Sergio, I remember well that I could not send you the cuttings because they already had stated to root because you and I were having problems getting our email through to each other. So; rather then send you cuttings that might fail, I later sent you the little rooted plant instead. You were very patient and did call me a liar.....like some do. I am glad to hear that you are finding enjoyment in your LSU Gold fig. Good to hear from you again Sergio. Paully, Retirement is a special time and I can help you. I should have LSU Everbearing and Scott's Yellow cuttings to trade with you in the fall.....around the December time-frame. You have some interesting cultivars in your collection too. As you know, I specialize in the LSU bred figs and I'm not at all familiar with ANY fig known as LSU Yellow, nor with its fruiting characteristics. I once had one from LSU named "Yellow Pollinator"; but, that one was an edible male caprifig fig that produced figs the first week of June. LSU Yellow, however, could still be in my collection as some unknown LSU selection....just not sure yet. I have a few of those little known O'Rourke selections that I am studying in my "dreamed up" orchard that is only a "fig"ment of my imagination. lol again and again.....because some fignuts are just so envious of others and outright silly in their behavior (and you know who you are)!!! Maggie, I am the guy who first put James Robin's contact information on the Internet YEARS ago. That was done on this very forum after I posted certain information about a new "Shiny black" fig that I found at a local nursery. That "outing" was done with JR's permission. He was subsequently beaten up pretty badly by several fig forum members who found nematodes in some of the plants....especially by one certain big mouth forum member who now claims to be JR's good friend. What you do not know is that, I was the ONLY ONE supporting James Robin back in those days....when it looked like EVERYBODY was BASHING him BIGTIME. Forum member "Marylandmojo" threatened to file complaints to the Federal authorities against JR and I made several visits to JR's place and talked to him on the phone quite often advising him about all what was being said about him on this forum. The old man was rightfully worried.......and I hated THE FACT that "I had gotten him into that mess!!!" A year or two ago, we had yet another public BASHING of JR on the forums when yet another vocal forum member received a nematode infested plant from JR. Again, I stood up for the old man to that bashing too. Just so you know. Those are the FACTS. I am not the bad guy that a certain big-mouth forum member paints me to be. You too had a run in with this guy when you first started posting. And he knows who he is, he is the guy who wanted my "Zebra" fig reallllllly bad. And that Zebra fig is yet another story in itself....long before you were posting on the forums. To this day he is still ticked off at me because I taught him a good lesson........ Dan Semper Fi-cus

My basil plant had one neon green worm like caterpillar bug (exact color as the basil leaf so he blended right in). Many of my basil plant leaves were eaten up and there were about 40 or 50 black hard bead like poops from the caterpillar all around my kitchen counter under the basil plant. I found this lime green caterpillar having a feast on the underside of a leaf! I put it in a zip lock baggie and he produced a poop in the baggie!!! (no I did not collect the poop from the kitchen counter.) He is going in the trash with all the poop!!!!! See photo of bug!

I saw your post earlier and did a quick google search on "black ladybugs". I hope someone with much more experience will respond. But just from my search, black ladybugs are similar to what is familiar to us as ladybugs. They prey on other "pests", so are beneficial. There are black lady bugs and the familiar red/orange ones, and there are grey ones too from what I found. So don't act yet until you hear from the more experienced people. You may want to keep these "guests" around. Jennie Jennie

It sounds like living together was actually a great idea because it has given you the chance to see that he is NOT going to be a good partner for you. I know from experience that although you have to love the person you are with, it is an absolute necessity that you also respect them and how they live their life. If you can't respect him as a man and as a father, you will never be able to have a good marriage. Get out as fast as you can! Don't feel bad that you can't commit to being a step-mother to your boyfriend's kids. Because you and the kids haven't bonded in a parent/child relationship, it won't cause them pain when your relationship with their dad ends. You have actually done everyone a favor by keeping your role limited. It sounds like you were very nice to them, and that is all that is required of you. Take care and if you can, try to find a man without kids or with ones that are grown!