Hi, everyone! great news is that the Rosarian couple were very nice. I actually tried calling them last night but couldn't get through because they had their fax machine on. Then tonight they explained that they couldn't return my call because the number I had left them had been cut off by their answering machine. They too have not grown tree roses because like Karl had feared, rose trees do terrible in Kansas. Stupid me should also have thought far ahead about our tornado problems as well. I didn't think about this issue before the terrible winds this past weekend. Flower2sew, in Overland Park we got hit real bad. There is still debris from knocked over light poles on Hwy 69 from people crashing from the ice... But the snow lasted just one terrible day, it was very thick snow,and we were blasted with both ice and snow at once and in some parts of Overland Park, the cable lines and phone lines were down ...then argh, it shot up to near 60 degree warmth right the following day, then dropped down again the following evening. The rosarian couple agreed that they would never leave out the tree roses at this point because of last weekend's extreme swing of temperature (including this week) but they too felt I really needed to speak to a Master Rosarian, so they gave me the emergency helpline for the Rose Society. The nice rosarian couple I spoke to explained that they themselves have never grown tree roses because of how erratic Kansas weather can be in the spring and they said that the people they know who had rose trees all had either greenhouses or would go to a nursery and "rent" out a space for the winter. In other words they wouldn't know how to advise me on how to keep my roses indoors in my particular situation. They did feel that since my rose trees still have buds sprouting, that keeping them in a completely dark, cold, poorly insulated garage at this point is a question that only a master rosarian could answer. It is a tough call because no sane person/gardener would ever be in the crazy predicament that I am in now... I am doing crazy stuff like lightly spraying my roses with warm water in the morning and when I come home, then again before going to bed to keep them as close to a greenhouse effect and reducing my house temperature from 68 degrees to 65 so that I don't shock the roses when I bring them outside to 58 degree sunshine (but that makes me super cold indoors and I end up having to wear a few layers of clothing in the house and shivering under the covers when I try to sleep LOL). So hopefully I can reach the helpline before I get "outta control" and do more crazy outta control guesswork. Anyway, thank you EVERY One and All for your help and ongoing support! Hugs to each of you... P.S. forgot to say that to me the membership dues for the American Rose Society is very reasonable, and wouldnt have hesitated for a second had I not been so broke from all the training with Eluane and house payments but in due time if I can just make the baby steps and get both trees to survive.

"I dunno about that one Justalurker, when I look at both the X-300 and X-500 specs, the X-500 is 3" longer overall (75" vs 72"), and the wheel-base is 51.2" vs 49.4" for the X-300" Look at the parts lists... the frame on the X500 and the X300 both sub to part # AM137099. you the hood is also the same. "With a 48" deck, the X-300 weighs 616 lbs, vs the X-500 at 760 lbs. No doubt though, the X-500's larger tires/wheels, larger engine and trans-axle, account for some of the 144 lb difference" Wheels, tires, K72 with larger oil capacity and 1" axles, larger engine, and the two piece body on the X500 instead of the smaller one piece body on the X300. "The X-500 is also 3" wider (approx), but that's probably due to the wider rear wheels/tires" X500 has hubs on the rear axles with bolt-on rims AND the offset of the 12" rims.

Oh wow...I didn't expect so many responses so quickly, and so helpful too! Thank you All for your WS sowing 'rules of thumb'! They've given me a very good idea of how to begin and, more importantly, some confidence and support just when I needed it most. It's good to know that even if I over-sow, I'm still doing just fine and haven't done anything wrong. I'm glad for the replies in re the marigolds! I went (intentionally) marigold crazy this year and I'm now the proud owner of about 2000 marigold seeds of various colors, types, and kinds. I've given a few away, and still have some set aside for gifts to friends and family, but many - maybe even most - of the seeds will be planted all over my yard and in as many pots as I can spare this year. I kind of have a plan for them...or, well, the petals, which I plan to feed to my chickens next fall and winter. I've heard it helps enhance the color of the yolks and also provides some nutrients, too. It's something of an experiment, but considering how well they LOVED eating my flowers last year, I think I'm on to something...LOL! Thank you all for being so helpful! Really! Blue Btw: Anyone else grow food for their animals, specifically chickens?

Nancy, It took me till the 2nd time ordering from a different LA seller to get swirling waters. I have only had bad luck with one seller on LA and it was she sent me something else besides swirling water and I emailed her and she was supposed to send a replacement but never did. But I guess I am 1 of those customers you will only hear from twice then I just dont order from them anymore. It did not bloom till the following year so I could not email her about it till a year later. It took forever to get my order from her, had to have Mike handle the seller and she sent my order then one was wrong and there was no way for me to know till it bloomed. Jill