Unfortunately, in my experience, FedEx is the best of the "big three." USPS is the worst by a mile. I often have late, damaged boxes arrive. We have one of those community mailboxes and if a box does not fit inside, they will NOT try to ring your bell to leave it at your house. They will simply put a note in your box telling you to pick it up at the post office. Kind of defeats the point of delivery to me. UPS is mostly OK for me. More damaged boxes than FedEx, but typically reliable service. FedEx packages arrive intact and on time, IME.

I have had great succes with this battery operated timer: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Orbit-62061N-Digital-1-Dial-Hose-Faucet-Timer/27967404?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=282&adid=22222222227019333610&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=52406967791&wl4=pla-83970842711&wl5=9032445&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=111838817&wl11=online&wl12=27967404&wl13=&veh=sem I have six now and some have lasted for years. If there is a small leak when attaching to hose bib, I add a little teflon tape and all is well for the season.

Well hi, Jenn Codename: Danger! Didn't know we had anyone else from Nebraska posting on Rose Forum these days! Maybe I've been lucky to be planting in the warm spots in my yard, but I've found that even these temperatures in the 20's hasn't refrozen the ground (yet). Supposedly we're going to crawl out of the 30's by tomorrow but I'll believe it when I see it, as the forecast today said 40's and it's not even close (brrrr). If you ever want to join in on a bulk order from Roses Unlimited, I do a bulk order with them every year that saves a percentage off both the roses as well as shipping. You're welcome to order however many you'd like in that shipment from RU and then come down to Lincoln to pick them up. It's too late for this year, but think about it for next year if you're interested. Cynthia

Images, Heruga, great way to start with identification; but sorry can't say. Have never seen/grown it myself. Reference below describes Polygonatum x hybridum 'Striatum' as "stems adorned with small, dark blue-green, crinkled foliage, surrounded by an irregular white border". Could fit. And it's a dwarf form. I guessing that since this cultivar is a garden hybrid it might show observable variability in (phenotypic) expression, though that does not have to be the case. The opinion I'd trust most of all is that of someone who'd seen a lot of P. x hybridum 'Striatum'. Judging on-line, it may not be that commonly used (or identified). I recognize some wisdom with those gardeners (e.g. above) who don't get hung up with cultivar identification, still I'm not programmed that way. For me, it's so nice that efficiency for a gardener is whatever they make of it themselves. https://www.ballyrobertgardens.com/products/polygonatum-x-hybridum-striatum-v