I'm writing from Italy, and i'm not so informed about cold. However: Young fig tree bears without problem 4-6 celsius degrees under zero, (may be 21-22 F). Is important that the pot rests on (in contact) to the floor (especially if the floor is supported on the ground). I have seen interesting covers to allow the relative "warmth" of the floor can remain under a sealed cartboard bell covering the plant. (remember that the ground under a few feet can be that is not frozen, especially in a garage on the side of the house). I remember an old fig tree in the ground, if it has poor soil (when a tree is certainly very poor soil) and not too wet to stand at -18 � C (0 � F). I remember that too much nitrogen fertilizer, poor sun radiation, and excess water are harmful to the resistance to cold. In London, the temperature rarely drops below zero Celsius 30-32 F, but the excess moisture does find figs filled with sap, and then moderate frosts are deadly. In Switzerland, the plants on steep slopes and sunny, have a hardwood such as a bone, very strong and resistant to frost. In particular I have seen too rich and too soft soil in the pots, good soil for the fig tree is a good percentage of heavy soil and a little peat, have no concern that the fig tree grows slowly. At the end of the summer to reduce watering!, and NOT manure, and care very much that the fig tree takes a lot of sun. The wood must be hard; not to be herbaceous. Do not conserve the pot on temperature upper than 45 F. Congratulations on your commitment in botanist! My regards to loslunafarms and Giuseppe, my dear friends! Sergio

What a lovely tribute! I understand how you feel. A tree would be lovely, if the nursing home wants it. What about a bench? That's awfully useful. You might sit down with the administrator or the social worker and ask what they could use, and see what fits into your budget. But if you really want to give back to the nursing home, think about becoming a Friendly Visitor or a volunteer at the nursing home. Your uncle had you to come visit, but many people have no one, or at least no one who comes to visit very often. You might also find a Senior Center near you that would like a volunteer to help with activities. After my mother died at age 95 a year ago, I signed up at our local Alliance on Aging to be a peer counselor, and I visit someone every week, and have been trained to listen and to offer what help I can to seniors dealing with depression or loneliness and other issues. There are so many other people who need your care, and I think your Uncle would like to know that you continue his legacy and treat others With Tender Loving Care. Hugs to you and your family on the loss of your beloved Uncle. There is obviously a lot of love in your family!

Quality of file was always my main goal for my mother. Her death certificate says she died of lung cancer! Her oncologist confirmed to me that the cervical cancer she had about 14 years previously, 40 plus years of HRT, had spread to just outside her stomach and then to her lung. And yes the oncologist said that many years of estrogen probably did have a lot to do with the cervical cancer. My mother was a heave smoker so the hospice people just put down lung cancer. My father and sister went along with it and at that point I was just to tired to argue anymore. They forced mom to quit smoking 4 months before she died and my attitude was that it was just cruel. At that point what difference did it make. I just wanted her to be as comfortable as possible and if smoking helped so be it. Even her doctor said he didn't have a problem with her smoking. They went on and on about how they should have made her quit. I tried endlessly to explain it was never their responsibility to make her do anything and finally just gave up. Looking back I am fairly sure my mother knew she was sick the 2 years before diagnosis but she chose not to do anything about it. She told me that after the first cancer if it ever came back she wouldn't do anything about it. Mom was 81 and in the end she died in her own bed in her own house just like she wanted. Thankfully she didn't have any pain, non at all. But the whole experience could have been much easier for her, and me, if I wouldn't have had to fight family on so many issues. They just couldn't get it around theirs heads that she didn't really want to eat or drink anything and again tried to force the issue. I finally had to have a total screaming fit with my family because my mother was just crying about how they wouldn't leave her alone. I kept having to tell them that it was not about them and what they wanted it was all about mom and what would make it easier for her. It was not a day I ever want to repeat. Our first hospice nurse actually told my father that she didn't see anything wrong with my mother and if she would just get up and walk to get her strength back she would be fine! My question was what part of stage 3 cancer didn't she understand. Needless to say she never came back. In some ways hospice made it harder. The next nurse came in everyday and told my mother she was dying. I ask her to stop because mom was so confused she would forget she was sick. Again I thought it was cruel. Finally the third nurse was a keeper. She was wonderful with my mother and really helped my father cope with everything. Sorry about the rant but just today my father again said if only he had made her quit!! It will be 3 years on the 27th and it's been a hard week for me. I still miss her so much. Claudia

Yes, because my daughter is 28 and has multiple developmental birth defects, I recently went back to college to get a degree in Human Services so I can level the playing field. After 28 years of doing what I do, I consider myself an expert on programs and entitlements at least in a couple states where we've lived. I have been through it all including widowhood and 2 marriages while raising my daughter. My goal is to keep her OUT of institutional living. I have fought all the way to the governor and won. There is no fortitude like a mothers! My daughter has her own home ( I designed it wheelchair accessible) and she qualified for every program under the sun. She has limited income, in-home caregivers and lots of technology to make this work. If there is any one out there who would like some advise I may be able to help. The whole thing is "equal not more" I have been working in this field for 28 years and I give away my input support and encouragement because I can. There are many of us out there raising adult disabled children.