Barbara, YOu really sound like a glutton for punishment. 36 trays? Wow! I just pulled apart a petrocossmia today and got two separate plants out of it and then I put down about 10 of the little leaves. I also took a crown off Macs Cameo Camelot because I had tried groing it as a trailer because it suckered so much. When I stripped off leaves to get it down to a small crown without any suckers, I couldn't resist putting down some of the leaves I had just removed. I jsut kept trimming the bottoms of each leaf and inserting it into a small container that I brought home from Wendys which had a baked potato in it. I really got carried away and put 20 little leaves in the container. I guess none of us addicts can resist propagating. Fred in NJ

Anitabryk2, the best time to take cuttings of the crepe myrtle is right before they get ready to bloom. Before they have set buds, but certainly before they bloom. You can always try to root them now, and you could have some good luck. I am just saying optimum time. I would say that I am an absolute fanatic seed saver. But I NEVER snatch seeds at a plant nursery. I have a friend who owns and operates a nice nursery, and people steal his seed pods and even dig up plants from the flower beds out front! He sometimes depends on his plants making seed so that he can propagate them for plants to sell next year. It is hard for the 'little' nursery to compete with the box stores, and we are going to sorely miss them when they are gone. All that knowledge! All that advice! Sorry, didn't mean to rain on the parade. On the other hand, public gardens, post office offerings, whatever, are all fair game, as far as I know. Just take the time to research the plant you are sneaking up on so you know when the best time to snatch the seeds, and know also that some seeds are sterile, and will not germinate for love nor money! When I take a cutting, I try to get one that has just bloomed. That way, I can truley say that I am deadheading..... Janie

When you got your throat squeezed shut ... ... it's hard to swallow ... .. but - even more worrisome, and sooner troublesome - you can't breathe! Here's to breathing for a while longer ... and not being swallowed up, whether by storks, or pelicans ... or the worries of the day. ole joyful

Yvonne: I bought a book of patterns that is by an AWESOME stained glass artist, Terra!!! She does incredible stuff!! This book was put out in 1988. A real oldy! But I'd like to be able to do every pattern in it!! They are all beautiful! Plus I have an old book on lamps that I picked out like 6 lamps I'd like to do!ha! I have made the offer before that I'd sent a copy to whoever wants one of this peacock or any pattern as that goes, I just gotta finish with this one first and get the glass off it to coppy it!lol! If you google her name you'll find more of her books too! Here is a link that might be useful: