Well, I already had two stamps on it and I asked the clerk to check to see if I had enough postage on it. He said no even before he weighed it. He said it was a parcel. I said apparently you didn't get the memo. He said I go by what my book tells me and proceeded to read me the same old stuff they always tried to go by. I said I know all that stuff already and this memo says that it is wrong. He said that he would have to talk to his supervisor and then continued to try and tell me that if it varied in thickness by more than 1/4" it was a parcel. I read him the requirements from the memo and told him that he needed to get the supervisor for me. Finally he got the supervisor and the supervisor read the post that you put on here and said, "Yes, that's right." He told the clerk that it should be a large envelope and the clerk was still babbling on about the 1/4" difference in size. The supervisor said that from now on cushion mailers under 3/4" in thickness would go as a large envelope. I asked him if he would like to keep the post and he said no that he would print out the memo and make sure that everyone understood it. I don't think that they were any to happy. I had to pay an extra penny in addition to the stamps that I already had on it but that's better than $1.13. Hopefully that battle is won but I'm keeping the post with me when I go back.

At my old house I could leave them outside for all but about 4 months of the year. They can take a light frost. They spent their time in the shade of very tall oaks around the house. The yard had only one tiny spot of almost full sun and thats where the potted citrus and guavas lived as well as the normal in-the-ground veggies. At my new house (1 year as of today) I have very little shade and lots of wind (just like OK) so the tree ferns are sheltered along with the rest of the tropicals. I started off with 5 big ferns and lost all but 2 to the high heat and drought last summer along with some sort of mealy bug investation. waaaaaaaaaa A warning about using them near where you walk to sit - the species I have give off very itchy 'hairs'. You can't brush against them without noticing it. I can't believe that more folks don't grow potted citrus here. The warmth and humidity suit them well as patio plants and most of the time our winters are mild (frosty nights with 50 degree days). There are a few that grow in-the-ground types, but not as many as you'd think.

GORGEOUS! Love those peaches! alas they always bleach to white in Kansas heat! I am jealous, lol! Royal Sunset is the only peach rose that keeps its color! Love your rose!

The hawk in Menifee, CA can only be a Cooper's Hawk but it is an oddly-colored one. Something going on with the feathers, such as a heavy molt or missing feathers for some other reason. If you have other photos please post.