Thanks to an alert high school student in Peters Township, we were able to honor and remember a 22 year old hero of the 173rd Airborne who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Nui Mieu mountains during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Silver Star posthumously. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/30/honoring-tom/

One of my greatest honors in life has been the privilege to honor and record the great sacrifices of those who went to war, as well as those who never came home. 'All gave some, some gave all' and Memorial Day remembers those who gave all, along with their families and friends. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/29/my-memorial-day/

Otherwise known as Aphids, these common plant insects extract 'honeydew' from the tender growing tips of branches, with the help of ants in a symbiotic relationship. Their sweet, sticky excretions attract bees and will grow 'black sooty mold.' This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/04/20/plant-lice/

The story of an epic battle with the oil and gas industry in Alberta Canada is almost beyond belief until you consider the strength, dedication and perseverance of an amazing lady by the name of Jessica Ernst. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/27/canadas-best/

Since the early 'wild west' days of shale gas drilling and fracking in western Pennsylvania, it has been clear that the industry needed better regulation and oversight, especially to those with sick children and contaminated drinking water and polluted air. The attorney general's report last year pointed out the seriousness of these issues, and now there is proposed legislation to correct many of the ongoing problems. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/26/pennsylvania-fracking-reform/

Shrubs-N-Stuf, a roadside garden center in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, has been a source of friendship, flowers and lawn sod for decades, and if anything, they are still upping their game! This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/25/pittsburghs-best-kept-secret/

In the second part of THE FRACKING SANDBOX blog, we take a closer look at the bankruptcies, environmental damages, and lawsuits that remain in Wisconsin, while wondering what can be done to keep this from ever happening again. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/24/the-fracking-sandbox-part-2/

Since a good, old-fashioned, all-day soaking rain on Mother's Day, our Pittsburgh area weather has been hot and dry, so it's time to get busy dragging hose, since your plants are counting on you! This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/23/dragging-hose/

Fracking leaves a destructive trail from the strip mines of Wisconsin to the shale gas fields of Pennsylvania. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/22/the-fracking-sandbox/

In the current Murrysville court case, in front of Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court, it's difficult for me to belief that one of the judges on the panel can be impartial, especially after reviewing his long history of being a cheerleader for the drilling and fracking industry here in Pennsylvania.  This episode is also available as a blog post: http://bobscaping.com/2021/05/20/recuse-yourself-judge/