If you are leaving them in the ground and they do come back after winter they are probably not growing enough to flower because our summers are not long enough. Unlikely that that is the problem. They have done just fine for me in MI and our summer is shorter than yours. Posted by bonstance59 I live in pittsburgh, pa, and have had glads planted for about 4 years now. They never bloom, I only get the beautiful green spike leaves. What should I be doing? I don't did them up in the fall, I just cut them back. My guess, bonstance, would be insufficient light. They are sun lovers for those of us in the north. I've never bothered digging glads up -- I have neither the time nor the inclination -- and have had them successfully overwinter and multiple for over 15yrs now. Didn't buy any special variety -- these were just the big box store cheapos. (Amusingly enough, the only glads I did NOT have successfully overwinter were some "winter HARDY" varieties I tried out 8 or 10 years ago.) Now one very big plus working in my favor is that heavy snow fall is the norm. But even after some weak winters they have come back. A heavy layer of mulch should do as much. Personally, for those in the north, I recommend leaving a few bulbs undisturbed throughout the year. You might be pleasantly surprised. And if they don't make it -- you've only lost a few. GO STEELERS!!!

Tissue cultured plants can be made virus, blight, and bacteria free in the process of propagation. However, if a nursery gets virus free tissue cultured trees and puts them next to ones that have the virus, then, they get it, too. I also see people on here complaining that it takes forever for TC figs to produce, or that they never do, or that you can take a cutting from one and the cutting will produce before the original tree. Another thing people complain about with TC plants is that they are tiny. They start out as a few cells. I have bought TC muscadines and the vines were about the size of a matchstick and the roots were in a bag with much less potting medium than a sandwich bag would hold. But they caught up with the same variety purchased at the same time in half gallon pots within 3 months. I have no reason to believe my fig trees are virus free, so I'm not worried about it. But if I was starting out, I would have nothing but TC plants guaranteed to be virus free.

The cultivar known as "Heavenly Blue" is Ipomoea tricolor. Clarke's Heavenly Blue was selected out by Mr.Clarke because it was an early blooming strain , blooming 30 days earlier than whatever other Heavenly Blue / Ipomoea tricolor was available at that time. Clarkes Heavenly Blue in addition to being an earlier blooming cultivar , was also a lighter blue color than many Heavenly Blue available today. The Heavenly Blue commonly available today is a darker color that was being pushed by the jobbers around the early 1980's because they thought it would be more visible from a distance and marketed this darker version as the 'improved' Heavenly Blue. The fact of the confusion regarding the species is based on the fact that many merchandisers really do not know how to tell the different species apart and simply mimic whatever they find on google. The Clarkes description is often used because it is related to an old heirloom cultivar and therefore likely to sell more but most sellers don't have real Clarkes (= false advertising) or for that matter even know what Clarkes really is... Sellers , merchandisers, et al - Rule #1 in business = Know Your Product - and if you don't really know your product than refrain from false descriptions and inform your potential customers in advance that you aren't really certain about your product and that you have not VERIFIED your product. Simply accepting the description you were handed by anyone else who doesn't know how to accurately identify their product is NO EXCUSE !!! I would add that if sellers really do not KNOW WHAT they are selling , they shouldn't be selling it and the excuse 'that is the label they received it with' is NOT an excuse , because it confirms that they didn't take the time to verify their product ( by growing it out first) and therefore do not know their product. The various names attached to describe the products are false advertising whether intentional or unintentional and technically a bona fide legal crime. Would any seller think it fair if you didn't pay most of the product price (?) , or if you gave them phony money = No, they wouldn't and buyers shouldn't accept any lower standards of treatment from any sellers. So, before you believe any labeling , ask the seller (who is accepting your $$ and making $$ on whatever they are selling) , why the product is accurately described in every aspect and if their answer is less than convincing , then reserve your $$ for something you can be more sure of.... I hope my answers are helpful and that my position statements make people think... regards, Ron

a2gemini, there are three knife trays in the drawer. On the left is a JA Henkels that I've had for many years. In the center is the Wusthof 7 slot tray and on the right is the Wusthof 14 slot tray. I bought both of the Wusthofs locally at Sur la Table even though I don't see the small one listed on their website. According to the dimensions listed they shouldn't have all fit but in fact they fit perfectly. I can also say that my Electrolux refrigerator has been perfect thusfar. It's the quietest fridge I've had in decades. I bought a couple thermometers and placed them in several areas inside and the temps are good and consistent too. I thought the interior lights that come up slowly was a gimmick until I needed a drink at night with no lights on and was able to quickly reach in for some water and close the door before being blinded by full brightness. Now I think it's a great feature.