What a post! Would it bother you if I copied it and sent it to my greenhouse teacher? From working at a garden center: "What are these?" -"Fluffy seed pods from a Clematis" "No way, they never had them before!" -"Yep, that's what they are." "I want a SECOND opinion" -"Sure, hey ... do you happen to know what these are?" *Quizzical look at me* "Clematis seeds..." *Some more argument from customer on the subject* "Well, they're hideous." Yeah, that was an interesting one. It's not uncommon to have customers ask for a second opinion on an insect problem or something like that when they don't like the answer. I was really taken back by this one though. Many conversations begin with: "You know that tree in that yard by the church on ivelivedhereallmylifebutneverheardofit street? What is it?" You can never own too many pairs of Crocs. Keep pennies on hand for the kiddies to throw in the fountain. Harry Lauder's Walking Stick makes a wonderful conversation piece next to the cash register. When ordering petunias, if it doesn't say "wave" don't bother. People have no idea what they're exposure is like. -Use words like South and West, then ask them questions like, what time they eat dinner in the summer and where. If the answer is 5:30 on the back deck, ask them if they have to wear sunglasses or a sweater and go from there. If customers start a pile of plants next to the register, organize them by price. There is one customer every day that wants you to landscape their entire yard 10 minutes to closing. Know and accept this fact. Know plants in this order: -Vague description -Culture requirements and common name(s) -Deer resistance -Scientific names

Hi Hickory. A greenhouse is on my wish list that likely will never come true. :-( The orchids and cyclamen are hardy varieties and multiply worse than my mimosa tree! The tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica, is enduring his first winter here. There is an area on the south side of the house that is a happy microclimate for over wintering things like dahlias, glads, and some volunteer petunias have been caught blooming in February here. As an added bit of insurance, the tree fern is enclosed in a WALL-O-WATER and heavily mulched and insulated with maple and magnolia leaves. It acts as a wind break, warms the surrounding air plus is a nice way to stop my 110 pound German Shephard from "watering" it, if you know what I mean. I use this technique for other wee trees in the yard until they are large enough to withstand extra waterings. It also protects the small trees from bunnies munching on them. I believe if you click on MY PAGE, there are some pictures to illustrate what I'm rambling on about. The banana, Musa basjoo I think, is in his third year outside. Again, against the house in a warmer microclimate and heavily mulched. Since I do not have a greenhouse, I transplanted many geraniums, and other more tender things into that bed. The whole bunch is underneath a giant tarp supported from the overhang of the roof. I did peek at my plants when it was in the double digits a few days ago and they are doing well. The banana is about 6 ft. tall and has the edges of the upper most leaves browned..that's it. The tree fern was as content as can be. So far..said with fingers crossed. I don't have a particular theme for my yard, as you may have guessed. I plant what I like and it seems the more unusual the better. You want me to list my plants? I didn't think anyone would care about it. I will if you want. I'll put it on MY PAGE or something like that. Clever way to encourage me to do my list too! :-) Will do.

I get milk in heavy plastic bags that hold a bit over a quart. Three in a larger bag, held by plastic closure like on bread bags, but heavier as the load is greater. I wash them and use them to freeze veggies, ham, etc. Heavier than most freezer bags, they're less vulnerable to being holed during the banging in the freezer, so less freezer burn results. Close the bag by twisting the top and sliding one of those plastic closures from bread bags (or here, the heavier closure from the outside milk bag, which I prefer) over the twisted area. Sometimes I use the outside milk bag to hold several bags of each variety of veggie - and use that closure to close them, avoiding spillage. I spoke earlier of using regular business-sized envelopes, cut along the top, with part of the front turned down inside (making it easier to see some of the stuff inside) and with description of the item written at the top of what was the inside back of the envelope, as a handy way to file small items. Larger envelopes, often of kraft paper, about 9" x 12", that have come in holding regular sized typewriter paper flat can be used in similar fashion as no-cost file folders if cut in similar fashion. I often use them for rather obsolete stuff that I don't look at often, for they are more floppy, of course, than regular file folders so aren't fully compatible - usually not quite the same height, either. If you want to file outsized large paper, you can get large envelopes to cut in similar fashion to use as file folders, but I haven't seen regular file-folders in larger than usual size. I have some 19" x 24" paper that I fold over to become 19" x 12" and it's hard to find holders to file them. When I make the cut across the top, sometimes I make the cut about 1" - 3" below the fold on the front side, letting there be a double portion down 1 - 3", which makes the top part a bit stiffer. If back too floppy due to larger size, glue a piece of corn flakes box down the end and I can glue some white paper along the top to make the printing of the title easier to read. I can choose to cut the two ends all the way to the bottom, to make it like a regular file folder, or cut only half way or so, so that the thing will not flop open, spilling the contents. Pick up a carton at the grocery store just long enough to hold them. Use a long piece of flat, fairly heavy plastic sheeting cut as wide as the length of the box and long enough to come from under the files up the back of the box and folding down over the tops of the file folders with some overhang at the front to keep the dust out, if sides too low to let top flaps fold down eAsily. HTH. ole joyful

Finishing up the month by reading Charles de Lint's latest novel. For those who are not familiar with this writer, he was the one who started the urban fantasy subgenre. I liked several of his earlier books, especially Moonheart, The Wild Woods and Memory and Dream. After a while I lost interest. I thought I'd check out his latest to see if my interest had re-ignited, so I bought Juniper Wiles. Unfortunately I'm finding it dull. I do plan to finish it, but then pass it along. It just doesn't engage me. I wish it were otherwise. When I am done, I plan to begin The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley, which I got for Christmas. I am also listening to Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Kavriel Kay. So far I am enjoying it.