I think there are several different points here. First, I think everyone concurs that you did the right thing in both reporting him and testifying against him, and we applaud you for your courage in doing so -- hopefully any one of us would do the same thing, if we were in your shoes. Second, I don't necessarily think this is an inappropriate place to bemoan the sudden and unexplained loss of a garden, seeking emotional support from other gardeners -- and hopefully, some ideas as to possible causes and/or solutions. It seems to me that there have been other similar posts, accompanied by sad pictures of barren ground...and no one complained about those. The third point is the problem, for me and I think perhaps for some others: I think it's a HUGE leap of logic to conclude that the damage to the garden was a result of "sabotage" by your neighbor. It may have been his handiwork, but with no proof of either the cause of the plant loss OR a connection -- even if the source was determined to be, say, a heavy application of Roundup -- to your erstwhile jerk/neighbor, I think it is unfair to state as a fact that he was the cause. He MAY have been -- but it could have resulted from any number of other causes as well. Could there be a long-forgotten oil tank sitting under the garden that suddenly popped a seam? Drainage/seepage from a spill elsewhere? A blight (natural)? Infestation of the soil? Without having your soil and/or the dead plants tested, you won't know. If a soil test shows a heavy concentration of mercury, for instance... and this guy worked in a lab with mercury ... then your "leap of logic" gets a little closer to "circumstantial evidence" ... but it still isn't necessarily proof of anything. As any good lawyer will point out...! So bemoan the loss of your plants -- you will get plenty of sympathy and perhaps some good suggestions and other ideas of possible causes from the gardeners here. But while your neighbor sounds like a penultimate SOB, that doesn't, as George says, make him a plant killer, too. So while I can relate to the urge you are feeling to blame him (and I'm sure the logic seems obvious to you!), please do consider other possible causes. As a gardener myself, my very FIRST step would be to find out WHAT killed them... something in the soil (what?? get a soil analysis, including chemical testing), something in or on the plants (what??), nearby contaminants (streams, a factory, etc.) So my personal take is that there is nothing inherently wrong in your post, if you are seeking sympathetic ears for a traumatic gardening experience and (hopefully) seeking advice as to possible solutions ... the problem (for me) is the unsupported allegation against someone in this, a land where innocence is still presumed until guilt it proven. Just speaking for myself...

Shock. Denial. Anger. Grief. Acceptance. Going to Newbury Perennial Gardens to drown my sorrow. Typical of a big corporate buyouts. At the purchase time, the line is always that "we like it the way it is. If it ain't broke don't fix it." But in a few years, that always changes. Don't let the fox in the hen house, no matter what it promises before about not eating the chickens. You know it's the nature of the fox to eat chickens. Big businesses are about cranking as much profit as possible, and finding ways to make an already profitable business more profitable usually involves a very big change, as Dan Hinkley discovered. I hope he starts a new operation after the no-compete period is over.

It can be difficult as we grow up to change patterns of how we have always interacted with our parents...and some of us get to a point when we recognize that old patterns need to be changed, because we realize that a parent does not seem to respect us, or respect the way we are doing things. We find that they may treat other family members (less deserving with more respect) even though that person has their own issues. And so, we begin to understand that changes need to occur, so that they begin to see us as an adult, and respect us. Read what you can find, or better yet, find books on DVD as you drive in the car. Make this a year that you grow and evolve. Ask for suggestions with a counselor on communicating as a grown up with your parents, instead of still being the little girl needing their help and advice all the time. I find myself falling into old patterns too, and I am working on it. Perhaps this is your time of personal growth. Perhaps now that you are in your 40's it is a time in life for you to begin to grow into the woman you are meant to be. You may try talking to them, and telling them that their negativity and lack of confidence in your decisions has reached a point where it needs to change. That they need to see you as the adult woman, wife and mother that you are. That you know that they are concerned, but that they need to work "hard" on putting a "POSITIVE" spin on their words, because it is necessary for your emotional well being...so that you can parent your children from a healthy state of mind, and not a discouraged, or angry, or upset state of mind. And that you need them to work on this, and that you are going to call them on it their behavior if they don't. Sometimes, parents too fall into old patterns of behavior, and may not even realize how they sound, or the effect of their tone, or words. Or their general attitude may need re adjusted to a much more positive one. Its a new year...a good time for fresh new changes for everyone!

Its nothing like epliepsy. Its a snorting/wheezing fit that some dogs do, sounds like they are trying to hock up a loogie over and over again. From pet place.com Reverse sneezing is a common phenomenon in dogs. In a regular sneeze, your dog pushes air out through the nose; however, in a reverse sneeze, air is pulled rapidly in through the nose. During a reverse sneeze, your dog will make rapid inspirations, stand still with his elbows spread apart, extend his head, and his eyes may bulge. He'll make a loud snorting sound, which might make you think he has something caught in his throat. Each reverse sneezing episode generally lasts for less than a minute up to two minutes. The exact reason for these episodes is unknown but may be related to allergies, nasal irritants or nasal inflammation. A reverse sneeze may look disturbing  many people fear that their dog is not breathing during these episodes  but it is not a harmful condition and there are no ill effects. Reverse sneezing attacks are generally quite brief and not life threatening. An episode can be stopped if the dog is stimulated to swallow by either massaging the throat or briefly pinching off the nasal openings. Some dogs have reverse sneezing episodes so frequently that various medications may be needed to reduce their frequency.