THIS is the way your mother made her garden grow. She traded thriving plants with friends and neighbors. Which is exactly what we'll be doing at the New England Plant Swap this Spring. Sharing is the best part of gardening. When a plant does well enough here in New England, others want to know about it. They'd like even more to HAVE some of it. If you haven't been to a good, old-fashioned plant swap, you're in for a treat. Pot up your excess prized plants to share. Load up your bounty and head to beautiful Adams Farm at 999 North St. in Walpole MA on June 2, 2012 at 9 am. There, you will meet other, friendly, local gardeners with their booty for sharing. It's simple, free and fun for all. For each plant you bring, you can take a plant from someone else. All the details are at our web site: http://www.newenglandplantswap.org or we may be reached at info@newenglandplantswap.org. We look forward to seeing you there. Your mother would be proud. In fact, BRING your mother and other friends who like to share. Here is a link that might be useful: 2012 New England Plant Swap

Thanks guys!! Yes I don't know what to do which is why I posted here. I have zero exprience remodeling bathrooms and I don't know much about cost effectiveness. If cost wasn't a factor, I would hire a contractor to do all the work, rip out the tub, replumb, rebuild the surround and have a snazzy ceramic tile pattern done. I was wondering about the quality of a reglazing project. I can't take the tub out as is, the behemouth would have to make two turns and navigate over a bannister. They must have built the house around the tub, lol! I asked my neighbor who had his bathroom redone, and he said they broke his tub up to get it out. Another friend who redid his farmhouse bathroom said he broke his tub up with a sledgehammer. My neighbor said his remodeler used a blowtorch. It's not that I have ZERO household skills, but when we're talking sledgehammers and blowtorches . . . I might be able to get help getting the thing out, but then I would be left with the problem of filling in the hole. So far, I haven't found anyone who can reinstall a bathtub and surround for a reasonable cost. I absolutely cannot go over 4 K. Less would be better. So the reglazing or plastic insert seem like good ideas because they are not so invasive. With these old houses, you tear something out to solve one problem and uncover another, lol!! The tub is all grey and pitted at the bottom, and has lots of rust around the holes for the old fixtures. Looks really bad. But I'm most concerned about the plastic wall surround panels coming unglued and the caulk between the wall and the tub getting moldy. I bleach it almost every other week, but the fact that it molds up that fast has me worried. In their new house, my parents have a tub and surround all molded from one piece of plastic. It is very basic but easy to clean. I am worried about just "covering up" a problem which could harbor mold. I'll see about getting my friend to come by with his camera. He's coming by to take a look at the place but not until after he finishes a grad class he is taking, so it will be after next week. This friend is very handy and he's already remodeled one house and is in the middle of his second. He said he would help, but he does so much for me already, I am having a hard time thinking of a good swap for all of this! I already ply him with baked goods and jam!! He's married so his wife takes pretty good care of him. He's a former student of mine, so I did help in a lot back in the day, but the student has surpassed the master at this point!!

Try posting this on the Cacti and Succulents forum. Euphorbias are the largest genus of flowering plants and there are literally thousands of cultivars and hybrids to choose from. That looks like one of several similar species but as much of a euphorbia fan as I am, I couldn't nail it down any closer than that. But there are some serious tender euphorb experts hanging out there. ETA - please refrain from posting in all caps. It is difficult to read and is considered the online equivalent of shouting ;-))

Hi garden_gal and Irma, it’s so good to hear from you both again and gratifying that you remember my little garden. In answer to your questions, we do still live in the same house. The garden looked wonderful for several years but the shrubs eventually grew very large and many of the plants died off or had to be removed. I have found it increasingly difficult to find pesticide free butterfly host plants and attractors but this is my mission again this year. The garden has evolved but I am happy to report that it is indeed still alive with butterflies, bees and hummers!