Vlad, forums are mainly about learning and learning only. If you tell me that I should go back to school I’ll come back at you only if a person does it habitually .If you and others treat members differently, you can expect these little things. Like I said before, I tell members what and how I grow my stuff.

I am not going to tell you and others how to do yours .

If you show members your way of doing Is better, I might correct mine. I get along very well with all. If we stay on focus with this forum,I don’t see why this forum can get a lot better. Right now it’s already decent for others and me.

If you stay here, it’s perfectly alright with me, besides I don’t own this forum, just a visitor.

Vlad i miss you when your gone. There has almost always been some one displeased with someone else. It just happens. I have had people expressing displeasure with me in the past. I just ignore them.

Steve

As a long time GW member I was here for the people and content. But lack of forum functionality (things like an effective search tool, ability to “quote”) make it less desirable to me.

Hibiscus, this could be added, if this is suggested to Houzz. The citrus forum hasn’t developed yet to it’s fully but it’s growing. Hang in there.

I don't think houzz will change the functionality of the site. I haven't found a way to effectively convey to Houzz how ancient this platform is, but I imagine someone else has. Meanwhile, people fed up with it just go somewhere else. I'm hanging in, for now.

There is always Permies

Cold-hardy-citrus-trees

Growing-Lemons-Containers

Steve

Vladimir left because he kept making fun of me and I stood up for myself, in which many others do not have the courage to do and would rather dissappear. Vladimir it would of killed you to apprecite all I have done here but instead it was easier for you to criticize and poke fun at me and my ways of helping others in which many have benefitted from over the years. You see, examine your last post up above.

Bob and Steve, I'm still here, just lost many loved ones lately and have been skick. Do I take it personal when no one wonders how I have been? Or mentions my name above as so? Or when some put others on pedistals while I have been helping others here for years on end here and have been as kind as I know how to be?

I sacrificed a hell of alot ot time here, and still continue to show that I care after all these years, but things do get in the way. But what I can tell you is that I have better things to do than and far more important things in life than to let a forum like this or any other get to me.

Bob, you are rare and one in a million and so is Steve, and you both know that I appreciate all you do here) Thanks for caring. I don't see your " gratuitous snide remarks" or what ever insults you heard. I too as Steve says move on.

I still think this is the best forums and I sure have made many long lasting friendships here. People that care. People that try to help others like Kelly, Josh, Laura, Amy, Brian, Jenny, Amy, so many others to name a few)

Mike

Every forum has its strengths and weaknesses. Anything I’m interested in anything I search out the best forum. I have no idea about the old forum but l like this one and I’m a member of some of the other forums mentioned. I personally enjoy this one the most. And I just try and learn to better my skills and what works for some might not work with others and I try to stay out of arguing with anyone except on a religion forum 😎

Mike, don't let the negative people get you down. We all know that you give a lot to this forum to help others, to take in the beauty of the plants, and just to enjoy life with them. This place would be a rather boring without your humor and excitement for all the plants. Thanks for being a very good friend, I appreciate your kindness always and have enjoyed our fun days together and look forward to many more.

Mike, it is not all about you. I did not leave this forum because of you. It was because of you and others.

I never made fun of you but I did ask questions about how you grow citrus which you thought were attacks on you. I am a trained scientist trained to think critically and to ask questions about things I want to understand better. I did not intend to attack you. I did find you annoying after a while because I had to constantly explain to you that I was not attacking you. But you never understood that.

I am sorry that you took my questions as personal assaults.

Vladimir, you have made fun of my comments in the past enough for others to come to my aid and or defense, but I let that go. I have nothing against you. You know what you were doing then, but now that does not matter to me. If you want, we can make this is a new beginning then. If you have anything to say to me or about me let it be positive then. I will do same. Agreed? I apologize for the anything on my part and let’s keep that behind us. agreed?
I come here to enjoy positivity, friendships , helping others , sharing my experiences , and for fun. Sure you can find negativity almost anywhere even here, but I choose to see the good in others and the kindness others give here, plenty of it in my eyes.
We all have our faults so the olive branch is accepted by you. Thank you.
Nancy , I feel the same way about you. Thank you much !
Nick , you are a riot. I’ve seen that forum. That’s and hot topics. Whew. I stay away from those. I agree with you.
I couldn’t be more appreciative of those here, and I think highly of this forum.
Bob. Thank you.

I am a trained scientist trained to think critically and to ask questions about things I want to understand better. What a stupid statement. If a scientist doesn’t understand truly basic stuff is beyond me.

Mike, I accept the olive branch.

Bob, you and your ad hominem attacks are one of the primary reasons I left the forum.

I do not understand all of the "truly basic stuff" and so I ask questions to gain a better understanding. I also ask people to back up their statements/conclusions with hard evidence. Unfortunately, some people take that as a personal assault.

Vlad, I have been trying to be civil with you on several occasions, you keep coming back.

I am not the only one you have issues with. You have issues with Al, you have issues with others on different forums, not just this one. If I was you, I would tone down some.

You been on several forums here with Houzz and the old Gardenweb for a lot longer than I am and also on other forums, you should be one of the best forum members to help out.

Just recently you started your post on p/w, that Al started long, long time ago, you still have issues. You never seems to want to give him credit for what he is doing, give it up.

This is going to be the last issue I have with you hopefully, hopefully with Mike also. Mike has always been helpful, very civil, never had an issue with him, just a plain old good guy.

I can say what is good about this forum is that we don't have to fall totally in line.

Can you imagine If he had been a CFL or LED.

Steve

You’re right as usual but can you explain a cfl, what’s that, I think I know, somebody might not Know either. Is that someone being too bright? If yes, it couldn’t be me.

Steve, that picture should scare the hell out of members now, hope it work.

Just consider the forum back up to speed, all is good now, attitude,s going to be great now. Thanks for the picture.

Ever since Houzz took over this forum.

It was basically a big corporate buy out, Houzz hoped to buy out the already-established popularity of Gardenweb, to try to get more customers for their home furnishings services.

But meanwhile the forum has been sort of suffering from neglect, and all sorts of frustrating programming issues.

A lot of people got frustrated with all the programming problems, the new more confusing formatting, and left.

I still sometimes feel ambivalent about bothering to be here.

Ivillage fell apart and houzz bought it.

I wish this format is like the growing fruit one, ran by Scot, nice bunch of members. Citrus and subtropical are a little thin for me but their setup is great.

Houzz would have been alright if those finer knowledgeable members were still here. It’s hard to get this one going.

The growing fruit forum is not spread out like Houzz, Houzz has way to many forums that are not going all that well. The members on the growing fruit forum are a happy bunch, a helpful bunch. I don’t have long to go, so for me it doesn’t make any difference anymore.

i like a forum that stay active year around.

I suspect that a lot of members from way back had found that growing citrus north of zone 8 was difficult enough that most of them quit and then left the forum. If you are doing well with your citrus trees then you will probably stay a lot longer. I got 39 lemons off my NZL. This tree is a lot of work because I have to build a greenhouse for it every year and take it down a half year later. Others have had the same experience and decide to quit. I am retired and have plenty of time to putz around with this.

Steve

Well Bob

I am on the Facebook (potted citrus, cold hardy citrus, growning citrus and green house) forums. I am also member of Citrusgrowersv2 and tropicalfruits forum.

This forum here seems to have the most citrus activity , accurate information, and is well organized. What did I get out of Facebook greenhouse

Very Serious content from a very popular member

Steve

Hi guys.

I'm still here. I've just been swamped. Everyone quarantined at home means cooking 3 meals a day, and cleaning almost constantly. I wake up at 5 to make bread most days. By the time I'm done cleaning up, it's close to midnight.

Also, whomever said that there wasn't much to report in the winter is absolutely right. I'm just looking forward to take my trees outside. And to take myself outside, too! I was just about to make a new post about that. This quarantine is driving me crazy!

Vlad, glad you're sticking along. I like your posts.

I will say this. It's always tricky to figure out if someone is being sarcastic on a message board, for text doesn't convey tone. I've felt hurt in the past by things people posted to find out months later they had no ill intent when they wrote them.

Mike, you've been my mentor and my friend since the day I landed on GW with 2 scrawny Charlie Brown Meyer lemon trees. I can't even begin to thank you for not telling me to go pound sand whenever I found a critter on my tree and had a nervous breakdown. Which was pretty much every other day for a year.

Steve, your unwavering positivity is truly a gift from God. You always know how to defuse a situation, and make me feel better.

Laura, in you're around, I miss you!

I'm sure I'm forgetting plenty, and I apologize. I can't wait for spring to get here and this board to pick up again.

God bless, everyone, and Happy Easter!

Atheen

Bob I agree with atheen! I think everyone on here is just busy but love seeing what everyone’s up to from time to time. I personally have learned more from this forum more than any others and there are some amazing people on here real nice :)

Odd man out.

Atheen, you need to snip off the top 4 to 6 inches from the citrus trees you show in your above post. Doing so will eliminate the apical bud, that is stopping your trees from filling out.

Silica, that picture was taken 5 years ago, when I first got my trees. That's the same 2 trees, today. Thank you, though. /hug.

Bob, sorry, I didn't mean to leave you out!

I don't visit here much because the forum isn't convenient to use. The interface absolutely sucks. I much prefer citrus groups on facebook.

Josh

I used to rely on this forum (under another screen name) - back when it was GardenWeb. So many experts - Millet, Dr. Manners, Al, Patty, John Merr, but when Houzz took over it changed considerably - in my estimation, not for the better. I still browse, looking for good information and old posts from previously-mentioned experts (oh, Josh too!), but in general I prefer to get my citrus forum boost elsewhere. Too bad, because I used to really love it - and I don't Facebook :(

West by northwest I search for old posts too when searching for info unfortunately I don’t use Facebook either so there goes that but still some people on here who are really helpful I’m learning how to graft these days and figs and persimmons and learning everything from bob pretty much and past forums. If I ever get a Facebook page I’m sure it’s great on there!

More activity here than on Citrusgrowersv2, Tropicalfruitforum, Facebook (indoor citrus,coldhardy citru,and citrus general) combined. Thanks GW

greenman I just joined one yesterday on FB. Haven't posted yet with that group. Also joined the socal avocado group and the japanese maple group.

I'm not doing Facebook. It's a political cesspool. Honestly, I'm not understanding the big deal with the interface. Who cares about the interface. I'm here for the people, the friendships I've formed and the info we share, not some damn interface. Just get the app. I find it highly disappointing that people would abandon the gardenweb citrus community, just because it's now called Houzz and has a different interface. Just my two cents, anyway. Everyone has to do what makes them happy.

Atheen...it's much more difficult to post images here, sometimes impossible during glitchy times. That's what's driven me away. It's the difference between driving my Honda to the store....or driving a tractor. Both will get me there, but one is much more efficient and comfortable.

Nick, if you haven't, join Citrus Trees Kept in Containers.

Josh

Atheen good for you. I would have gven you 2 likes but I would only erase the first like on the second click. I find the information more accurate on this site.

Steve

greenman you lilve in the USA, you should support American workers.

Japanese auto's only, for me, Silica! :-)

Josh

Greenman, you are part of the problem

And the solution.

Josh

We bought our first american car, Chevy, after 30 years of Toyotas to support GM 'american' 2012 new. After 125,000 miles we incurred $6000 in repair cost and still more problem.s We got rid of each of our Toyotas around 250,000 miles with a total of the same types of problems. We bought another Chevy because of deep discounts knowing we will not get more than 100,00 mile before it will be cost ineffective to keep. At 33,000 we can see deterioration of our Chevy. While it is important to support american industries it is also equally important for american businesses to provide for its customers. The big 3 autos simply have not. We will be going back to Japanese cars for the remainder of our lives. We gave US autos a try and they failed by choice.

Steve

Ps almost everything else we buy american if possible, including citrus trees.

I watch3 forums early in the morning with my strong Sumatra coffee. It takes me about 20 minutes, than in the afternoon I spend another 20 minutes max.

All I have to say, it’s a complete waste, boring, boring.

Btw, I have 2 cars, one a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer and a 2012 Ford Taurus, zero problems, other than brakes, regular oil changes, tires ,all are high miles vehicles. The Mercury has seen a lot of the Eastcoast to Key West. it gets use for my fire calls, most of the times, rough terrain.

Has it been a reliable suv, you bet. I am with Silica, we are now engaged in germ warfare with the Chinese that Wally World and others made big.

I have a 2011 Ford Escape with 169,000 miles. Still running great. I change the oi on schedule. Like Bob I proudly buy AMERICAN.

I drive a 2011 Ford Escape which currently has 169,000 miles and still runs fine. I change the oil on schedule. Like Bob I buy AMERICAN unlike greenman.

Silica, glad to see you here. You’ve been MIA for a while too. I’ve been busy like Atheen...all kids and husband at home - they eat a lot. Cleaning and cooking...ugh. I do workout every day because my gym is offering virtual classes, which is nice. My house is getting more and more organized by the day lol

Laura, aint that the truth! I feel I'm constantly either cooking or cleaning! It never stops!

The only thing wrong with this forum is the FACT that it limits pictures 250,000 pixels. Facebook comes in second lowest 2.5 Megapixels. You cant see anything at 0.25 megapixels. There are so many attacks on this forum that measures to safe keep safety makes it difficult to get in sometimes.

Steve

Laura I second that! Lol and now everyone’s come down with the stomach flu great! Anyways coming here always cheers me up would love to see everyone’s trees waking up :)

We have a few Fords - many of their parts come from Mexico, but our ‘99 7.3L F250 never disappoints. Neither did our ‘85 and ‘02 Chevys. Would prefer to buy 100% American made, but my ‘02 4Runner has 330k miles and still runs like a top - I love that car!