Iris gal, in my experience Memorial Day lasts pretty well in a vase, I would say longer than an average Hybrid Tea. Next time I cut a bloom I have to count the days... Jean, I am glad you share my love for Memorial Day! Masha, to me too the coloration of my first bloom of Heritage looked very different from what I was used to see from this rose. But I liked the look quite a bit. I find it makes the Austin roses really interesting that you never know what's in store ;-)! Ingrid, glad that you like my roses and my pictures of them. I am always fascinated how different rose flowers can be, each having its own beauty. Here is a pic of the first bloom of Memorial Day this year, taken after I cut it for indoors because of heavy rain in the forecast: Second Memorial Day flower as it looked today in the morning! By carrying the container around I can change the background easily ;-): Can't wait for the next bloom! Christina

I have lived in a Condo for the last 7 years with very little space for Roses, most of my roses were in pots except for about 10 I planted in my front very modest front yard, I have been dreaming of a real yard for so long, actually I wanted a yard more than a husband and I finally got it, I bought a house 2 doors down from my daughter and grandsons and moved here in middle Decemeber, I have litterally been planting for 3 months straight, luckily my yard was pretty empty till now... I planted 55 rose bushes front & back, also many fragrant plants like angel trumpets, star jasmine, honeysuckle, pink jasmine, and much more... I'm so excited to share my photos of all my new babies with you, many more to come... I'm in heaven. Thank you

Gee.....it's been so long since I had any mangoes that would be considered "extra" that I forget what I do with them. No, seriously, I have had bumper crops over the years. I have lots of people (family and friends) to feed; I have a small, honor system fruit stand in front of my house; there are many local customers that come by and buy in quantity and I do lots of dehydration of the extra fruit to last for when there are no mangoes. I was intending to start doing some shipping last season to folks on the Forum, but Mother Nature saw to it that that didn't happen. I would consider sending out fruits this year again, if there are any to send.....but I have come to realize that it is a pretty big pain in the butt to have to do all that packing and shipping.....just based on my limited shipping of fruit this past year. I do still invite anyone in the area to stop by to sample mangoes or lychees available and to buy what they wish based on what is available. I had started a list last year of those interested in perhaps getting mangoes shipped. I still have the list somewhere and I'll be happy to add anyone interested to that list in case I do have fruit available and the time for shipping it. BTW, mangoes usually begin ripening in early May......Rosigold, possibly in March or April....but the bulk of the crop really doesn't start until end of May/ early June and runs through end of August or early Spetember. There are fruits available into October but you have to fight the damned critters for the late season mangoes as they really focus on the few trees that still have fruit on them. Harry

"There is way more than NaCl in there, I'm sure." Yes, there is. Sea water contains just about every soluble mineral there is. I believe commercially produced sea salt is processed in a way which separates much, but not all, of the other minerals from the sodium chloride. I'm not sure about this, though. Nigari is a mineral, magnesium chloride, derived from sea water and used to coagulate soy milk in making tofu. As I understand it, magnesium chloride crystalizes after the sea water has been concentrated enough by evaporation to crystalize most of the sodium chloride. I have thought of trying to make my own nigari. I live very close to the ocean. Jim Here is a link that might be useful: Tofu Coagulents