I'm writing from Italy, and i'm not so informed about cold. However: Young fig tree bears without problem 4-6 celsius degrees under zero, (may be 21-22 F). Is important that the pot rests on (in contact) to the floor (especially if the floor is supported on the ground). I have seen interesting covers to allow the relative "warmth" of the floor can remain under a sealed cartboard bell covering the plant. (remember that the ground under a few feet can be that is not frozen, especially in a garage on the side of the house). I remember an old fig tree in the ground, if it has poor soil (when a tree is certainly very poor soil) and not too wet to stand at -18 � C (0 � F). I remember that too much nitrogen fertilizer, poor sun radiation, and excess water are harmful to the resistance to cold. In London, the temperature rarely drops below zero Celsius 30-32 F, but the excess moisture does find figs filled with sap, and then moderate frosts are deadly. In Switzerland, the plants on steep slopes and sunny, have a hardwood such as a bone, very strong and resistant to frost. In particular I have seen too rich and too soft soil in the pots, good soil for the fig tree is a good percentage of heavy soil and a little peat, have no concern that the fig tree grows slowly. At the end of the summer to reduce watering!, and NOT manure, and care very much that the fig tree takes a lot of sun. The wood must be hard; not to be herbaceous. Do not conserve the pot on temperature upper than 45 F. Congratulations on your commitment in botanist! My regards to loslunafarms and Giuseppe, my dear friends! Sergio

Peony seeds have multiple dormancies. The easiest way to germinate them is to leave them outdoors and you should get germination within a year. Sometimes you get much faster germination. An unheated greenhouse should be OK. The offspring will not have the same flowers as the parent unless you have a straight species tree peony.

Quality of file was always my main goal for my mother. Her death certificate says she died of lung cancer! Her oncologist confirmed to me that the cervical cancer she had about 14 years previously, 40 plus years of HRT, had spread to just outside her stomach and then to her lung. And yes the oncologist said that many years of estrogen probably did have a lot to do with the cervical cancer. My mother was a heave smoker so the hospice people just put down lung cancer. My father and sister went along with it and at that point I was just to tired to argue anymore. They forced mom to quit smoking 4 months before she died and my attitude was that it was just cruel. At that point what difference did it make. I just wanted her to be as comfortable as possible and if smoking helped so be it. Even her doctor said he didn't have a problem with her smoking. They went on and on about how they should have made her quit. I tried endlessly to explain it was never their responsibility to make her do anything and finally just gave up. Looking back I am fairly sure my mother knew she was sick the 2 years before diagnosis but she chose not to do anything about it. She told me that after the first cancer if it ever came back she wouldn't do anything about it. Mom was 81 and in the end she died in her own bed in her own house just like she wanted. Thankfully she didn't have any pain, non at all. But the whole experience could have been much easier for her, and me, if I wouldn't have had to fight family on so many issues. They just couldn't get it around theirs heads that she didn't really want to eat or drink anything and again tried to force the issue. I finally had to have a total screaming fit with my family because my mother was just crying about how they wouldn't leave her alone. I kept having to tell them that it was not about them and what they wanted it was all about mom and what would make it easier for her. It was not a day I ever want to repeat. Our first hospice nurse actually told my father that she didn't see anything wrong with my mother and if she would just get up and walk to get her strength back she would be fine! My question was what part of stage 3 cancer didn't she understand. Needless to say she never came back. In some ways hospice made it harder. The next nurse came in everyday and told my mother she was dying. I ask her to stop because mom was so confused she would forget she was sick. Again I thought it was cruel. Finally the third nurse was a keeper. She was wonderful with my mother and really helped my father cope with everything. Sorry about the rant but just today my father again said if only he had made her quit!! It will be 3 years on the 27th and it's been a hard week for me. I still miss her so much. Claudia

This is a good start, but beware, just because the nursing home has a good rating on this site does not mean it's as good as it is rated. I recently chose a NH based on this and with some prior experience with them, but was sadly disappointed with the level of care on the second visit. It troubles me greatly that when we are left to put our loved ones in the care of others that there is so much that still falls through the cracks. My experience with the NH's I have had to to use ( all well rated) is that I still ended up having to be there on almost a daily basis to make sure things were taken care of in the manner they indicated they would be. Whatever happened to doing things right and caring about your job, especially when the care of helpless are involved? I am glad this site exists, but this country still has a long way to go to take care of our elders with the respect and dignity they deserve. LBF