PM & JAG, we are perhaps not as far apart as you seem to think... maybe you should re-read my post? If you get beyond the "leggy" part, you will find that I was referring to the effect of _temperature_ in combination with long days... and yes, with fluorescent lighting, which is widely used (including by me). It is the only feasible means by which I can light enough shelf space to start 400-500 seedlings. Granted, "floros" are not ideal... but not everyone can afford high-intensity lighting. At the scale on which I garden, it's cost-prohibitive. We are also in agreement that long light periods can - and should - be used for starting plants later than the recommended dates, because of the increased growth rate. I did say (if you re-read) that increased growth was a problem "...Unless you plan for this...". For those reading this who are accustomed to starting their plants on a particular date, they need to know that with long light periods, those dates might require some adjustment... or they could end up with plants larger than they planned for. I say this from experience, having made that mistake when I was still a newbe to seed starting. If your plants are too large for the lights & it's still too early to transplant, that could be a problem. Forewarned is forearmed. The recommendations I gave for cooler temps & air movement will contribute to stockier growth, and are accepted greenhouse practice. Perhaps for purposes of this discussion, the questions should be: - the definition of "ample light" - the optimal size for transplants

I'm heading to the Philly show and wrapping a visit to my little brother's family into one visit. I was the designer for the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association's (RINLA) RI Flower Show exhibit both this year and last year. I find this chatter about the flower shows insightful and educational. I had taken the feedback I had read on here last year to heart for the design of this year's plan. I made sure that this year's design was something that the flower show visitors could feasibly do in their yard. My design was the little old garden shed with the artwork, pond with walk through bridge, and spring time theme. I knew there was some frustration that the previous year's exhibits were overblown and way beyond the reality of most of the visitors there. I almost would like to ask all of you visitors what would you like to see at the flower shows. I will pose the answers to the RINLA Flower Show exhibit committee when we meet next for next year's show (which is coming up soon.) Terry, you had commented on how the plant material was ordinary and run of the mill. Sue is completely right that we are limited by what is available in February. We get a lot of our flower material from Bay State and Lake Street Garden Center in NH. The woody plant material is donated to us by RINLA members and what can be forced to bloom and/or look decent for the show. Roses, hydrangeas, other summer material, and tropicals would be so cost prohibitive it wouldn't be worth it to bring them in. I had recommended some material my first year that wasn't run of the mill and was shot down by the committee because it would have cost a king's ransom to get it there. Oh well, live and learn.

This was the AHS Convention in Lansing, Michigan. The 2010 convention will be in my back yard here in Minnesota - hope you will all come! Some of these were more established plants, but I suspect that tour gardens may stick in some first or second year tcs in containers when they want to spruce things up... I haven't had much trouble with the squirrels - until the last week or so. I've got maybe 75 plants on tables in pots waiting for spots in the gardens or holding beds - today I spent an hour trying to rescue some of them that had been dug up and tossed around on the tables and deck. I wouldn't mind so much if they would go for cheaper ones -but no... had to be my last Stitch in Time laying dried out on the tabletop! And that carefully removed white-edged sport from Garnet Prince. maybe 20 of them damaged. Rotten little varmints!

DeeMarie - PITTSBURGH!! PIRATES!! That is soooooooo close to me. Maybe one of these days you could tag along and we could meet for lunch. I have yet to meet a fellow SS Daily pal. :Speaking of Luna Bars, I always have a stash of them on hand. A Luna Bar and a piece of fruit make a great lunch/snack on the run. My favorite flavors are Dulce de Leche and Lemon Zest. I ran errands all afternoon and grabbed a Lemon Zest bar when I got home to tide me over until dinner. My third bite tasted like PURE SALT! I almost got sick. Couldn't bring myself to find out if the rest of the bar was as salty as that bite. Had to throw the rest away. I emailed the company and filed a complaint, so it will be interesting to see what they have to say. We conducted an interview tonight for the teaching position. The candidate had great qualifications, but I think her salary expectations were beyond our means. I definitely don't do this job for the money and sometimes I wonder if I am nuts because of that. We are still running the ad for a few more weeks, so we hope to get some more good applicants. I am currently reading Expecting Adam by Martha Beck. I just realized that I have seen her many times on The Oprah Show. She is such a witty writer and took a somber subject (Down's Syndrome) and turned the experience into a humorous and uplifting book. I am also reading Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss. The forward alone(written by Frank McCourt)is worth the price of the book. I have been carrying that book in my purse and reading in the waiting room at all my doctor's appts. Tikanas - My gyn. doctor just left the practice at the end of June. I took the first available appointment with the other two docs and hoped for the best. I have decided that as long as the polyp isn't hurting me, it will just have to stay there until my schedule allows me to take time off. I still have hopes that I can get the surgery scheduled in August. My head is pounding and it is too late to take Excedrin (the caffeine keeps me up), which is the only OTC drug that touches my headaches. Would a glass of red wine be in order here?? Or does alcohol make a headache worse? Oh well, maybe I'll just tough it out and hope I can get to sleep despite the pounding. Goodnight, Marci