I am confused. You had mentioned that you did a light root pruning. When you speak of roots coming out from the base bottom. I am assuming that these are now beneath the new soil in the pot you repotted it into? They will become larger (thicker) over time and more will be visible as you raise it every couple years or so. If you raised it a bit when potting it will be fine. Make sure that the caudex does not burn in hot sun and leave in one position when it is acclimatized to sun (when settled after potting) as turning can result in the caudex getting burnt. Rick

When I worked in Pacific Palisades, RIGHT on the ocean, saw flies were a year round problem. Spinosad took care of them in the nursery and all my clients' gardens. Asian Citrus Leaf Miner was another huge problem there, as well as anywhere else citrus is grown and I use it to control them, too. It makes a HUGE difference and is the only pesticide I use in clients' gardens because they all have dogs, children or grandchildren. Everything is going to have some effect on bees. Sevin is one of the least toxic to mammals while being a very broad spectrum product, but it is highly toxic to bees, frequently used to knock down a colony where it isn't wanted and won't move. Everything is going to be toxic to fish, too, so extreme care must be used anywhere run off may pollute water areas. I don't use Canola oil, period. It is registered and legal to cook with, which I don't do. Rape Seed Oil is Rape Seed Oil, no matter the Canadian Government paid the USDA $50 million to license it for human consumption or not. I get a lot more mileage from Grape Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Walnut and Almond oil in the kitchen and I am far more comfortable with their sources than Rape Seed Oil. Oils are oils and they will burn foliage in this climate, period. It doesn't matter whether it is Jojoba, Canola, Ultra Fine, Insecticidal Soap (which IS lard), oil WILL burn in my heat, aridity and intense sunlight. At the beach, we could get away with using Ultra Fine in weak solutions many months of the year, but I can't here, not even over winter. The conditions are just too severe to coat the plant with oils. Been there, done that until I learned better. Even with the suggestions of "washing it off" after spraying, it burns, and I follow label instructions. If it will rinse off, it isn't an oil and it won't provide the effects you are after. I selected Spinosad (and ONLY Greenlight brand as it's the one produced using OMRI guidelines) because it works; doesn't replicate itself in water and fields as BT does; doesn't stink like BT and other insecticides do; has extremely low toxicity to things not targeted; and it is the one product I could use when NECESSARY with good conscience and without fear of any phytotoxicity. Neighbors here and at friends, relatives and clients use smelly, toxic stuff with no regard to how it affects neighbors, wildlife and beneficials and it "bugs" the heck out of me. If I react to the chemicals others spray freely, I know many others will and do, too. At least when "I" spray, I know no one is going to spend time down will ill effects and anyone potentially affected by my spraying is alerted to remain out of the area until it is dry. Nothing is worth growing if it means someone is going to get sick...or worse. Kim

Fran,I am happy you addressed this,it was tearing my heart out watching a few of my buddies at odds with eachother. You all are great ladies and of course have different points of view. I am probably sticking my nose in where it doesnt belong,but from both negative posts, I got that the fact, there was no communication with them and,that this person was posting elsewhere for trades and such,was the part that was most upsetting to them.I find it hard to swallow that either of these ladies were nasty and that is why they were avoided. Maybe emails did get sent to spam,it seems there was alot of miscommunication and confusion in these trades. That is why it is important for people that know they have trades out there to touch base,I bet if both of these ladies had been contacted and told what was going on,there would have been no negative post or hard feelings. It is understandable that when someone has tragedy in their lives that they would not be thinking of seed trades,and I am sorry to hear that this person has suffered as she is,it really is alot for one person to take. But at one point you do have to take care of your commitments,even if it is a brief email saying..."I didnt forget about you.Please hold on a bit longer"... This situation can be a valuable lesson for others,communication is golden and it can avoid alot of, what I consider a tragedy, here. I hope there is a happy ending to all of this,I don't like seeing people I care about hurting or on the defense. I know this is really none of my business,but it has been bothering me, and from an outside point of view,I think there can be resolution in this and that everyone will come out smiling! I dont know the person all this is about,but I do know you ladies,some better than others,and I know you all have hearts of gold and are great people!:) Oh, and Fran, I do believe that the PO can be not so dependable....dont get me started on that!...lol.... ~Angie,who hopes no one is mad at her for this post!

[Warning-long] I was ready to jump in and say your husband-her son-should be doing more UNTIL...you mentioned he sees his mom every day! I'm in a similar situation; my MIL just turned 90 last week. She lives a couple of blocks away and has dementia; her short term memory is completely shot. She doesn't overtly demand attention as yours is doing, but she has no friends, no activities, no life at all really. So she sits alone all day long. Visits from my husband who stops in twice daily and his brother who comes by weekly are her only contact with the world. What has worked for us is that we divide our commitment to MIL into 'operations' which is my husband's role and 'logistics' which is mine. So for example, he sees her every day, visits, talks, listens to her repeat the same question or phrase, literally, every 2 minutes for the duration of the conversation. I handle the administrative end of her needs: I was the one who figured out how to order copies of her birth certificate needed for ID renewal because she is far too gone to even know she needs one, much less get it. I was the one who advocated for her care, and figured out the billing and financial fallout from the hospital and rehab facilities when she broke her hip-my husband was the one who visited her every single day. I also went to see her but I knew he wouldn't miss a day, and he knew I wouldn't let her be gouged by incorrect charges that would have also freaked out her depression era mind. This balance takes care of her needs and perhaps as importantly it allows each of us to give what we can give best. I am not a patient woman so the dementia-fueled nonsense conversations drive me nuts--not to mention that as her social filters erode she regularly tosses zingers my way with no shame: "Are you wearing THAT to work?" "What happened to your hair? " "I've just never liked professional women". My husband is her adored son and a male. MIL is one of the worst throwbacks to the men-are-gods mindset I've ever met so she never says anything snarky to him. While he doesn't mind answering the same silly question repeatedly, and he is happy to sit and watch tv with her while explaining the plot over and over and over and over, he is terrified and inept at navigating through online or telephone customer service portals and deciphering administrivia paperwork. We also stay in touch with BIL/SIL and try to balance the caretaking with them. Luckily they are both decent people who also want to be sure MIL is ok and it's such a relief not to have it all on our shoulders, although because we're so close we tend to more for her on a daily basis. My husband is a saint, in my book! At this point for your own sanity my advice is pretty simple: stop answering the phone every time she calls. If her own child is visiting *every* *single* *day*, then she isn't left all alone. If she wants or needs more socialization or stimulation then you are actually hindering her taking control of her own life and getting that somewhere-because you are allowing yourself to be used by your MIL in that role. If you are at the point at which you cannot give as much as she is asking of you with grace, it's the sure indicator you need to step back and allow your heart to refill to the point at which you can. Don't try to pour from an empty cup. Just figure out what you can do without resentment, do it and then know in your heart you are doing your best. And please don't lose sight of just what a caring and loving daughter in law you are. Millions of elderly folks live without anyone in their lives. Your MIL is blessed no matter how much or little you handle, whether she knows it or not. Needs also change over time and with elderly relatives the changes are usually more demanding not less. Don't let yourself be drained now because she may well need you at some point for much more than errands and companionship. Taking back your life is going to help her too and taking care of your home and family is going to help your husband, of course. It's not being selfish, it is being wise to stop spreading yourself so thin you are disappearing! Ann