Tony, maybe on D. virginiana can Steiermark survive lower temperatures, mine is grafted on D. lotus rootstock. people often grow here Tipo (variety from Italy), Rojo Brillante (Spain), but we have some local selections, like Dunaj persimmon (Danube) or Kavkaz. Because Ukraine is not so far, Rosseyanka, Nikita Gift are available very often in nurseries. Now the third generation selections of NG offsprings with bigger fruits (200-250 g) are becoming more popular - varieties Gora Goverla, Gora Rodgers, Roman Kos with hardiness down to -5 F...It s good to continue with NG seedlings selection. I like NG - very sweet fruits and attractive colour of riped fruits....

I'm another one with a "strict limit" though right now I'm over it thanks to divisions this summer. The target is 60 but I rationalize that if it's small it doesn't count as a whole plant! I think I'll always love the catts best, but I want to have some other things going. Four years ago I started with phrags from a gift plant, and now I have three; I was very picky becuase they are so big. Two years ago I added a bulbophyllum, then three more; the last one was one too many, though it's been blooming. I've gotten better at the research part, so I have fewer of those big disappointments, and that makes it easier to branch out in a planned way. Last year it was a psychopsis; the jury is still out on that. Like Kevin I've learned to stay away from the cool growers however beautiful (that includes Chinese cyms, my most recent big disapointment). I'm a windowsill grower and it's warm year round except for a few tricky weeks in the fall. At the same time I've refined my cattleya collection to focus on the ones that I really love and get rid of the so-so. Some things change, some things stay the same--that's what works for me. Margo

I know I would not mind if I were the dad in your situation to be taken to the store and told to pick out the trimmer I wanted. I would ask how much is set aside and go from there. If that is not possible than a certificate saying pick a trimmer of your choice and let's buy it today. Some possibilities to avoid the dreaded "that is not the one I wanted" scenario" :). All good questions above. Price will determine alot. I think the best all around trimmer/brushcutters are in the $3-400 range with $400 being high. You can get a really nice trimmer in the $200 range though. It is really a question of what exactly is needed and how much you want to spend. Your dad may have a preference for makers. I personally like the Stihl and Echo for ease of availability. The Kawasaki's I know nothing about and I stay away from currentl Homelite products although the older Homelite equipment was really good from what I have read. How old or how to spot them I don't know. I prefer straight shaft and a good harness. Cutting heads can be a personal preference. I like the bump and go, some like the quick insert and some like the fixed plastic blades. At the 3-400 price level, I am not concerned about the 2 vs 4-mix debate. The 4-mix's are young but have good reviews so far. Your dad could probably do okay with a good consumer grade trimmer with a flexible shaft. A solid shaft will be more expensive but will better handle brushcutting. I don't have much need for attachments but they make the units more expensive. I did the "cost analysis" of those models and it seemed that they did not pay for themselves until you bought 3 useful attachments. I could see the mini-tiller but an edger was really not necessary for me. A pole saw, maybe. Just little things that I could not really get alot of use from. All really good questions. Alot of the answers will be personal preference. Best of luck with getting your dad to smile on his bday.

Thanks everyone! She is absolutely well meaning, and is definitely NOT a gardener! I will explain to her that it is not something I can keep, and the reasons why I can't. Shermann - unfortunately, there are a LOT of plants on the invasive species list that are sold at everything from Mom & Pop Nurseries to HD, Lowe's, etc. Here is the link that I use most often. The ones I could easily find today are the Barberrys, Privet, Euonymous, the Olives, the Jap Spirea, most of the honeysuckles and bittersweet (which I actually planted, but it didn't survive the drought 2 years ago and I will not replace it). Recently added, are butterfly bushes and bradford pears, both have been favorites of landscapers all over my area and have escaped and are crowding out the natural plants here now. Here is a link that might be useful: PA Invasives