Yes, I noticed mine currently is blooming as well. It's turned much milder and quite humid so maybe they think it's spring (pushing 70 F currently). I have seen them do this in previous years as well. I also noticed some blooms on the the succulent ice plants. The other shrub that is blooming is the Nandina (so-called heavenly bamboo--which is NOT any kind of bamboo), but it's normal for them I believe. Plants that normally bloom out of the main season are terrific and should be planted more. I used to have a Autumn cherry at a prior home and this thing would be covered in beautiful flowers in November and December.--I miss it!

It would appear I am wrong for not joining the baying crowd in putting this lady into the stocks and throwing rotten tomatoes at her. I assume she did not come here for a judge and jury even if anyone here was half qualified for that role. It is clear she has already judged herself enough. Lets not lose sight of the important issue, and that is the children. It is in their best interests to know that both their parents love them no matter what else has gone on. Yes, even a 1 or 2 year old will one day wonder, ask and likely seek out his origins. Whose victory is it to have a child hating their mother or father? Alwaysinmyheart never cold-bloodedly walked out on her children. Read again what she said. Then began the battle for custody in the eyes of the courts he was the parent who could provide stability because he had our home where the kids grew up and he had the way to keep the kids out of daycare and in their school they had begun in. She never said she DID NOT contact them At first I called them all the time and sent letters in the mail to them I just did not call them as much On paper I agree that does not make sense, but I get the impression she is possibly with a very controlling man. Its easy to say what you would or would not have done but unless and until you live with someone like that, you cannot know the enormous emotional pressure/depression she was likely battling. We have not walked in her shoes. She worked and saved and fought with her new husband to get back to her children. Does that sound like a cold-hearted woman who doesnt love her kids? She found out the children were calling the new wife mom. Why should they be encouraged to do that when they already have a mom that loves them? Her ex husband claims she lost all rights when she left. What rubbish! Is that putting the kids first? Sounds like bitterness and revenge to me. This lady has made some grave mistakes. I think she knows that. Do you think that someone who didnt care would sit down and write to a forum for some help and guidance? Im not here to fall out with anyone, but blame and shame will not help those children. Dunmoain

Well...my day was mosly spent running around or doing mundane chores. Then DH called and wanted to take us to dinner and a movie. Because of time constraints, we ended up having Burger King. I tried the new mushroom swiss burger-very good, however I had no fries. A burger and a diet coke LOL! After the movie-Madagascar 2 (which was very good-better than the first!)I came home and folded laundry. By then it was 10 pm. I thought about this post-felt guilty-and went and exercised on the Wii Fit for an hour. See-its motivating already.

There are lots of sub-alpine firs on Seattle properties that have been around for many years. But like the other species of Abies that are abundant in local plantings these are prone to insect infestations that may eventually spoil them after perhaps decades of growth. Popular and widely planted in Seattle landscapes, often with bark mulch and boulders. Most are transplanted from mountains, a few are nursery-grown; great variation in appearance and performance.... Most die before or soon after reaching 30' in height; few trunks 1' thick exist. --A. L. Jacobson, Trees of Seattle - Second Edition (2006) [Followed by a listing of planted examples in Seattle ranging from 39 ft. to 51 ft. in height, the latter an Arboretum accession dating from 1937; this collection has at least a past history of disease or pest susceptible trees receiving preventative sprays. Also I believe one of astute planting site selection being undertaken by Brian O. Mulligan] The hemlock is not free of this syndrome of cold climate conifers struggling with pests here, in later years I have seen numbers of these becoming stricken. Since your trees are clearly recently wild collected specimens I'm inclined to think their difficulties are due to problems related to this and not to their genetics. You will definitely get better response from any future plantings from trees and shrubs of all kinds by mulching the soil around them after planting. In the meantime I think you have lost the fir to the right in your picture. Dig around in and look at the soil near their original soil balls - and also inside these balls - to check the current soil moisture conditions. Characteristic locations for this species in nature are areas of heavy snow-pack, as well as along the edges of streams, and in wet meadows. In other words seasonally moist to wet soils, but high up where the air is cool and the growing season short. And the winters perhaps too cold for the kinds of bugs that get on them down here.