Geology/geomorphology lesson (oversimplified): The eastern US has, as its backbone, a mountain range called the Blue Ridge/Smokey Mountains/ and Appalachians (the easternmost part of the Appalachians from PA northeasteward). These are made up of preCambrian igneous and volcanic rocks. These oldest rocks have been around the entire time that the rocks from more recent ages were being deposited, so many of the more recent (Paleozoic) sedimentary rocks have their clay content derived from the basement preCambrian rocks. The Basement rocks are and were rich in heavy metals, in Iron, etc. A professor of mine one time gave a paper on iron in the Shady Dolomite soils and talked about the potential to strip mine the soils as a source of Fe in a possible emergency. These soils that developed on the Paleozoics, that incorporate older clays have then been redeposited in the Triassic Basins on the east side of the Moutains, from CT, to Virginia, into NC, and a sliver in the buried one in GA. The Triassic Basins also have fresher clays and cobbles from the same basement rocks as the old Paleozoic soils. And these have been the source of all the Mesozoic and Cenozoics on the Coastal Plain. Sometimes, the formations are sands, the clays were winnowed out and deposited farther out. AND, because Europe and North America were joined when this was happening (remember the word Gondwana?), there are similar soils in Europe. England has the Old Red and New Red Sandstones, that so strongly resemble our Triassic Basins, but not the same age but the red clays around Chester England grow some magnificent roses (I asked many folks in Chester and all looked at me as if I were looney when I asked what fertilizers they used. They're on soils on or after the ?New Red SS.) Our red soils have a lot of minerals and very little lime; they are old and the components that could have been leached out of them, have been leached out. This yields a really persistent red soil (the bane of anyone who does laundry for gardeners). I don't know much about periglacial soils, but I've seen some gray and clammy soils to our north, where all soils were affected by the glaciers. And I don't know anything about the conditions of Greece. (I did find out that the famous monasteries were built on pillar shaped mountains made of conglomerates.) This red clay holds water well. And what I've seen is that roses can do well here, just not roses on Dr. Huey rootstock which prefers a slightly basic soil.

I agree that the pots may be on the small side. I grow Italian parsley in a 12 inch pot (one plant per pot). Curly parsley is generally a smaller plant so would do fine in a smaller pot, like a 6 or 8 inch pot. The gravel may help lessen the evaporation from the small clay pot, but you might still have to water such a small pot nearly everyday. Why not plant directly in the planter, without any gravel? Let us know how it does with your set up. -F. DeBaggio

I just remembered a use for Fimo where it's a plus for it to be rather dry... You know how it looks when you layer gold (or whatever color) leafing onto clay and run it through the pasta maker? You can get the same look with two colors of clay and it helps if one is kind of crumbly. I played around with this and still have some of the sheets. I saw it in a book that I can't remember the name of... Also, you can use chunks that are dry-ish as "inclusions" in a softer clay to make faux turquoise or other stones. So, I guess I'm saying don't give up on that Fimo! LOL! I threw some like that in the trash once and ended up digging it out! I have heard of it being partly cured if it's been stored in a warm place, sat in front of a window, or traveled in a hot delivery truck... but I knew mine hadn't. And Karen, I had to LOL about your bra! :--D I agree, Fimo is not good for kids, but with my kids the Sculpey III has been too soft in their hot little hands (except for quick projects). Premo, we've done okay with...

I'm excited to see your list. I just love push molds. You're awfully generous! I crochet but don't know how to read patterns... I just make simple things like hats (which are fun to make up as ya go along) and scarves. Thank you, Minnie :)