Hi There, Jean If you go to the Holtkamp website and click on the section where it lists Identifying Varieties, page will come up with all the current and recent past Optimara violets where you might find your violets. The lavender pink one with the darker edge in the second row of your photo album is most likely Michele. It is being widely grown and distributed by Optimara in my area this year.The first one in your album is quite striking and unusual. Perhaps you will find it on that website I mentioned. As for the second shown violet, the pink one, Optimara has so many pinks in that color, with only subtle differences, that it would be hard to say for sure without reading all the details on their website for each description. That color of pink is also popular this year and is widely distributed. As for the double that looks two-tone, again, refer to their website. I got one recently that is similar that is called Loretta. However, they have discontinued it, but local growers might still have it. There are also others similar to it. As Irina said, Cora is distinctive, and lovely, so it is easier to identify. Same with Michelle. If your fluffy two-tone double petal is a slightly more pink color than shows on the monitor, then it might be Loretta. However, sometimes Optimara violets bloom with slight color variations. Although the experts on this forum would advise against naming a violet, especially if giving it away to a club member, Optimara does seem ok with people trying to make an educated guess by looking at their website. But they are always updating their offerings, and tinkering with the genetics of what they offer. Seems especially with the two-tones and those with an eye or a star like your first one, which is stunning. I have both Cora and Michele, they are consistent bloomers and very sturdy plants. I bought them directly from Optimara's mail order division called Selective Gardener. They came labelled, so I know for sure what they are. When I later found them in local garden centers, I knew it was the same plant. I also got the Loretta from them directly, as well as a few others that are named and labelled. I was advised at the time which ones would be discontinued but were still available in limited quantity or leaves, if I wanted to get them. So I ordered a few discontinued leaves that are now making very strong baby plants. If you do go to their identifying page, it will show which ones are still being distributed and which are being discontinued. That will help you identify which pink one it is that you have, if you got it this year. If you got it last year, then it could be one that was discontinued. Now, I am making the assumption that you bought your plants locally. The first one with the eye or star might not be an Optimara, as the leaves have a different "look." Optimara leaves tend to have a certain "look," you may have noticed. Well, I did not intend to get into a discourse on Optimara! Have fun figuring out the puzzle! Joanne

Tammy can attest to this "survival of the fittest" story. Last winter I started a packet of globe artichoke seeds. The packet had a germination test results stuck to it like a sticker. It said to expect 66% germination, so I planted all the seeds. I assumed that half of them would sprout and that I would be lucky to grow any of them to maturity. Well every single one of those 200 seeds sprouted. I had flat upon flat of fast growing silver leaved seedlings. I planted some outside, I gave some away, I sold some at the flea market, I traded some at the swap... and managed to kill a few of them along the way. In the end I had a few that I ended up using in the garden display at the state fair (a plot shared with Tammy, who is my neighbor). Tammy was sorta guiding me on my Globe Artichoke journey, since she had experience growing them in the past. The ones at the fair plot did great and got very big but never bloomed - even though this variety was supposed to bloom its first year. At the end of the fair Tammy and I were tearing down the display and when it came time to dig up the monster artichokes they sorta ripped out of the ground without much roots. The resulting withered mass pretty much got tossed to the side during the next few days while I planted my favorites. Weeks later I found them still alive under a pile of strawberry plants also dug up in haste from the fair display. I planted them in well ammended soil in the veggie garden and figured I'd be lucky if one of the three survived. I then had to spend a month away from home tending to my injured father back in Oklahoma. When I returned I discovered that all three had set down roots and had tripled in size. So far, so good. But I have to tell you, if they don't flower this year I'm yanking them out, space is a luxury in my yard and its a "perform or die" kinda place - of course I fully expect them to survive in the compost pile!

You have to have a schedule and you have to adhere to it as best you're able. Sounds really draconian, but it isn't. It's the schedule that will keep an elderly person on course (esp. if they are losing mental capability), allow you to accomplish that which you must do, AND schedule help/respite. Help/respite. You must have this. Trust me on this. I have had Mum with me for nearly 3 years now. For fully 2 of them I did it alone. After her stroke I knew she was no longer able to bathe alone. I hired a woman to come in thrice weekly and assist her. Smartest thing I've done in a long time! I don't have to do it, it accords Mum some privacy, and she has another person with whom to interact. I calmly told my brother he had to step up to the plate and do some caregiving, too. It wasn't fair that I gave up my former life and he had to give up nothing. He now takes her for a month at a time; usually every 2-3 months. I'm OK with that arrangement; but know if he scheduled a "bath lady" it would be easier for him to take her more frequently. Try to incorporate them into your daily errands. I pack Mum into the car (along with the dog) and she "rides shotgun". She is perfectly happy to go for a ride, wait in the car in the sunshine while I dash into one place or another... sometimes she wants to go in, too... so I usually allot enough time. If I haven't, I simply say, "No" and explain why. I will grab her a "treat" if she must wait in the car. I make sure we get out to do something "fun" at the next opportunity. It takes practice to venture out with an elderly, infirm person. You will learn the places that easy to access, have comfortable bathrooms, have help that is willing to move slowly and patiently with the elderly. Mum goes every month for a shampoo/haircut/manicure. The woman is a delight; warm, patient, and gives Mum her undivided attention. We are "regulars" at several establishments BECAUSE they are willing to make time for a slow, old woman. It's hard work; not always fun. I miss my freedom terribly, if you want to know the truth. But I can do this and feel it is important for me to do it. She ain't gonna live forever, afterall. (Hi Connie!)

Hello again friends. I continue to be amazed by your kindness and concern. Paulines and Elizabeth10029 - if you are back in here reading, yes by all means please feel free to save these posts. ALL OF YOU have my permission (and gratitude) to keep or share what I have written. I am humbled by the thought that my words have meant so much. There are so many more stories here that need to be told. The political firestorms have been whipped up to a frenzy over the past few weeks. I am sure many of you have heard on the national news the statements our mayor, Ray Nagin, made this week during his MLK celebratory speech about making the city of New Orleans "chocolate". Well, of course, the whole city is now in an uproar. I really think he is suffering from "Katrina fatigue". This mayor was very, very well liked by the most of the city - all different races. Now, he has become a symbol of division. And this comes at a time, when we must really pull together and present a rational, unified front. I am embarrassed and concerned about the damage he has done - the whole world is watching us. And I think the image he put forth is so misleading. While to the outside world it appears that there is a huge racial divide - in reality, New Orleans incorporates her diversity far better than many other cities. One of my dearest friends of 30+ years is african american - and she has spent the past few months living in my home. Our families vacation together every year. My other best friends are indonesian, hispanic, and greek - I am the "token wasp!" I have wonderful friends from as far away as Syria and VietNam. And I am not uncommon. Most New Orleanians work with, laugh and play with, cry and mourn with the many diverse people here. The problem arises when poverty and crime are added to the equation. I have no answers, only more questions. As do the other good people (of all races) who live here. We shake our heads in dismay and write letters to the editor! We are in dire need of effective leadership - and it is sadly lacking. The initial rebuilding plans for the city were just released and are being evaluated now. There is just no way possible to make everyone happy. We have to choose safety over everything else. Some people are simply not going to be allowed to rebuild their neighborhoods. It is so sad, tragic. But it would be insane to allow these people to live in harms way - even if they really WANT to! Desperate times make for desperate decisions, and some people just cannot believe or trust that the engineers and experts are telling the truth about where to rebuild or not. The next few months are going to be critical ones - will the city of New Orleans succeed in creating a plan for rebuilding better and stronger and wiser than before? Or will history repeat itself? Can we get congress to give us Netherlands-quality category 5 hurricane levees? Are we valued? President Bush visited last week and commented that "this is looking like the New ORleans I remember". Well, that was voted as the most ridiculous statement of last week. He saw the French Quarter (which did not flood at all) and the Garden District (which did not flood at all). It's just unbelievable. Only 30% of New Orleans has lights. That's right. It is pitch black at night. And cold. No heat, no lights, no phones. My friend's neighborhood - about half a mile from me - still has no working phone lines. Not one single person I know, who lived in the areas of New Orleans that flooded, has been able to move back into their house. People in Jefferson Parish (suburb of New Orleans, where I live) are able to rebuild now and some have been able to move back. It is absolutely still a disaster zone. And it will remain so until the city institutes a viable rebuilding plan - which appears to be months away yet. I am leaving tomorrow to visit DD back in Michigan for a week. It will be wonderful to get away from the daily bombardment of Katrina news. Of course, she calls almost daily (and usually right after the 6pm news) and at the top of her list is "Mom, why don't you sell your house and move up here?" Honestly, I do think about it. But, I have decided to give it one year here and if we cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel by then...well, I will have to make some very hard decisions. Meanwhile, I will play with precious grandson, enjoy the clean beautiful snow of Michigan, and my beautiful DD, and leave the troubles of New Orleans behind for a while.