardenias according to all the best recommendations, only to watch them wither away. We have a Gardenia growing on a slight slope in alkaline clay soil under a Japanese Black Pine tree. It gets mid-to-late sun. It gets watered whenever we run the lawn sprinklers. It isn't the most prolific plant we grow, but at least it's alive and produces some blooms for us each year. The success is probably due to the fact that my husband is the one who cares for it, and he is not a by-the-book gardener... he just waters whenever he thinks the lawn needs water, feeds it when he remembers (I think the last time was about 2 years ago), etc. LOL!!! · Posted by: Rosalie 5-6 salt lake (My Page) on Wed, Jan 9, 02 at 11:30 this thread is hilarious! and now famous -- a link to it is posted at the garden party forum, so some of us have wandered over to check out your battles -- i believe i will stick with xeric types -- no chicken dances for me -- thanks for the laughs! and good luck to all -- rosalie · Posted by: ccl38 8A Savannah, GA (My Page) on Thu, Jan 17, 02 at 15:59 I too have had trouble with vetchii. Mine was so large and so heavy with blooms I decided to prune it. We couldn't get past it down the walk. Once prunned it went into a decline and it has never been the same. I have another variety that I rooted about three years ago from a large bush growing at the edge of the swamp near where I work. It is mostly in shade, never gets watered and would probably measure 5 feet, and it has those huge saucer size blossoms and smells wonderful. I don't shake a chicken so I guess I must have held my mouth right when I planted it. They are my favorite plant. For me it is a pass along plant. I root them all summer and give them to anyone who comes along and wants one. · Posted by: Joanmary_z10 z10 Ft. L. Fl. (My Page) on Thu, Jan 17, 02 at 19:23 cc 138 you must have 'the magic touch'Well done, and I say that with honest envy. The question is, are you ready, willing and able to produce 75-+ rooted cuttings from a 'proven' specimen with the right karma, one for each of the above postings, to restore our faith in this plant and to bring aid and comfort to all of us who have been brought down by this picky, picky plant? lol!!! Joanmary · Posted by: Lily 5 IL (My Page) on Fri, Jan 18, 02 at 21:16 I got a Gardenia "Veitchii" last January as a gift, loaded with buds. Looking for culture info I found this thread. Aftering reading everyone's experience, I thought I was going to kill it for sure. I held my breath when I was anywhere near it. I misted it daily and then decided not to mist after my hard water left ugly mineral stains on the leaves. More then half of the buds dropped and it refused to bloom indoor! It got a lot of half yellowed leaves before I dragged it outside in late Spring. It thrived outside and bloomed! In the mean time I got hooked on orchids. I started using the leftover orchid water (rain water with 1/4 strenth of fertilizer and a drop of Superthrive/per gallon) to water the gardenia. It's been growing like crazy! Now it's back in the house in front of my south facing window, and in bloom! It's in a 12" plastic pot and about 2 feet tall. Maybe it's the rain water or the superthrive, but there is definitely hope for all gardenia lovers! · Posted by: Jenn z9/19 SoCal (My Page) on Sun, Jan 20, 02 at 13:40 So that's the trick... "water with leftover orchid water". Why don't the gardening books say that?!? LOL! · Posted by: Lali z9, 18, So Cal (My Page) on Mon, Jan 21, 02 at 15:16 I can't believe how long this topic has gone on for. It is sooo hilarious! Anyway, I'm trying my first attempt to grow gardenias. I put them in the backyard (northern exposure) with ferns and azaleas, so I'm hoping they will be ok. Now that I've read this post, I'm really really really skeptical that they will bloom or even live by my hand. Thanks for the laugh! Lali · Posted by: freesias Z9 ) on Tue, Feb 19, 02 at 23:35 Oh My GOD! I just planted THREE 1 gal. 'Veitchii' gardenias in my front yard mixed border. I have a feeling, my are gonna DIE on me. I am definitely not touching these guys! Will water once every couple of weeks. THAT'S IT!!!! · Posted by: susan_CA z9 CA ) on Sun, Feb 24, 02 at 16:05 What a great thread! Gardenia culture is such a thrill of success/agony of defeat experience. Anticipating an unknown failure rate, I bought 6 'Veitchii'! The two planted directly under a tree (where I wanted to sit) and northern foundation exposure died. The two planted in eastern foundation exposure with shade mid-day on bloom copiously all summer. The two planted in western foundation exposure, where light tree shade relieves afternoon heat after 4pm do almost as well. All get composted manure in early spring, pine needle mulch, half-strength chelated minerals whenever leaves begin to pale or MirAcid if I think of it, water from sprinkler system early a.m. (including on leaves) daily in summer in the hot, dry central valley, and have FAST drainage. The two that died were in locations with slower drainage and more shade. The only year I had some bud drop was the year we had a late, wet spring, but they bloomed fine all summer. I have seen specimens in full sun in the central valley; they bloom well, but leaves & blossoms show sunburn damage. So I'm going with the sun/shade, wet/dry, feed/not theory. · Posted by: jxnphx Zn9 AZ (My Page) on Fri, Mar 8, 02 at 0:42 Oh my, oh my! The woman at the nursery said I could have an indoor gardenia in my east-window-garden (morning sun, high level of light the rest of the day), but it sounds like she forgot to tell me I'd need to install a swamp for it, as well. I certainly have plenty of heat for it, here on the low desert. I may be joining the ranks of the guilty gardenia group: I'm not likely to "mist" the miserable thing, nor am I likely to change my habits in on-going care (I am sadly irregular about watering and feeding my only other plant--a low-maintenance Madagascar Palm--dracena). I prepared the soil well enough though (a standard potting soil mixed with half-again as much peat moss), I placed the plant "high" in the middle of the pot, added a layer of peat moss on the top, and covered it all with some additional organic mulch, watered it in with an "acid" feeding, and set it above a large, relatively deep saucer with plenty of water for evaporation. I may have misunderstood the nursery lady's comment about the roots, though, because I removed a great deal of the soil from the root ball and treated the roots with hormone before placing it in the new pot and soil mix. I read in the messages above that this plant may not have liked that messing about with its roots. I believe I'll acquire one of those devices that gives a reading of the humidity, to see just how dry my window garden area really is. We'll see what happens. While I may be capable of sustaining this thing's life for a short while, after reading all of this, I'm not planning on much success with it. I tend to move on to other projects, and I'm afraid the poor thing will have to shift for itself more than it is constitutionally capable. Of course, reading about the success of those who largely ignored their gardenia gives me some hope. That's more my style. At least I have a good excuse for turning the AC down to 70 starting in April. I just don't think the local power usage police are going to understand it when I tell them that my astronomical power draw is necessary for the health of a plant. This is going to be expensive emotionally and monetarily. Who would have thought a trip to the nursery would result in such bondage? · Posted by: Joanmary_z10 z10 Ft. L. Fl. (My Page) on Fri, Mar 8, 02 at 13:16 Oh, what a wonderful laugh this has been! My poor old gardenia is there in Florida, with no one to care for it, depending on the sprinkler system to 'do its thing' and I have no clue what is happening to it. However I have my dark moments when I can see the Christmas lights decorating its bare twigs come December! Taking it that I will be using its twigs as mulch sometime soon, I have bought as a replacement, the African Gardenia. Now I wonder if this is in the same category? Here's to Gardenias who can take neglect!! · Posted by: jxnphx Zn9 AZ (My Page) on Sat, Mar 9, 02 at 15:31 I discussed my newly acquired gardenia issue with my elder sister who, smirking, told me it would probably do me good to have something to worry about. I can only think she was being complimentary about my faultless children and long-ago departed harpy of a wife. She herself has a half-dozen off-spring who provide her with plenty of heart-rending despair. Just in case she was being a smart-ass though, I bought my plant an ultrasonic humidifier which pumps 2.6 gallons of water vapor into the air each day, and I hurried to the used book store and increased my holdings in James Lee Burke (setting: southern Louisiana). I suppose I could have picked up some Faulker, as well, but he's so damned hard to read. I can't stand Tennessee Williams. I am thinking that a few dark and decadent thought-waves might make the gardenia feel a little more at home here in the bright, parched protestant desert southwest. Although it's only been a couple of days, I'm sure it's looking a little better than when I brought it home from the nursery; but just the same, I'm going to keep my eye on a new leaf that is looking a little yellowish. I don't want my dear sister to have the last laugh. · Posted by: BarbC coastal SC (My Page) on Fri, Apr 12, 02 at 15:53 LOL - I have tears rolling down my face and flooding the den. I have 2 unknown variety gardenias that I bought at HD 4 years ago. Since then, I have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to them and yet they thrive. They survived the great flood of '99 (were under 6 FEET of nasty swamp/river water and were still green 3 months later when the water finally went away) They were only 1ft tall at the time, so literally had 5ft of nasty black water on top of them. I even had to pick dried toilet paper off them, as the flood had taken the contents of 1000 septic tanks along its path. Those two gardenias and the roses were the only plants to survive that mess. Anyway, once I could finally walk through my yard again (without sinking up to my eyeballs in slimy mud) I dug those suckers up and moved them to my new (dry) house (roses too). They are still there and doing beautifully in full southern afternoon sun. I do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING special to them. I don't even ater then during droughts. Maybe that's the secret? The guy across the street has a couple and he also does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to his and his are even nicer than mine. Perhaps we are killing these plants with kindness? Maybe what they really want is to just be left alone?