Peat makes an excellent preservative. The modern horticultural practice of using a sterile medium like peat is in order to create a hydroponic environment, that can force-feed plants into rapid production. I've found a few nurseries who grow in-pot organically, and they avoid peat. I don't see large chunks of pine bark in their soil medium, either. Some use rainwater to irrigate, most are wholesale and at least one is open to the public. Transplanting and establishment ease have been outstanding with these trees grown organically with a comost-based medium. Some use pots that are designed to eliminate circling roots. This is a far superior product, that establishes and plants easier, than any tree grown in peat, or in a plastic pot. It's really a leap were speaking of, for a root to make the transition from an extremely acidic, sterile medium to a nearly neutral, live mineal soil. It ain't natural, and creates unnecessary stress on the plant when it needs it least-- during root establishment. But we grow potted plants in peat, anyways. Modern horticularal practices do not serve the grower so well, Most of the potted trees and plants you'll find in a retail nursery, have been force fed to grow lots of pretty foliage, in a poor soil medium, with underdeveloped and potbound roots. I know peat is good at preserving cave people and tubulars. But as a potting medium, it's used becasuse it is thought to be cheap, and that's the bottom line. There are conflicts of interest between the grower and the hulticulturalist who pushes peat as a pot medium. A lot of the carp they teach in hort school (and ag school, and other fields), has a bias towards perceived economic benefits, and can ignore for years, better, sounder science. M This post was edited by Mackel-in-DFW on Fri, Apr 25, 14 at 23:01

Thanks again. Mom and dad were married just short of 55 years and had one of those really great marriages. She is missing him terribly and it's heartbreaking to see but she is slowly coming back to her old self. Shortly after dad passed away mom found out she has macular degeneration which initially scared her to no end. But she is a good candidate for some new treatment which seems to be working (stopping the progression). Then about 6 weeks later her very good friend also passed away (if anyone recalls my post about mothers and store coupons, that's the friend). It has been a few very tough months. Again, thanks everyone (and Shauna - no, I don't think you've flipped out at all, I get it). I really like the idea of selling hens & chicks, Vrie, and I sure have enough of them multiplying like crazy out there. Maybe some shallow dish gardens made up with decorative stone... I don't think I'll expand into perennial divisions or bulbs, though - I like the bouquet making and dried arranging too much I guess. (Plus my application didn't indicate live plants, but I think I could swing hens & chicks in a dish garden - that's kind of a crafty-arrangey kinda thing). The market goes into mid-October, I believe, but after the September 9 weekend I probably won't attend much. There is an indoor Christmas market in December which was actually what got me started on this whole thing - I wanted to get in on that Christmas market last year and they told me I had to be approved to and a member of the farmer's market. So I applied. I'm planning on selling fresh greenery centrepieces at that time. Otherwise I'll do a couple of local fall craft fairs with the drieds. Margaret, you're so right about making some $$$ doing something you love to do. For a number of years I've been intent on getting the garden to somehow pay for itself. Believe me, it all (and then some) goes back into the yard in some form or other. But that's okay, that's the intent. I think $1.50 a bulb is more than reasonable, Brenda - I'd be tempted to go $2 and next spring raise your potted price. What's a potted lily go for at a nursery these days (haven't bought one so don't know). Usually the deals are unnamed/mixed bulbs, but if you have names and pictures to go along with those lily bulbs - I know I'd buy them at that price. Not to mention you actually get to SEE the bulb before you buy it. Flash some of those beautiful photos and you're no doubt going to have no trouble at all.

I wonder why you are more upset that your mother has rejected you than your son has. You haven't seen or heard from your oldest son in 20 years, and yet seem quite at peace with that. However you got to that place of peace with your oldest son, I think that's what you should do with your mother until you can say about her like you do your oldest, "She's my mother no matter what, and I love her even if I don't see or hear from her." And then move on with your life. It seems you have several primary relationships in your life that aren't functioning well. Have you ever tried counselling? I agree with those posters who say you should have gone to the funeral. You didn't need to bring your dog, your husband was there. And when she had surgery that would have been a good opportunity for you to try to repair the relationship. It didn't seem like an unreasonable request. After forty years of adulthood, I would hope you would have resolved some of the issues you have with her independently of her. I'm sorry you are so hurt by her that you can hardly think or breath. That's a lot of hurt. And I'm kind of puzzled by how cavalierly you've written off your son. Not enough information about what's up with him; but the thought crossed my mind that you did with your son similar to what your mom did with you; she is estranged from her daughter, and you are estranged from your son.

Terri_pacnw, I love that Offbeat Bride website. I love the fashion and creative decorating pics. The happy couple always look sooooo, well happy! Not the typical wedding photos with the stoic bride flanked by bridesmaids with crimped faces. There is also lots of advice for the wedding planning dealing with issues that the typical brides magazines don't tackle, like "How do I tell my parents I'm that I am wearing black to my wedding?" or "I'm getting a tattoo instead of a wedding ring. Should I wait until after the ceremony to show it off or is it OK to show it before the ceremony?" ------------- Zeeta, I have only attended one Pagan ceremony and part of it entailed a smudging. Just a FYI. As a guest you may be cleansed with a sage smudging or maybe just the bride and groom participate in the ritual. It is similar to the incense that a priest waves over the crowd at a Catholic high mass. Nothing to be afraid of unless you have a smoke allergy or asthma or something. Pagan ceremonies are natural and easy to follow. Just go with the flow. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/62607/how_to_perform_a_native_american_smudging.html?cat=34 http://greenfield.fortunecity.com/dwellers/564/ceremony.htm Here is a link that might be useful: Smudging Ceremony