Hi again -- go to http://www.gardenersindex.com/group/louisiana to see the Louisiana group.

Hi Melissa. I just got in from out of town. It was nice to see your message. So yo uknow all about the heat and trying to keep our little loved ones healthya nd strong. I too love gardening but oh sometimes it gets frustrating when I seem t o kill more than I keep alive. I look forward to sharing and chatting.

Thank you Melissa! Same problem here. Except not enough rain & I am fighting the deer on a daily basis. They are eating my hostas, impatients, salvia & liriope. If I forget to spray "Deer Off" one nite, I'm in trouble. The salvia is 20' from my backdoor. I can't believe they are coming that close to the house!

Thanks for the info about the castor bean seeds. Your pictures are fantastic!

Melissa, it is a pleasure having someone close by to chat with...I am glad you enjoyed my gardens. This was started as a small project to keep me busy since I just moved here last July and don't know anyone...My father liked how beautiful it made the house look, so it just took off from there. I didn't think about putting mulch on my strawberries. I spend my time getting the annoying weeds out. But i found the the new Miracle Grow feeder makes fertilizing so much easier. I hope we can keep and touch. If you are every this way, feel free to drop by and see the gardens. I just finished a small one with azealas and wave petunias

Your flowers are beautiful...I'm down the highway in Ruston, and I would also like to know how to get my strawberries to grow...the plants are show growth, but no fruit as of yet.

I live on a wooded lot with mostly shade. I don't have a veggie patch or fruit. Wish I did though. I have a couple random wild blueberry bushes that struggle to get sun. They are probably seeded there by the birds. I may see the berries coming, but the birds beat me to them!