Yes...what everybody said above. I have great luck with a fall garden and THEN a winter garden. The fall garden consists of pole snap beans planted in early to mid August (harvest until frost), summer squash planted in late July to early August, peppers planted in late June to early July, okra planted in early July, and this year I am going to try winter squash to be planted in late June or early July. I am still working on the right timing for fall tomatoes. I start collards, kale, cabbage,broccoli etc from seed in mid July for planting out in late August. These will all produce through the entire winter. (Broccoli side shoots, of course.) And then, I direct sow turnips, mustard, Asian greens, and carrots in late August. These also produce all winter. During the hottest part of the summer (July and August), plants will live as long as you water, but many of them will stop producing because the blooms fall off or fail to pollinate: tomatoes and beans being the biggest culprits. However, cowpeas,melons, okra, peppers, etc. do great during that time. We can grow and harvest food nearly year round here, but timing is absolutely crucial.

Thank you Randy, that's a really terrific complement. I wasn't overly pleased with the photo actually. I didn't think I caught enough of the rose and it was overcast that day. Maybe I need to think of the pics differently. I try to show how they really look out in my garden. So, thank you for your very kind opinion, that means a lot. Thanks Kathy, these are a few of the newer minis mixed in with the older ones I don't show as often, besides Julie Link.

Remy, got the email! I'm usually the one who never gets them, especially from you! Things are looking up! Got another number, too! Way to go April's-Little-Bingo-Number-Picker-Person. Christan, if you try to post twice in a row, the thread won't let you. So, if you forget to say something, or need to make a revision, a little trick I've used is to add a letter, or remove one from the title; i.e. instead of "bountiful harvest", delete or change a letter, as in "bountiful harvist". See? Then it will let you post a second time. Shirley, my shot-in-the-back experience was a one-time thing. Never had it before and hope to never need it again . . . but it was WAY better to have seven shots in the lumbar region than to carry on the way I had been for over a week. No contest. Hope yours never gets bad enough to need shots, but it's good to know they exist and will fix you RIGHT NOW if you ever do. Getting your box ready, Carol. Hope to be able to mail tomorrow. Good night, all. Dottie

Hi gang, I am so sorry that I have been missing a bit lately. I have been going through some ugly extended family issues and am feeling a little sorry for myself. I have been wrapping myself up with cleaning and purging to keep busy from thinking too much and it isn't working. Sigh. Fran, I am so terribly sorry you went through that. That is simply awful. I have a sick stomach just imagining how things happened. We walk over to the development behind our property and go house to house on foot here. If we had to trick or treat on my road then we would be doing it by car like you did. The houses are on big lots and far between. The cars fly down our road at high speeds and there are a few twists and turns. Stopping in time for a child would be difficult at best. I am so grateful for you that things turned out well and that all of you were safe. I still haven't uploaded my pictures Vic, I am being a bad Mom. I should be posting them but haven't made myself sit still and take care of it. I've been trying to keep my hands busy so the mind stays out of trouble. Sassy, I will go ahead and post the next round of the cookbook thread tomorrow if you didn't beat me to it already. I am tired and going to try to unwind a bit before bed. Quiet my mind and still my thoughts. Say a little prayer for me so I stay sane. Wendy, my thoughts and prayers are with your son and his doctors. I hope your son is recovering well and getting stronger. It is so hard when our little ones, big and small are sick and we have to trust the doctors to take care of them. Hugs, Tracy