Yeah, it's a little creek that leads into a bigger creek, then goes into a lake. And yes I do use the water from it often, and it must be fertile ground because we have never added ferts to the soil ever!
Some of my plants that are in the ground that i started in my apartment at the beginning of the year... I have recently moved from the apartments back to my home town of Vacherie Louisiana where the raised beds are, so im going to start making my own raised beds pretty soon for a late season...
Yeah, I Think you need more sun/light, mine get alot of sun and they are totally purple, but i gave some to my grandmaw and she keeps them im more shade and her's look like yours..