In Feb. of this year, I ordered a 10 pack of "Medium" hybrid Phals from this eBayer. I emailed the buyer prior to the ordering asking what size pots they required and the Seller responded 4 inch pots. What I rec'd were very small phals that could have been potted in 2 inch pots. Looking back at the auction page the picture does appear to be accurate (the pictured plants look like they are in 2 inch pots) but I wouldn't have described them as "medium". That's my only gripe. I was pleased with the transaction, espedically since I received 12 plants altogether (2 extra) and only one has died so far. As an newbie, I look forward to "raising" these plants and seeing what flowers I get if I can keep them alive that long :)

Hi Harborrose: My rhododendrons are 9 years old. They are right in front of my door - look the same every year until now, the leaves have pink streaks when I put espresso grounds (we have lots of rain). I don't know what's in the espresso that put pink stripes to the leaves - I tasted the espresso, extremely bitter compared to my hubby's ground. For the past month all my roses are great - dark green leaves with hubby's coffee ground from Sam's club. Hi Michael: Thank you very much for your info. I tested the acidity of both espresso and coffee ground twice: with red cabbage boiled in alkaline hard water, the second time with red cabbage boiled in distilled water. What happened puzzled me until you clarified - many thanks: Red cabbage indicator boiled in alkaline tap water: espresso ground and coffee ground both turned pinkish (acidic) within 10 minutes. After 4 hours the reddish water changed to CLEAR in the coffee ground solution (you are right about its instability, I also read that coffee ground is a buffer, rather than acidic). The solution above the espresso ground retained its pink color. I repeated the experiment again today, with red cabbage boiled in distilled water. Both coffee ground and espresso turned reddish brown. After 1 hour, I was surprised to see a CLEAR SOLUTION above the coffee ground -the espresso ground solution was still pink. I also tested red cabbage boiled in distilled water with at least 10 other samples. Here are the results: Purple indicator turns BRIGHT pink with a few drops of vinegar (reported pH 2.4) - Espresso ground is next in pink (my estimate pH 3 to 4) - Coffee ground is slight pink but turned CLEAR after 1 hour. The control red cabbage color is the SAME as indicator solution in Epsom salt (pH is neutral as expected). Previous wrong alkaline result with Epsom salt was from boiling red cabbage in hard alkaline water. There is no change in color with calcium citrate (it's just more whitish with calcium dust). Baking soda is bluish-green (reported pH of 9). Magnesium supplement (magnesium oxide) is bright green, and the most alkaline. Peatmoss is the same color as alfalfa meal within the first 5 minutes - but after 1 hour settling down the peatmoss is clearly darker pink. Reported pH of peatmoss is 4, my estimate of alfalfa is 5. MiracleGro potting soil is slightly pink (reported pH of 6.5). My amended topsoil is slightly bluish-purple (reported pH of 7.7, tested professionally by EarthCo.) - The bottom yellow clay is more blue, my estimate pH of 8, same as tap water tested with fish-tank litmus paper. Here's my big disappointment with HomeDepo's EarthGro bagged topsoil (the white/red bag). It's greenish blue, at least 8.5 pH. Horse manure is alkaline as expected, my estimate at 8.7 (others report a higher value). The Moo Manure (sold at HomeDepo) is the most alkaline, the same color as the baking soda solution (reported pH of 9). The most prolific bloomer in my garden is Radio Times, planted in Scott's Premium topsoil with peatmoss - I did not test this, but expect it to be neutral, or slightly acidic with peatmoss. Other roses amended with HomeDepo's Earthgro topsoil or Moo-manure don't bloom as much, with more yellowish leaves. Now I know why.

I can't comment on Sam's. We don't have any in the region. But we do have a Costco Executive membership (with AmEx card) and have found it cost-effective for us. Costco offers different levels of membership. For years we stuck with the basic and cheapest. But when we bought a computer there the salesperson recommended considering executive because the money back on a big-ticket item would more than cover the cost of membership at a higher level. He was right; the rebate also provided a nice reduction in the cost of the computer. Using the AmEx card also extends the warranty by another year, which is nice for electronics particularly. One salesperson told me a number of members charge everything they can on the AmEx (paying off in full each month so there's no interest) and get very big rebates as a result. There's a Costco rebate and a separate AmEx rebate, so the returns can be very large, especially for those buying for a business. However, obviously there's no benefit if you're overbuying just because the rebate is appealing. There is a pyschological effect there you have to watch out for. I like the fact that Costco's salespeople are not on commission. I think it makes a difference in their reponses to questions about electronics and other pricy goods. Since we live 30 miles away in a rural area, our trips to Costco are not frequent and are normally combined with doctor's appointments or other kinds of errands. I try to schedule those trips just after the new coupon book has come out. Beyond basic goods like TP, some of their coupon book specials are hard to beat. My DH wanted a new scales (determined to lose weight in the new year) and I bought a Taylor digital glass-top for $14.99, which was less than half of the cheapest price anywhere else. Costco stores do vary considerably store to store. For us access is critical. One of our older Costco stores has limited handicapped parking, and if DH goes with me, that's a store we avoid. We have one "upscale" Costco in the area which we go to most often. Very best parking and the one Costco near us that carries Seattle's Best coffee, which we prefer to other brands. We keep a grinder and coffee machine busy most of the day, not just for us but for constant traffic in my DH's shop. I figure just the coffee saves us the cost of the membership. I do think Costco can be an impulse-buyer's paradise and if you're not careful unnecessary purchases can easily suck up any savings. I am now cutting back on Costco purchases. With just the two of us, some foods go to waste before we consume them. In some cases I can still buy the larger product so much more cheaply that a degree of waste is "cost-effective" but I'm constitutionally opposed to buying more than we need and then throwing it away. Some of Costco's prices are unbeatable. I can buy their prepared fresh pineapple for much less than whole pineapple at other stores and be assured of the quality. Dairy products are also very reasonable - Darigold cottage cheese comes to mind. I buy excellent cream cheese and butter at Costco for holiday baking. Sometimes the prices don't beat local loss-leaders, but I like the brands Costco offers and the quality. And lastly, as others have mentioned, Costco has an excellent return policy. A couple of years ago when recalls for pistachios were in the news a Costco employee phoned to let me know because their records showed I'd purchased a trail mix they were pulling off the shelves. No other company has ever called to inform me of a recall. I found that very impressive. Carol

Geesh, how come I am the last to know about this Etsy. Actually, my first buying experience did not go all that smoothly. The artist's description of my desired purchase said it was 19" x 17" oval. And that she would ship it in a wood box to protect her work and shipping is $25.00. So I click to buy it and print out my invoice. Went to the Post office and got a money order for the final amount on the invoice. Before mailing it, I got an email from the seller saying it will be $15.00 more for shipping with the wood box. I relented and sent the extra $15. When it came, the actual measurements of the item was 16" x 14", not the 19 x 17 as described. The size was important to me and a deciding factor in my buying it. I am a little unhappy, but it is beautiful and I will keep it. I emailed the seller and she was appropriately dismayed that this "mistake" was made and said that she would refund $25.00 of the money I sent. I haven't seen it yet, but it is early. This experience won't keep me from future purchases, but I wlll be asking a lot more qestions of the seller in the future.