Hello everyone: I thought really hard before making this post since it was OT, but I am so glad I did. Thank you all for your suggestions. I did not realize that really dwarf sunflowers existed, or that Nasturtiums would mound. I am leaning toward dwarf zinnias, one of my late mother's favourites which I have never grown, for the girls, but for my own pots which hang on my deck rail, I will use the other suggestions as well. Merry Christmas to you all!!

Hello everyone! Thank you very much for your replies!! I repotted the plant into a 4in clay pot....all my other plants are in clay pots, I feel like I have a little more control over moisture that way... What I thought was a fungus, might have just been where something from within the soil leached out and into the perlite, and crusted ontop of the soil. The roots looked good, just very wet. I potted it in a mix I had on hand....1 part african violet soil and 2 parts perlite. I would have gona out and bought new soil...but, it's getting close to Christmas, and I sorta felt a little guilty getting myself something before I had all the presents for my kids bought. I think it will be fine as long as I made diligent about how much water I give it. I appreciate all of your adivce!

So sorry for your loss! I have only been married for just over 3 years, and already cannot imagine how difficult such a loss would be to deal with. I have something to add on the lettuces, celery, bunches of greens front. Even though our grocery stores have mostly installed the annoying mister attachments that keep spraying the vegetables, they still can be a bit dehydrated when you buy them. This is because the cut end of a plant seals over quite quickly in order to keep whatever moisture the plant holds. So all the misting helps, but isn't enough. When you get any of the above veggies home, trim a quarter inch from the cut end(s) and leave to soak in a container of cool water for a couple of hours or overnight. Soaking up the water refreshes the veggies the same way it refreshes cut flowers. Then be sure and drip or pat them dry before following the steps others have noted. The infusion of fresh water will help them stay fresh longer. I lived alone for many years, and loved fresh vegetables. During that period, I lived near several produce stores which helped as I could stop in regularly, but still, a head of lettuce is a head of lettuce! Another thing to focus on is planning. For example, say you enjoy munching on celery stalks from time to time, but can't get through a bunch before it will wilt and go bad, determine how much you are likely to eat fresh, and then come up with a recipe to use the rest before it spoils. If you'll likely eat half a bunch of celery fresh, how about using the other half in a cream of celery soup (which you can freeze in meal sized portions) or use some as a side dish (sauteed celery in a mustard cream?) and some in a vegetable soup? For fruits, you can reserve some to eat fresh, and then cook and freeze other portions to eat as desserts...a bag of fresh plums or apricots? Set a few in your fruit bowl, lightly poach the others with a bit of wine or liqueur, and bring it out when you are out of fresh to eat topped with a bit of crunchy granola or yogurt or on a slice of angel food cake or toasted sweet bread. Puff pastry bought frozen in a box is excellent for a single person, as you can cut off enough for your own single use, line a baking cup with it, fill with some of your frozen fruit and make yourself a nice little treat without all the leftovers of a regular pie or cake to deal with. I developed a real passion for soup while I was living alone because it freezes so well and is such a healthy way to use a variety of meats, vegetables and grains. Living alone, it can become very easy to get into a rut and not get a healthy variety of foods in your diet because it just seems like too much work. But you can make soup out of just about anything, and it is also an excellent way to use up the bits and pieces of leftovers when your fridge begins to be crowded with tupperware containers! And remember, if you would be willing to go through the trouble to cook a good, balanced meal for someone else, then you should be willing to do the same for yourself because you are just as important, if not more, than anyone else. Cherish yourself the way you would cherish someone else, you deserve your own care.

I was very sick and in the hospital for a month, including an ICU stay. At one point, the doctors told my husband I may not make it. Anyhow.... I have a perspective and personal experience. The above poster talking of her family helping out with their time is what I have to reiterate. If you live too far to be of help with your time, then do the basket. If you are near by, then your TIME will be WAY more helpful than the goodies that you bring. Some helpful things: Make dinners for the family left behind. (ie your grandchildren if the DIL is in the hospital with her mother) do their laundry. clean the house walk the dog. Take the kids to school. Take care of the kids Don't ask, just do. My parents and my husbands' parents came from far and stayed for weeks to help out with all of the above. Even after they left, my entire neighborhood rallied and delivered dinner to our family for months during the hospital stay and after I got home. Many of the families took turns caring for our 2 little kids while I was in the hospital and my husband was at the bedside for hours on end. I will forever be grateful for my friends in the neighborhood.