Cricket, It would have been wonderful if you could have made it. I think we are just on the cusp of these practices being much more widely implimented; even on an institutional and municipal scale. Locally, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, is doing some very creative things to address some very old, lingering storm water issues that have plagued their campus (and everyone down stream from them) for years. I also hear about good things at Grinnell College. The folks in Iowa City are starting to also make some inroads. I keep hearing about their "Peninsula Project". The concept is quite simple: use gravity to transport the storm water already collected by your gutters and coax it into an area where it has a bit of time to soak in. The tricky part (as with any garden) is making it visually appealing throughout the entire year. I constructed three entirely different types of rain gardens to experiment with planting schemes -- the technical stuff is pretty straightforward. One of the planting schemes was a recommended planting design straight out of the book. Without a doubt, in the "looks department", it comes in dead last -- not ugly but it won't bubble your hormones either. In talking with the architect and his associate designer after class, we all concluded that the designs coming from the "experts" use far too many different plants. When one limits the pallet to perhaps five or six different plants and creates drifts, the effect is much more pleasing. I can show that principle when comparing my own gardens. Anyway, the best information on this topic will not be found in books but rather in a very nice, 32 page booklet put out by the University of Wisconsin. I ordered these and handed them out at class. However, the very same booklet is online in PDF format, which anyone can download for free. It is non technical and easy to understand with lots of great pictures and diagrams to help one understand. It was created expressly for the average home owner. IronBelly Here is a link that might be useful: Rain Garden manual

Ceresone, Darn things haven't gotten into my raised beds either but I wouldn't put it past them to tear them down! I made them out of rocks I collected from my creek bed. gldno1, I have not tried trapping them. Don't know if I could be strong enough to be face to face with one! jodonne, Your post gave me quite a chuckle! Bring that knee reaction to NW Arkansas for me! LOL helenh, I'm right in town off Hwy. 71 but am surrounded by a creek and woods. Don't think the shotgun idea would be a good one although I sure feel like using a shotgun! Stupid me thought my only problem would be squirrels! It's amazing what you can learn in three years through experience ... RACOONS, DEER, etc. The recent rains seems to have kept them in their homes as I have not had damage the last couple days during the rainfall. I've got more vinegar to pour onto some old clothing and rags outlining my gardens. I sure hope when the rain washed it out it doesn't soak into my plants! I think I have the rags far away enough from my plants. Will vinegar hurt my soil or plants? Nancy U.

Dawn, When they first started here many said it was too far north and the yields were low. I've seen the best looking cotton this summer that I've seen since they started growing it here. Taller and bushy and already getting ready to flower. When they started they had only a very short window to plant in. No chance for a replant here. Now I understand they have some varieties that germinate better in cooler soil. Some of the cotton this year was planted a lot earlier. I know when they started they would plant around June 1st. Now I heard most were done before June 1st. The Cotton Root Rot must be why they moved up here. I was told and know in several of the areas in the South Plains of TX they had to quit growing it because of something in the soil and the gins closed. Many jumped in and grew it when they started and then it tapered off. Last year acreage was way down. But as yields have picked up acreage is coming back some I hear. A spraying accident is a lot easier to take when the responsible person is truly sorry and it was an accident. Once in a while you will get the person who doesn't seem to care and obnoxious. You couldn't believe the way the people that worked for this sprayer talked to those that called. First it was obvious who was involved as we could see the plane taking off from and landing for refill at the airport 1/2 mile away. And then we all knew the farmer who farmed the field and he told us who the sprayer was. First there was the how do you know it was us? Then the you should expect that when you live next to a farm field. And then "the wind has been blowing and we are behind and can't wait for it blow out of the right direction and we have to make a living. Your garden is just a hobby. " I bit my tongue and went on. Not so sure i would today. The wind is blowing over 30 mph again at times and over 90. This is the third day in a row. Starting to think we are going to have another summer like last year. My plants had looked good till noon today. Checked them this morning and watered what I felt needed it. Last night my sister said they lost a plant in a container yesterday. They have theirs on the east side of their house so they have wind protection and shade. When I went out at noon all 3 container plants looked almost dead. I can't figure out why. Those I had sitting in cups in the containers but hadn't transplanted yet looked fine. I transplanted one of them to see how it will do. They were put in the containers about 3 days ago. The soil was moist. A few of the in the ground plants looked droopy also. I thought about spray as the worst ones were all in the same area. Even the ones in the ground. But not convinced that is it. Guess if someone would of sprayed in the wind it easily could of happened. Then while trying to do a few things I broke off another plant. Hasn't been the best week for me. I have got a lot of my planting done and getting things watered good. Supposed to cool off for a few days. The rain last night missed us again by a few miles. I was about to the point when I saw things after dinner to just call off the season. Probably as frustrating a two years I've ever had gardening. It has to get better. I dumped half of last year's mix out of the containers and mixed in new with it. The one I planted today I planted in all fresh MG regular mix to see if there is something wrong with the mix. I did add a handful of bone meal and a little of a mix of cottonseed, soybean and a few alfalfa pellets I had in a bucket. But have done that to every hole I've planted and no problems but in the containers and the plants right next to them. Jay

Your drift rose appears to have spot anthracnose. No rose is immune. I had read that Flower Girl might be the only rose that was immune. I have two Flowers Girls and when disease pressure is high enough they both caught it. Anthracnose infected leaves take forever to fall from the rose. The disease starts when temps are coolish 50s or 60s. With lots of rain or dew points take keep the foliage damp for hours. I get this every year to some extent. Right now I have two varieties that started during the last big cool down. Kardinal Kolorscape and Peach Drift. All of the rest are doing well as it has mostly been very hot. I think it looks worse than black spot.