The oleander is the variety they sell at WalMart on clearance when it has a touch of scale and is potbund. I realized today that technically I protected the oleander because I sprayed it with Wilt-Pruf late last month. I'd like to hit it again before it turns cold again. I killed a gloriosa last year with no protection or special siting. It was buried under snow and ice for upwards of 3 months. This one hasn't had snow on it for more than a day because all of the snow on the ground is melted around it. We only had 7" of snow in December, it will be gone tomorrow, but it's been consistently cold, 10 straight and then 12 straight days below freezing with a monthly low of 8. Could've been worse.

The link still works for me Luis. Here's the headline and first part of the article: Lexmark to cut 1,700 jobs, stop making inkjets share email print font size by Associated Press view bio � LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) � Lexmark is cutting 1,700 jobs, or almost 13 percent of its workforce, and says it will stop making inkjet printers as part of a drive to cut costs as it deals with shrinking sales of inkjets. The printer and software company said Tuesday that it will close its inkjet supply plant in the Philippines by the end of 2015. It is also putting its inkjet technology up for sale. Lexmark had about 13,300 employees as of Dec. 31. Lexmark has been shifting its focus from consumer inkjet printers, focusing on higher-profit laser printers and supplies for businesses and software services.

According to the energystar.gov website which released new specifications in March 2014 "Any clothes washer manufactured as of March 7, 2015 must meet the Version 7.0 requirements to bear the ENERGY STAR mark." So the manufacturers can still be manufacturing to the old specifications for a while yet before they have to shift over to the new specifications and it's probably at least 30 days if not six months (depending upon inventory) after they make that shift that the new models will begin to appear in the stores. Some manufacturers will be ahead of the curve... One of the new supposedly advantageous features is the optional interconnectedness: "ENERGY STAR washers with connected functionality will offer consumers new convenience and energy-savings features, such as an alert indicating there is a performance issue or feedback to consumers on the energy-efficiency of different wash cycle selections. These products will also be “smart grid” ready, meaning they will give consumers the option to connect their clothes washer with their lorcal utility to save money on their energy bills, where those services are offered, and also facilitate broader electric power system efficiency." The use of the words "will offer consumers new convenience and energy saving features" has a very 1984-ish ring to it now that "smart" utility meters (which are not optional in most locations) allow the power company to ding you for using power during what your local power company considers prime time...there is nothing convenient or energy saving to the consumer about doing laundry every night now that one load takes three hours to accomplish from washer to dryer. As I looked through the energystar.gov website, I was very troubled by the use of the word "stakeholders" on their website as it appears to me that the only stakeholders are the washing machine manufacturers themselves. I wrote to energystar and asked how it is that the consumer is not represented as a stakeholder. The answer was that environmental groups are representing the consumer (I guess I should not be surprised since energystar.gov is part of the EPA). But that is not a correct or reasonable assumption. When I pointed out that the consumer really just wants a decent wash and dry that does not take all day to accomplish one load (some people in fact are buying sets of washers and dryers in order to get the laundry done) and that the consumer wants the machines to run well and for a long time so that it costs consumer less, less material is used and less material goes to landfills.... Strangely if you go to the energy star.gov website it is filled with suggestions that you become a "partner" with them. People need to speak up. There are a lot of people who speak on this forum I sure hope they take the time to look at the energystar.gov website and begin to offer (demand) their input. Here is a link that might be useful: Energystar new washing machines

Dave - it's lovely! I'm coming down to the wire now myself, though I've still got several left. And only one out of the original 27 that apparently won't be blooming this year. You're ahead of me zone-wise so not surprising you're finishing first. And, all in all, I'm ecstatic about what's come out of this project. Looking forward to more daylilies in years to come. - Alex