Hi Susan, Regarding Zygos, I will limit my observations to my plants. I grow Zygo species only. I don't think that rot is a problem with more mature growth in Zygos. My experience has been that water getting into the crown of a very young growth is especially dangerous when there is inadequate air movement. Rot is likely. I don't concern myself too much with the plants left outdoors in the rain. Rot happens. Zygopetalum sends out far greater numbers of new growths than other orchids, Cattleya e.g. When the plants are indoors, I water early in the morning. I have a fan "on", 24/7. Air movement isn't an issue. The spotting in Zygo leaves has been a source of comment from "experts" for many years. From the reading that I have done over the years, I think that the source of spotting is a naturally occurring biological agent which is not harmful to the plants. I hesitate to call the spotting a problem. I have noticed that the spotting becomes more pronounced in weakened, darkly colored plants. I have also noticed that the spotting is reduced in strong plants with light green colored leaves. Regardless of whether a plant is strong or weak, spotting is commonly found in all. I have purchased plants bred within the USA. I have imported a few from Brasil. My observations are the same regardless of the source. Can Zygos be found without the spotting? I don't know. It doesn't concern me. If the plant is vigorous and the flowers are numerous, bold and colorful, then I don't care! I'd like to add an additional note about Zygos. I have repeatedly seen it written that Zygos flower once per year. Yes, in some years that is true. I have also had exceptional years with frequent flowering from the same plant/same pot, almost non-stop for months. The flowering is often stimulated by cooler temps at a particular stage of growth. When the conditions are optimal, flowering happens! My brief anecdotes represent past performance which is not a guarantee of future results. Future flowering will fluctuate. Of course, what happens in Md may not happen elsewhere. :-) --Stitz--

Ok, but that's even funnier. I spent all day yesterday and all day today in a quilted flannel. I used to walk around in the winter in shorts and a hoodie up north. 3. I agree wet cold is worse... as evidenced by the chill you get when stepping out of the shower no matter HOW warm the room is. I'm a Florida girl at heart. Even though I was born and raised in Michigan, for the first 18 years of my life, I never belonged there. Even as a kid I hated snow. I lived in Mississippi for a year. I lived in South Carolina, too. For three years. Small world... er... east part of the country.

OK - here's what I have as far as pre-arranged trades: Brenda - for lunch, I'm bringing obedient plant and some salvias. Cheryl - for painted pots, I'm bringing striped cannas. Heather, for a daylily and Danish flag poppy seeds, I am bringing a rooted Confederate rose cutting and winter honeysuckle. Nik - for white iris, tiny pecan, and raspberry, I am bringing two of the primrose jasmine (and your pick of something else). Pam - for short yellow cannas, I am bringing striped cannas (Pretoria and Tropicana). Phyllis - for blue sedum and a pink lily, I am bringing Carolina buckthorn and a primrose jasmine. Sally - for sweet flag, I am bringing elderberries. Susan - for bog sage and solidago fireworks, I am bringing some rooted fig cuttings (and care info) plus your pick of anything that catches your fancy. Just to list some extras that I hope to remember: : bay leaves (if I remember where I put the bag of them) - these are also good for keeping bugs out of your pantry, even if you don't cook with them. : Carolina buckthorn : Cashmere bouquet : Eastern red cedar seedlings : Elderberries : Hall's honeysuckle : obedient plant : a friend with a lot of great stuff of her own potted up Can't wait! The weather should be beautiful!

This thread is so funny and reminds me of when my children were young. I was more like Doc. My kids learned colors by helping to sort laundry, and the learned to do their own laundry when they were 10. They had a day, and only that day - dirty clothes were worn once or twice. If they left something out, and I picked it up, the item(s) were returned after one week and not before. They learned. I do NOT think you are being a b*&^h mom Breezy. You're the mom; your job is to teach them to behave in appropriate ways because you want them to grow to be mature, responsible, productive citizens. The reason you see so many children behave inappropriately is because the parents are not providing lessons and consequences and are working so hard to be the nice one that they've forgotten to be the parent. Personally, I wish there were more parents like you; I might still be a teacher if that were the case, but as the years passed, I found that children behaved worse and worse, and conferences were parents who made excuses for their kids or cried (literally) because they said they couldn't make their kids listen - I finally changed careers just short of 20 years. Things will change when kids become teens, but the lessons you taught when they were younger will make a difference. You'll fight battles that are important to you; they will know when you're not going to back down. And, the great thing is that you will see that when they are adults and when you have grandchildren. Funny story - when my kids were teens, they had a curfew, usually a bit later than their friends, but very strict nonetheless. One week restriction for each minute late which could be mitigated with a phone call if there were a real emergency. Each of the girls violated the curfew rule one time only; my son more than a few times - not fun times. I used to tell him that "being late is like being pregnant: either you are or you are not. Your actions are choices; all choices have consequences." Fast forward fifteen years, and my son is a manager for a manufacturing company, and when he got his promotion, one of the biggest problems were people not being on time. So a few weeks into his promotion, he has instructions to clean up the tardy problem or start firing people. Having never fired anyone before, he was loathe to do this, so he decides to have a meeting and talk to his guys. That night he came for dinner. He told me how much he hated the late rule when he was a teen and thought I was being mean for no reason because all of his friends didn't have to deal with the late issue. But in his meeting, he told the guys "being late is like being pregnant; either you are or you are not. All actions are choices, and all choices have consequences" He both groaned and laughed because he said he couldn't believe he quoted me. Being a parent instead of a friend is a good thing.