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.

Harry - I DO get it. Expansion and growth are a rarity in a flat or down ecomnomy, even for the Ultra Wealthy. You must have made a fine professor, as you have macro economics down pat. I DO get it, the net worth of the majority of the world's wealthiest people is down, so is the majority of everyone's. Does this mean they flee to a financial bunker and stop spending? Heck no, some do , just like some of the merely rich do, just like some of the middle class does, and just like the everyone else. However, many are still out there doing things normally some are even bargain buying like never before: I didn't make up Rolls' or Gulfstream's #'s people are buying them! Even in a downturn big co.s are buying too: Delta just gobbled up Northwest and B of A just wrote a mega check for Merrill. Don't let the media persona of Buffet fool you. A few years back all he'd talk about was how flying commercial was the best thing to do and a private airplane was not smart. What's he do a bit later- buy a Gulfstream? No he buys an entire company full of private jets and keeps the largest Gulfstream there is on standby. Same with his home, his modest $200k +/- Omaha house is real enough, but what about his 15 million dollar place in SoCal that you don't hear about??? Same with his sob story about his secretary paying more INCOME tax than he does. That's because she MAKES MORE INCOME which is subject to income tax than he does. Think she pays more dividend income than he does? Who's AMT tax bill do you think is larger at year's end? Don't take the media's cookie cutter soundbites or eye candy as the absolute truth or big picture. Remember W.R. Hearst's contempt for the masses? "They'll belive what I tell them" Same is true in the media business today. He's an anomaly, the very wealthy spend trainloads of $$$ you just don't see or hear about it because the majority value privacy, anonimity, and their time above all else. DC - while I don't entirely disagree with the premise that the luxury goods sector is down as a whole like everything else, I do wonder about the sources of these stats? Some blogger from Orange Co. doesn't exactly instill confidence in me for the trends of the nation or world as a whole. I gave you 3 examples of rarely debated "luxury" items that have seen rises in sales during a weakening economy. I guess it boils down to what's going to be considered a luxury item and by whom. Does a $1000 Prada purse qualify, or is a luxury handbag more likely a Kelly Bag from Hermes at well into 5 figures these days? I don't think BMW qualifies anymore these days, but they are always included in "luxury car" rankings and catagories by most auto professionals. Another point I'd like to make that I think few around here get or agree with is that companies making luxury or high end goods don't rush to lower prices at the first signs of a downturn. Some not even after many quarters of neg. results , and some not ever. It defeats the purpose of positioning an item or company as "luxury" or " high end" if you are going to start charging lower prices because sales drop. You either create more demand or a better value proposition or you deal with flat or no growth for a while till you figure it out. Some don't and they fold. Businessmen with any seasoning and experience accept that slaes go up and down just like stock prices and comodity prices. They hope that the broader trend is a rise in the metrics that they use to manage and measure their business. So , don't count on a cut rate deal from Sub Zero , Viking or Meile in the frist part of next year or even at all. Long before they consider lower prices you'll see "incentives" like fridge, oven and cooktop full price DW at 25% off or Viking will throw in a set of their knives when you buy theri range. Miele might extend their warranty another couple of years but I'll bet the farm you won't see a sale from a German firm.

Hosta buyers guide is a group you join on FB. They have pre approved sellers who post there. Naylors one is probably largest? seller. They are real good enticing people into purchases with good quality pics and hostas. Starting last August Sept sellers will start reducing inventories so quite a few plants will come up at discount. Naylors usually does mouse series as discount too. Some action is momentous as sold in minutes I found. There are few names they do not sell online except FB. Is it worth joining FB? LOL Green mountain Hosta seems always has some hostas at reduced prices and quality is fantastic in my opinion.

Esther, I would be astonished if you didn't take them with you- ALL of them! I'm with the camp that says to replace your RE and don't let anything rain on your beautiful hosta parade ;-) Kathy, I can understand your frustration with Sun Power. I have said this a few times now but I still can't believe it - my eternally slow Sun Power is looking better and better each year! I'm saying this so instead of pitching it, you just transplant yours into sunshine....since you have just about had it with your little runt of a SP, what can you lose? I didn't know about these little eeny weeny Tissue Culture guys until I joined this forum but I swear my SP was the runt of the litter!!! The only thing it had going for it was that it didn't burn in the sun. But... finally... each year following the other... it finally gained more mass and really looks like a Sun Power! I deliberately planted it in almost full sun a few years ago and it has remained without being moved (a miracle) in that same location. I am amazed at my patience ... as I waited for it to grow... since I really lack that virtue (well let's say I come in at 50% only ;-)). From 3-4 leaves about 4 years ago or more...to this...I can almost call it a trooper, lol! Hysterical isn't it? I really would love it if yours would finally grow like mine did. Your zone is hotter than mine and maybe you already have it in sunshine...I can't recall. You could just ignore it, (you don't need the space, right?) or swear at it under your breath like I did, or both. I just want to encourage you to consider waiting a bit more for it to come into its own...as mine did. :-).