You can substitute homegrown beans for canned beans by cooking them -- you'd want to cook them slowly and gently so as to keep them intact like the canned ones. Since it's tedious to spend hours simmering dried beans every time you want to plop a can's worth into something, cook a big batch in advance, drain them and freeze them spread out on a cookie sheet lined with plastic wrap. When they're frozen solid put them in an airtight container for storage. This way you can thaw out a small amount at a time. Canned beans typically have salt added, so factor this into your cooking when you use homegrown. I would think a medium-sized can of beans (about 15 ounces?) has something like 1 1/3 cup of beans and 2/3 cup canning liquid. Kristin

"The Garland of Roses that cloak the winning Derby horse hold an interesting history. Roses first appeared on the radar when they were presented to all the ladies attending a glamorous Louisville Derby party, held by a New York socialite and attended by the President of Churchill Downs, Colonel Lewis Clark. The roses were such a phenomenon that Clark adopted the rose as the raceÂs official flower. The rose garland first appeared at the Derby in the 1896 when the winner received a floral arrangement of pink and white roses. In 1904, the red rose was chosen as the official flower of the Kentucky Derby. Each year, a garland of more than 400 red roses is sewn into a green satin backing with the seal of the Commonwealth on one side and the twin spires and number of the running on the other end of the garland. Each garland is also adorned with a "Crown" of roses, ribbon and green fern. The "Crown," is a single rose pointing upward in the center of the garland, to symbolize the struggle and heart necessary to reach the winners circle." The above was copied from a Derby website. While it doesn't list the name of the rose, I do know the Kroger Company sponsers, supplies the roses, and makes the blanket of roses placed over the neck of the winner. There is also a rose named "Kentucky Derby which is a dark red rose. Whether or not this is the actual name of the rose used making the blacket, I don't know. Futher investigation on a Kroger website gave me this information. "The garland is made entirely of Freedom roses, a variety that was selected for its rich red color, bloom size, stem length and foliage. Dozens of floral employees work sorting through thousands of roses to select only the best for presentation." So, it seems the red rose is "Freedom", a red florist rose introduced in Germany by Rosen-Tantau/Tantau Roses in 2004. It appears the variety used has changed over the years as better red roses become available. Many things can be found doing a Google search, then sorting through all the links provided. That's how I came up with this info. Here is a link that might be useful: Kentucky Derby rose info regarding Kroger

Thanks to Fran, Karen and Morz for your input. As suggested, I called today and after a bit of a wait I was told the the pots re 3.5 inches deep and 3.5 inches in diameter. Actually what I like about this system is that it includes the 18 pots which sit in depressions in a holding tray. The holding tray sits in another tray with a self watering capillary mat. This is perfect for my tomatoes and peppers which I germinate in coffee filters in zip-loc bags which sit on the hot air vent in my dining room. I am very impatient, and like to see that the seeds are germinating, and I also ensure that each seed I 'pot up' is already growing. Currently, I am using styrofoam coffee cups, and a fairly deep tray I found at Goodwill, but the cups tend to be a bit wobbly when moved. Since each of these pots has it's own depression (about 3 inches deep) they will stay put and it will make hardening off easier. Karen, I love your setup. I am currently using storage shelving in my basement, and the shelves are too close together. By the time my tomatoes are ready they are touching the above shelf so I need to get something for my plants alone. I particularly liked the metal shelves. I'll have to look around for something like that - maybe Ikea. BTW Morz8, I have not had any damp off for quite a few years since I have been using weak chamomile tea for all my indoor watering needs: soaking the coffee filters, soaking any seeds I need to, and watering my seedlings. It works like a charm for me. I buy the tea bags at the bulk store, make one cup of tea overnight, pour it in a 2-litre bottle and fill with water. I water from the bottom but give the plants an occasional spray - I feel that keeps aphids and gnats away (perhaps it doesn't). Well my tomatoes are turning and my peppers all have either green ones, blossoms, or buds (mostly hot peppers), so I'll be set for next season. This item is called Starter Combi Pak #3 by Veseys, a Canadian company from which I have bought seeds (before I knew about trading), bulbs, and perennials (before I knew about winter sowing). I think they also sell to the US. Here is a link to this item (hope this works): http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/tools/indoorseed/perfectstarter2 Enjoy the rest of the summer!! I can feel the winter in my bones already!!! Northerner.

You could just put a little soil on top of the roots and leave the leaf undisturbed, if you like.