gottahosta yep, thats exactly the weather I am talking about! 90's here today and yesterday, 80s all week! Not that I mind, but the daffies sure didn't last! Trying to not turn on the AC before the end of the month! Don't think I am going to make it! Have a wonderful day everyone! Frances

What a beautiful story, Josh! Is it weird that I wanted to cry through every stage-especially the end?! I live in MN and knew of a massive decorative succulent arrangement outside of a restaurant down the block. This is the hardest time of year for plant lovers like me. It just takes One freeze for many plant species to be destroyed, and there are so many establishments that use tropical and warm climate plants as outdoor decoration, especially those with outdoor seating. It amazes me that people pay for established Hibiscus trees-just to allow them to be killed after the first freeze. My last employer had 3 decorative aluminum garbage cans lining the storefront, and their plant service would come every season with lawn bags and toss out fruit laden pepper plants, hibiscus and many other beauties what were still flourishing. The ladies employed for the job were wonderful, but they couldn't rescue every plant that had been paid for to become trash at the end of every season. I Am proud to say that there are 4 hibiscus trees still thriving at various coworker's homes due to my rescue efforts. When Fall starts to approach I find myself in literal heartbreak pain when I see particularly beautiful or exotic plants that I know are doomed in just a few weeks, but it's illegal to uproot the entire thing in the name of Mother Nature, so instead I will discreetly take a pinching home and continue its existence in that way instead. But back to this recent rescue; This barrel planter was about 3 ft tall by 5 ft across, and the variety of succulents growing were just gorgeous and bursting with life!! It was so incredible that I had convinced myself that it Must be on casters because it was located right at the door, and they Must be pulling it inside now that it was getting cold. Not so. The night before last (November 8) I was walking past at about 2 am and braced myself to look inside. Thankfully most of the plants looked to have been yanked out, and there were only 2 left. I couldn't identify one of them due to its state, but the other just so happened to be the mother of the gorgeous yellow succulent I pinched at the beginning of June. I realized after swooning over its crippled state that I could actually see the root ball. It all happened so fast-and it was so cold- about 20 degrees, but next thing I knew my hands were going numb as I was walking swiftly down the street grasping the remnants of a once massive mostly frozen plant! Long story winding down, I have followed your instructions and trimmed her back as much as she requires. What I have found interesting is that the one branch that has kept its petals in tact is a piece that was starting to shrivel toward the stalk. Do you know why that would be? This particular succulent smells like blanched green beans when trimmed! Anyway, I have her tucked safely under the head of my claw foot tub where it is consistently warm and dim. I'm waiting for the soil to dry from her root ball so that I can gently shake the dirt away and allow for her to fully dry out. I treated her like a frostbite victim and in the process saturated the root ball. I have several cuttings that I think may survive in hospice care as well in my terrarium. I'm hoping that my initial rescue mistakes will be fully forgiven, and after seeing your album of success I have great hope for her. Thank you very much for sharing with us, and thank you to everyone for reading my story!

Happy Anniversary, from me, too . . I started lurking here 10 years ago in the spring and boy, am I glad I joined! But I could swear that you were here before me, Kathy! I remember back in those days, we could have capital letters in our User Names. Susie

Happy Easter friends :) Kgal, what do Kentucky citizens eat at Easter? I loved your Easter decorations, they look so countryside! And I love countryside style (that's why I live in the countryside of Belgium, lol). my mom has a little problem: she's wealthy but doesn't spend a red cent more than necessary, never. For instance, she only visits me four time a year because I live 45 km away from her, and she doesn't want to spend money on gasoil... She's known for the fact, lol and we all love her as she is. At this moment, the world entered a recession era, especially Belgium that has been without government for more than six months; which means that the prices have been increased to much that "the life is hard to live"... So, my mom decided that she'll come but takes my sister, her son, my grandmother, to split fuel costs and she thought that by cooking spaghetti bolognese for 7 people I'll spend less money. But, while I'm not wealthy at all, I stick with our traditions so, we'll eat a leg of lamb (lamb is the most expensive meat here but I've found a store that sells lamb with a great discount). Regarding the Belgian politic, our new government becomes effective today, and it was done specifically because we celebrate Easter: people will say nothing because a party that had not been elected is one of them. Karen, I also love the cartons with candles and gave a carton to each woman in my family with perfumed candles; they thought that they were eggs and have been a bit disappointed at first sight, lol. Rose, hearing from your traditions, arts and crafts is also addictive, lol. Do you plan to come to visit your DH's cousins in Belgium one day? Or maybe you already did... OK, I understand that... since it rains every day of the year, you prefer to spend your holidays home, lol. No, I'm joking, sometimes, the sun shines here too, like today, for instance. Phonegirl, well, my ex-m-i-l - who didn't like me at all - always said that I was generous and that I gave to the others what I can't allow to myself. In 11 years, it's the only kind comment she made about me. When she has been at the hospital, I called twice a day every day to have news about her health and she told me that while she didn't like me she loved my son so much and would like to see him; which was impossible because little children were forbidden in this section. Some days later, when I called the hospital, I learned that she died. I brought my son to the funeral although he had not been "invited". She wanted to see her grand son a last time... I love to give and I know how well you feel when you give something but, like Karen, I think that it's a question of wisdom.