Thanks @Dave, it is good to know I did not break any rules this time. I spend so much time listening to the news that sometimes I think it best if I just listen to music. There is very little good news these days. Very sad. I am usually a happy person, but with all the doom and gloom on TV it is difficult to keep smiling. ATP is a real life saver for some of us i am sure.
You are all basically my extended family and without you I would be one lonely old lady. Thanks to all of you for that.

JB, goodness, sorry to give you such a shock!

kylaluaz said:JB, goodness, sorry to give you such a shock!

Indeed!

Well, the good thing is that South Africa is very far from west Africa where Ebola is rampant!

http://media.economist.com/sit...

It's about the distance from San Diego, CA to Newfoundland in Canada. Or from Florida to Alaska.

There's a MidAt gardener who just came back from a mission trip in West Africa, but still far from the epidemic (Jan, are you around?). She was showing us pictures of her trip when we met up at Holly and Ric's. I'd love to go on a safari!

The association I had with this, I realized, is a friend of mine whose daughter DID go to Africa -- she went to Uganda, in fact, for a senior project at Harvard. That was what popped into my mine when @JB mentioned "her girl" going to Africa!

And yes, Africa is a big, big place. I have another online friend who lives in S. Africa, matter of fact. And another who just returned from a two year Peace Core tour there.

:)

A safari sounds really cool to me too! Just need to win the lottery!

@JB I cannot think of any times when you might have broken any 'rules' here! Your comments have always been welcome!

[quote="Catmint20906"]A safari sounds really cool to me too! Just need to win the lottery!

@JB I cannot think of any times when you might have broken any 'rules' here! Your comments have always been welcome! [/quote
Give me time. sometimes I am in a rush, post something forgetting I am not on Facebook, and then realize I am on ATP. Not easy being old and forgetful.

I think you do just fine.

We love you just the way you are!!

Roses_R_Red said:We love you just the way you are!!

You are all just too nice .....thanks anyhow.

sorry, posted in the wrong forum!!!!! I'm trying to cut and paste my post into the garden chat forum

What is going on with this forum? Where is everyone? Gardens are almost over but houseplants , planning for next year and seeds should be active. I am concerned that we had this forum created and now there is no interest. Sorry if I should not be asking, but I am concerned. I miss you all and I hate being out here alone. WAAAAAAAA

JB, I don't think there's anything wrong with our forum! I think we have a great forum with really nice people! I haven't been out in the garden much due to still recovering from my ankle sprain, plus things get very busy for me as a single parent with a full-time job plus sole responsibility for maintaining a house (and yard). I try to 'like' things to let people know I am reading and interested, but usually have to wait for the weekend or other down times for more extended postings. I think ATP also has a tremendous number of forums where people get different needs met, and so the regional forums need to find their own unique role to play.

I think one need the regional forums can fill is being more 'homey'--e.g., a little more about our lives so we can support one another, a little more 'off-topic' chat. One issue is that we are a 'latecomer' to the forum world here at ATP, and so many people had already found 'homes' on other forums--e.g., the Sandbox chat forums, or Northeast Gardening, or Perennials, or wherever.

I think a second need the regional forums can fill is actually meeting each other in person, since we are in the same region--e.g., swaps--or informally sharing seeds/bulbs with each other since mailing costs are lower to others nearby.

Others may have other ideas about the unique niche that the MAG can fill in our lives. For me, it's my home forum on ATP. However, I apologize that my ability to post a lot comes and goes. With school starting again in September, a lot of my free time went, since all my daughter's extracurricular activities started up again, and it can get very busy. I get home later in the evening, and am out and on the run more, where I can only make quick responses via my cell. So, with me spending a lot of my spare time now in noisy volleyball courts, it would be great if others wanted to fill the silence! :-)

It's our forum. It can serve whatever unique niche we would like, given the overall busy-ness of ATP and its 91 forums. Would love to hear any ideas others might have!

Cat, I know there is nothing wrong with the forum....sorry if you misunderstood. I meant...where is everyone? You gave a very complete reason for your absence and I can appreciate that. I have been there and done that and it is not easy. My hat is off to you. I think you do a remarkable job considering all you have on your plate.

If I am not mistaken in the past, and I could be wrong, but when we were discussing off topic items too much, we were ask to take them to the Sandbox because there are a lot of people who come here to talk plants and problems not listen to personal problems or health issues. Sometimes it is acceptable but not for too long. I have no problem with personal issues being mentioned but I don't particularly like to dwell on them. Just my opinion. Plants are my pleasure and I relax here on the forum talking about them.

I did not mean to start an argument or stir up any ill feelings, I just wondered where everyone was. I will go back to my box and wait for someone to post. Have a great day and relax....things do get better. Think happy thoughts.

hi, JB. I don't recall asking anyone to take anything to the Sandbox forum! Of course our primary reason for being here is our shared love for plants and all things related to plants. But there are a lot of things that impact our lives and thus our ability to be out there in the garden. As a regional forum, I think we have the opportunity here to talk about those things. Please don't be quiet or 'go back to your box' (?)--we enjoy hearing from you! No ill feelings or arguing that I'm aware of!

It takes a while to build a forum, too. @Catmint20906, you've been doing so much! And, @JB, I do know what you mean, though; sometimes I look here in the morning and there aren't new posts and I has a sad.

There aren't that many of us, yet, in here, either, and I do think fall events have taken some people's attention, like Catmint mentioned.

I keep starting threads, hoping somebody will at least point and laugh! (Thanks, @LysmachiaMoon! in the Killer thread.)

And, I don't do houseplants. But I do do succulents, and I do wintersowing, so I'm focused on that stuff at the moment. I realized I started a thread that is in need of my input, so I'll post a picture or two there. (Thread is "latest fun project" here, The thread "latest fun project" in Mid Atlantic Gardening forum and maybe people can post other fun projects there too, if they like! Even non-gardening fun projects would be welcome.)

Why don't you start a few threads? It's kind of like fishing, I guess. You toss the baited hook out there and hope for a bite!

Sometimes things are just busy or sometimes maybe not much to say. I know my garden is really winding down for the season and not much great gardening news to report.

I know, Rita, and it's different for people further north, too. Here, we haven't even had frost (not that I am ready for it, NOOO!) and while it's cooled down some, it's still more early fall weather and flowers are still there, some.... And my kale is going to town!

So far I've harvested seed from my white and pink nicotiana, purple and red cleome, pink and purple annual dianthus, beautiful red celosia and purple king zinnia. I'm trying to get seeds from all of my lisianthus because those seeds are most expensive to buy. The pod left after the flower is spent seems to take a very long time to dry out and brown!! Everything about these beautiful flowers takes a long time!

I have some of the potted lisianthus inside already but I don't have room for all of them that are out there.

The only herb pots that I'll take in will be parsely, sage, dill and chives. I'll get more seed for basil and start them from scratch inside.

I've just started taking my tropical hibiscus(4 plants) and as soon as the leaves begin to die I'll put my pots of callas and cannas in the garage.

Made a very sad discovery......it looks like 2 of my rose bushes have rosettes disease!!!!!!!

Lots of things still blooming here. The roses actually like this cooler weather better than the hot summer. I've potted up some twigs from my red crape myrtle and put them in a pot with Fafard covered with a dome made out of a large plastic pretzel container. (I don't throw away any containers because I always find a use for them).

I really should go out and take some pictures before everything is gone.


OOoops.......I was so anxious to post something that I posted on the wrong thread