I got samples of soapstone when we were deciding what countertops to get. My favorite one looked just like your light gray with dramatic veins. But, the testing I did on the sample with mustards, oils, etc. made me decide that variety was not for me. I still wanted soapstone, but couldn't afford it at the $120 sf installed price here in St. Louis. And they only had one variety. We ended up with Black Pearl granite which I like and it's been easy maintenance. We went to a remnant sale in April and they had one slab of a harder variety soapstone that we bought for our island countertop at a fraction of the price. It'll be installed in two weeks. I sure hope I like it. If not, at least I didn't pay $120 sf. :-) Too bad you can't reuse it in some way; i.e., table top, fireplace surround. If not, clean it up and sell it.

So true Seil, but it's soo hard. I'm sure by the time everyone is mature, I will have some I will have to move...but it looks so bare until then and I would rather spend the money on roses, that can grow in pots, for the smaller ones than fillers, which I have some of and am getting more :) Roses and other plants are so addictive! I just want one of everyone, especially my favorite, the dark purpley red :) Still looking for someone or somewhere to get Tour De Malakoff and I will be done :) If I'm not mistaking Pickering no longer ships to the US right? And there is one other place that has it called Azalea House Flowering Shrub Farm Has anyone ever heard of it or ordered from there?

Im confused. In the pic of the two they are browning from the bottom. Doesnt this in and of itself (those werent grafted) say (most likely cause) they are getting toooo much water? Then in the bottom pic, all the "weeds" this also says to me "too wet"(ive got tons of those same weeds, they thrive in moist soil). I would think water/moisture is the primary issue and root stock is secondary. Im a newb just trying to learn. Im live on wetter than wet property and if there is one and only one thing I have learned it is that too much water and conifer=death. For example, I planted 6 small dwarf conifers last fall (I think they may have been norway spruce "elegans" but am not positive). During the winter/spring (which my entire 2 acres turns to quicksand, my vernal pools forms, the ducks come, and the spring peepers come out) the two that were not ppkanted on high enough/large enough mounds look like the last pic. The others are fine. Ive have planted 250+ conifers (conservative estimate) the past 3 years and the ones that die are.....akways planted too low. Nothing I have planted on sufficiently large mound has died. Yes I have loaded (from condo construction, basement clay) and emptied easily 4000+ 5 gallon buckets of clay in a honda accord to make mounds for planting trees. Ill be getting about 50 dump truck loads of fill dirt ( clay from basement of future business)in two weeks, mostly to raise up my future house(building a mound for my future house, already added 12 dump truck loads last fall) . After I tore down the old house(no basement), about 30 frogs living in the footprint of the house for the summer/ fall, thats how wet it is, dig up leeches and mole salamanders (vertical finned tails) when planting trees. The remainder of the fill dirt will be to add to my mounds that I must plant all my trees on or they die. My number one job that takes all my time is adding to and maintaining my mounds. I will be doing it until I die or cant do it anymore.

This thread reminded me how difficult it is to open those darn produce bags, even by rubbing them. The biodegradable green bags are even worse, as they are too flexible for the rub method. I usually carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer so I can address my hands as needed. I went to a salon yesterday, and they wiped down the station, equipment, etc and sprayed between clients. People were texted in one at a time, and all the stations were spaced apart. It gave a lot more confidence to hear that the 140 people exposed to symptomatic stylists in Missouri did not have a single case yet, and all were in masks. A friend posted that her salon provides a masks and even tapes down the seams for the duration of the appointment (so the loops can be dropped).