One of the many very nice things about this forum is that everyone is free to contribute their opinions...
The other things I greatly enjoy are the humour, the help, the range of ideas and different perspectives….. as well as the patience and kindness other people show in taking time to read (when they choose to) the things that I write and ask.
In my humble opinion there is no single one way of doing anything that is totally right... a huge range of things work for different people in different circumstances. What works one time may well not work the same way or as well the next. I guess that's what makes growing things so very worthwhile - there's alway something to learn and other people to learn from. When I can offer my experiences to others and be helpful it's a huge added bonus.
We are all experts in one way or another and to some degree or another... it's just that some are more expert than others.
I also think we all have something to learn.
I can take from posts anything that I feel is helpful and choose to ignore anything I feel is not... without (I hope) giving offence.
I also like the notion that I can simply not respond should I feel there is something that will not help further either my own or other people's ideas.
Being an awkward, often tired and miserable old f**t at times I try not to respond negatively to things that at first glance / read seem to be too controversial or are likely to be either misread (not always easy) or cause offence. I feel there's no point. There are already too many occasions when this is apt to happen in other areas of life no matter how we try to avoid it.
Everyone is entitled to their own view / idea and I am entitled to disagree. Whether I choose to express disagreement or not is also my right... I choose to stick to what I perceive to be the spirit of the forum.
Be careful and kind – polite and friendly.
Please excuse this post…. Presently I am tired and rambling… I just wanted to say:
This forum is a good place to be with fantastic members. Where else can you get to talk to a possible audience of 7000 people and meet so many caring, patient and considerate folks?
Marigolds… Yep. I’m sticking some in on the plot for the first time this year. I like the smell, the colours are radiant and warming come the first signs of summers end especially as dusk draws in.
Who knows they might even dazzle a few pests as well as cheer me up.