I have a Hungarian Wax that will be 5 years in March, and going into its 6th season. I'm not sure if the plant will survive this Winter, but we'll see. It was my first pepper - seeing how long I could keep it alive was the sole reason I began growing peppers in the first place. Now I grow them for other reasons, as well ;-) For overwintering, that pot-size is fine. If the plant were in active growth, that pot would be woefully inadequate unless the roots had escaped the drain-holes into the ground below. While it is true that you want the plant to do as much photosynthesizing as possible, it is also true that the plant will shed whatever foliage that it cannot support during the lower-light conditions indoors. Also, leaves that mature in outdoor light are more efficient in that light-range. This is why it is wise to prune a wintering plant in order to encourage new foliage that matures in the lower light conditions - these "indoor" leaves will be better at making use of the indoor light. Josh

About three years - it was old step-uncle's 65? year-old farmhouse until his death, and I'd spent some time here with him, about 5 years ago, after his wife died. The buyer of the farm, a sod farmer, asked whether I might like to rent the house. It's the most recent of 22 locations in my 80 years, and at about 17 years, I'd spent longer in the former 2 Br townhouse than any but the one were I was born. It was of a similar size to this, except smaller, but newer, basement. This is a 2 Br. bungalow aboutf 25' x 40', with 10' addition later, with smallish kitchen up a few steps from back door, turn the other way to go to the mostly full basement, mainly unfinished except for a small room in the far corner. Oil tank and furnace, freezer, washer, utility tub and dryer all down there, plus clothes press and jam cupboad, wood for wood stove. The water pump's down there, too - but the well is too close to the barnyard, so water bad for both e Coli and coliforms when the executors tested it ... and the water (especially hot) smells ... so I bring water in gallon jugs from taps in the city for cooking and drinking. Dining room beyond kitchen, left into small hall with doors to med. sized bedrooms either side, straight ahead to bathroom, old style tub, closed in, no shower. Pull-down stair in hall into unfinished attic, I'm thinking of adding stringers, studs for storage space, but can stand in only about 4' wide space - about 40' long ... includes hole for stair. Living room beyond D R, family room added later beyond living room, no basement under it, furnace doesn't serve it - woodstove is its sole heat source. Seldom-used front door (no sidewalk approaches it) just to the right of entrance from L R. One-car garage near house, 2-car plus extra space larger than enough for third car in drive-shed near it. Another storage shed and two barns plus shed a short distance away, I can use parts of them. Also an old silo - but it has open top, not used for years, so a couple of feet of swamp in the bottom. Substantial garden down near the barn - water pump there to provide water. As I live about 20 miles from city, 8 miles from village, I figure that I can probably live here as long as I can drive (and I have my 80-year-old test on Friday). Or the landlord wants the place for his nearly-grown sons (he's doubtful) ... but I think that they may want a place somewhat more upscale than this: time'll tell. I hope that all of you are enjoying your places. ole joyful

I found the following disappointing & removed: 1. Phygelius Rectus (yellow trumpet flowers), the colours were just not vibrant enough - and the flowers were only spring/early summer (was expecting summer plant 2. Pennstemon Also (but not removed) 1. Roses - fragrant cloud and deep secret. The pictures on packaging looked bright red but they came out as dark reds. I'm very particular I know but, I do like my reds bright red, not deep or dark. 2. Delphinium - I grew one or two for the first time last year with a view to increasing to about six. Though I liked the flowers very much, I was very suprised that they flower for such a short period... so I've opted to add hollyhocks this year to their number instead of more delphs. If you've got a small garden you tend to go for things that last a while. I do anyway!

Our garden raises dandy berries.More than we can eat, freeze and give away :0) But catching the dirt at just the right time for planting berries - now that is the trick. It's the first time we have ever been 'caught' like this. Hubs checked this morning and thinks 'if we don't get any more rain this week (yes, they are predicting more) we can plant them. I checked the new plants and they don't look as bad now that I have given them some sunlight - looking greener. So, we may save them in yet. Thanks everyone for your comments. Appreciate them.