Well... Now that Spike has sold the site to iVillage, there might be some other unknown-to-us criteria or threshold that the new owners have in order to start up new forums or side-forums from a main one (like a "Conversations", "Gallery", "Exchange", etc). Guess we'll have to see. I'm still amazed at how this site has grown over the years since I started lurking and posting around '98 - '99 and finally joining when the option became available in 2001. Incredible!

Jen, There are a lot of threads about growing gardenias scattered among the various forums. Do a search on all forums for "gardenias" and you'll be busy for awhile with the results. My all time favorite GW thread is "The Suicidal Gardenia" which is beyond hilarious as folks describe how tempermental their gardenias are. However, gardenias are almost native plants here along the coast near Wilmington because they thrive in our very light (sandy) soil and high humidity with no attention at all. They are the very opposite of tempermental here! I've seen 8x6 foot gardenia bushes covered in blooms beside long-abandoned farm houses. But they HATE clay, so if you have heavy soil, so you'll have problems -- put your gardenia in a pot. Allie

I wanted to thank everyone who has posted about their estrangements with their children. Your wisdoms and stories show me that I am not alone in my estrangement from my only child, my adult daughter (age 33). It is comforting to know that other parents have gone through this, and have dealt with the same shock and grief I feel. You give me hope that I can finally let go, and get on with my own life. I recognized years ago that the serious choices I made as a single parent did effect her. Without a college education, I usually worked two jobs, during the day a secretary and a waitress at night. It was a necessity, because my daughter had medical issues early on in life and we did not access to insurance because of her pre-existing condition. I don't regret my job choices and was never embarrassed about being working-class, even though some of my waitressing jobs were in strip bars where the money was good. A few years back, I learned my daughter was embarrassed by my work history, lower income status, and my small house in the mountains in rural USA. I thought I would die of heartbreak. Tha was when the estrangement began. Our interactions as a mother and daughter became like a rollercoaster (as one person here so aptly described her own estrangement). Now she has no contact with me at all. She does not care if I live or die. The only news I hear now is when she calls her grandparents who live in Washington, DC. I learned from them that my daughter had married a navy pilot, a young man whose has rich family from Maine. My folks said he seems like a very good man, and I am happy for her. From them, I learned she now travels the world, like a jet-setter, and seems to be happy. I guess that all a parent can hope for is that their child is loved, happy and healthy. My daughter has all of that. So in truth, I guess I shouldn't complain. I rarely join blogs or forums. I wanted to join, and if for no other reason, to let others know I appreciate them. Thanks for listening. Light, Tofuanna

Thanks Minnie and Gluecille. I just wish that people on this forum would give me some suggestions as to what I could add. So far I got nothing cause it seems that no one posts here anymore except a very very few. Where is everyone???????????