I am appropriately impressed! But I must say, it seems to run in your family. The genius gene, I mean! But seriously, isn't it so satisfying as Mom to see this kind of results? Just feels so good! Congratulations to Elder Son *and* to you, the Mom (rhymes with the Bomb).

So, I'm not getting a strong sense of confidence here about what it is! Some say it's a box elder and some say no. Hmmmm.... If it weren't a box elder, what else could it be? I'm leaning towards thinking it's a box elder. It has a similar leaflet pattern to a younger seedling I was growing (from a volunteer plucked out of my flowerbed) for a while that someone else here identified as a box elder -- Acer negundo. Here's the younger one that I threw away last month: It's not exactly the same as the bigger one (the small one had three leaflets and purplish stems), but I think the leaf pattern is similar enough that these may be the same species. And the fact that the big one grew six feet in one season is making me think it must be some aggressive junk tree, too! Still, there is some doubt here. So if anyone knows whether the big one might be a better tree than Acer negundo, speak up and save its life before it gets the dreaded shovel-o'-death!

Vern, If you know that you are going to eventually have to transplant from your tupperware container, why not just start the sideways fig cuttings in the pot or barrel in the first place? Saves a ton of fussing around with tender shoots and roots. I like to start them in the ground where they are to grow, so they never have to be transplanted. Easier on both you and the plant. Maybe you could line your tupperware with the bottom end of a cereal box before you add dirt, then you could lift the rooted cutting out in one piece. Theoretically, the box would eventually rot away and you would be happy. The cuttings that I carefully dusted with Rootone are the ones that usually don't do as well, for some reason. So now I don't try to dust them or soak them in anything. Just straight into the potting soil or dirt, and inch or so deep. Works best in spring when the ground is heating up yet there is plenty of moisture available from melted snow or the incessant rains. I find Elders method of leaving 1/3 of the entire sideways branch exposed to be interesting. I suppose that works well if you keep the environment very humid, as these cuttings cannot tolerate much drying and still be viable. My method of burying them completely in soil helps ensure they don't dry out as well. Humidity and heat are the two things needed to root fig cuttings. It is getting kind of late to be propagating figs in some areas of the US. Unless you are doing it indoors or in a greenhouse.

I thought I would bring this thread back for people who have Larry's iris's to post pics of. Sadly, Larry passed away this past fall at the ripe old age of 86! DOUCETTE, Lawrence L. Of Wilmington, November 15, 2011 at age 86. Beloved husband of the late Jean (Smith) Doucette. Devoted father of David Doucette and his wife Barbara, Suzanne Rude and her husband Curtiss, Valerie Sydell and her husband Cliff. Cherished grandfather of Valerie Rude, Elizabeth Rude, Michelle Doucette, Christopher Sydell and Amy Doucette. Dear brother of Harold Doucette and his wife Ann, Pauline VanSchalkwyk and the late William, Arthur and Wilbur Doucette. His close friends, Helen Dacey, Lillian Brown and Mike Elia. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. US Army Veteran, Korea. President of Historic Iris Preservation Society. Member of A.I.M. of Wilmington. Funeral from the Doherty - Barile Family Funeral Home, 11 Linden St., READING, Saturday at 9am, followed by a Funeral Mass celebrating Lawrence's Eternal Life in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 126 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington at 10am. Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share remembrances with the Family on Friday from 3-7pm in the Funeral Home. Interment Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. Please post pictures here! Lisa