I have the French Pink pussy willows, if anyone is interested in that one! I'd be happy to share cuttings, any size you'd like! We planted it as a small shrub growing in about a half gallon container two years ago, and it grows so well here that I prune it about three times each growing season to keep it manageable for the spot it's in. I put it in a small garden space against the east facing wall of a large white garage, and it took off and hasn't stopped growing! The area is not especially moist or wet, but it doesn't seem to mind at all. It's good cover for the birds that come to use the birdbath next to it, and under it I have planted some creeping phlox, oregano, variegated sage, and some pink dianthus... As far as lilacs go, I have three small clumps of the old fashioned lavender/purple variety, name unknown... the buds got hit with a late freeze last year, so they didn't bloom as well as I'd have liked, but they should do better this year. I'd like to get more lilacs for the yard in other colors... pink, white and the yellow... I'd also like to get a deeper purple and the two-toned one I see in catalogs every once in a while... I have no idea as to names of lilacs... I'm just in the learning stages with shrubbery, perennials being the things I work with the most. Last year we added a few different types of hydrangeas, forsythia, amethyst beautyberry, dogwood and the small landscape roses to the gardens... for some reason, the hydrangeas don't seem to like it here, but perhaps they'll do better this year, once they get established. I have learned one thing, though... any type of willow will root here faster than you can point at it, and in the long run, the trees tend to be short lived, 15 years being about the limit. I used willow branches as teepee supports for some pea pods I grew last year, and they rooted and grew while the pea pods were climbing them... now I have to remove all the roots from the garden!

There is only one of you and your life is the result of the choices you make. PLEASE listen to the doctor. My husband has severe coronary disease with very bad circulation. He is not diabetic. However due to poor circulation, an ingrown toe nail he wouldn't see about was the start of his demise. The infection would not clear up due to poor circulation where not enough blood below the knee. After the infection, gangrene, and 5 surgeries, he only has a stump for a right leg. You are dealing with a serious problem. It will not go a way by itself. Have a pulmonologist do tests and find the problem now. How much can you enjoy your trip when you can't walk? Is it worth it? Why not get the tests, bypass surgery or medicine to help correct the problem, and then the trip? Life is too short as it is, don't give it up as my husband did. Can't go back and change the past. I sincerely wish you the best. Lynn

I just had the hysteroscopy and D & C, like I posted on your last post about this. Piece of cake. I didn't get put under though, I had a spinal block because my fear of being put under was much worse than my fear of the surgery. My doc also mentioned the Mirena IUD. It delivers the progesterone right into your uterus so it works well for hormonal imbalances. I personally don't want it because alot of people I know who have gotten it have had alot of bleeding with IUDs and my periods are bad enough as is. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do yet, but my appt with her to figure it out is on Christmas Eve. I'm hoping if progesterone is necessary, that I can just take that alone, or get a cream or something for it.

Thank you Nancy, I remember this post. On one in the central section of the pot the stripe is more apparent and most of the others are more like regular hahnii. It is too big for the pot any way and I plan on tearing it apart and gifting out the regular hahnii and keeping the most variegated one alone. So far my solid solid gold hahnii is still alive. It is about a year and half old and solid yellow with no green at all. Usually they live only a few months and this one is still kicking. Unless it develops some green, there is no way I can separate it from the mother.