We’re having instant summer here too, and after all of the rain we’ve added “skeeters” to the list of reasons to stay inside. I seem to be spending most of my time with the weed whipper, and pruning the wisteria, that keeps trying to get in the kitchen window.

Hi Jaj, glad we are not alone in this heat wave. Shouldn't complain since we don't have to shovel it, but it is difficult to go from 30's to high 80's/90's in less than a month! I don't adjust as well to these instant shifts in temps any more. Also, we have the "skeeters" as well. Of course, if we didn't have the weather to complain about we'd have to find something (or someone) else to complain about!

I totally would have taken your honeysuckle. I know it's aggressive but the smell always reminds me of my trip to maw-maws (yes that's what we called her). I love it. I am going to tell you a true story. I hired a lady to CUT some aggressive kudzco ivy off of a pecan tree and and a postoak tree both of whom were at least 50 years old. She used an herbicide that killed both trees. Had to have both trees cut down at 900 dollars. At the same time, I had a beautiful red rose bush on the side of my house. She dug it up and put it in her yard. She left the trellis. Needless to say, she will never do anything for me ever. Oh, and the capper. She asked if she could pick up pecans in my front lawn and I told her yes. When I got home from school, she told me I owed her $50.00 for raking the yard!!!!!! Finally, I grew a spine. The next year her sister asked about picking up my pecans and I told her she could pick them up on the other side of the fence by the road. We haven't spoken again. Am I a coward or what? Coward. So I say Peace always. Pam

Pam,
You are not a coward. You were brave enough to ‘draw the line’ with someone who was taking advantage of you!’.
In the wide world of the animal kingdom many animals scavenge off other animals ie. Lion does all the work with chasing and killing the antelope and the scavengers ie. Hyenas, buzzards, jackals attempt to ‘take advantage’ of the lion by taking away parts of the antelope that doesn’t belong to them. The lion will put up with so much of these scavengers and will either ‘draw the line’ by guarding his property and eating his fill or finally will get aggravated after a while and leave letting the scavengers have everything. You just acted like the lion and “drew the line.” :)

Oddly, I don’t have a problem with honeysuckle, I have one by my bay window that was growing nicely up the window, until she who will remain nameless snapped it off at the bottom, and ran across the yard shaking it. However, I have mint, English ivy, Scottish thistle, and purple flowers (I don’t know what they are) that I swear if I pull them out, or dig them out, they double in size.

Pam you are not a coward. I also have problems with conflict I would rather let things go then cause problems, it takes a lot for me to say something. You at least did stand up for yourself in the end I would have sent DH because he has a much better way of saying things then I do. When I do say something it is very blunt to the point and usually involves colorful language...lol

Pam, wish I could have sent you the honeysuckle. I too like them, but where we had it, the trellis just could not support it enough - it wasn't against the house. Also it seemed to be beautiful at the top of the trellis, but mainly just "stick" most of the way down. In Mich. the blooms only last a few weeks - about 3 - then nothing - so decided to go back to my tried and true clematis. Also, am glad you stood up for yourself - I really despise people who feel they are entitled to try and take advantage of others. The Golden Rule sure gets abused a lot!