I'm thankful for Kittymoonbeam, who posted the following: Posted by kittymoonbeam sunset 23 CA (My Page) on Mon, Sep 26, 11 at 11:54 "I ordered 6 roses. 5 English and 1 Madame Alfred C. from DA in Texas early this year. Of the 6, 4 showed RMV (Rose Mosaic Virus) right away and all have grown slowly, never taking off even though we had a super year weather wise. My Queen of Sweden and Eglantyne especially are runts. Alnwick and Snow Goose are close behind. Jude had the worst mosaic patterning but has grown the best. I don't want to order again. My own root Austins from Heirloom and Northland Rosarium are superstars. Charlotte and Abraham D. are up to the roof! I never had such wimpy plants from DA before. Did this happen to anyone else this year?" Thanks to Kittymoonbeam alert, I didn't get David Austin's special deal of 4 for $85 - I ordered from Chamblee's instead and got 4 oldies but HUGE PLANTS: Evelyn, Scepter d'Isle, Charles Darwin, and Eglantyne. All 4 are healthy, Evelyn gave me at least 10 blooms as a 2-months old gallon. I'll take health and performance over a fancied item anytime. Own-root Austins are better since they don't become huge monsters like Grafted.

Sending additional divisions is fine, as long as one has enough of a given hosta to do so and it is economically feasible. However, some hostas, especially newer varieties, are in high demand, but even after 2 years in the garden may remain large, single divisions. Thunderbolt and Dream Queen are perfect examples, with 2 years growth in the garden, they will be thick, stocky single divisions with very good root systems. Obviously it's not possible to send 2 or 3 divisions for the price of one. Montana Aureomarginata is another example, as it's one of my favorite hostas, but very slow to gain size and add divisions. I routinely have divisions of this one that are 2-3 years old, almost 2 feet tall, but still single divisions with good roots. Oddly enough, Blue Mouse Ears is another variety that is quite slow to throw additional divisions. Most minis are prolific once they are established, but I have a bunch of these that will be 3 years old this spring, and last year I checked and found that these large, stocky single divisions all have roots that are profuse, thick, and up to 12 inches long. Some have 2 eyes, but not a one has put out a second division with it's own root system. Again, this is a situation where one would have to dig up and ship 2 or 3 entire plants in order to send extra divisions. On more common, prolific hostas, most reputable sellers will send multiple divisions, and root systems should be good. However, some of the better known nurseries routinely send a single division, and when you look at the Hosta Finder, the price listed is always for a single division. If you do mail order, always be sure you specifically ask what size plant will be shipped to avoid disappointments. Like most people, I prefer to buy my hostas in person, so I can see exactly what I'm getting. And I'm the sort of customer who does not hesitate to gently tip a hosta out of it's pot to check the root system before I buy a plant. You will too often find that large, lush "bargain" hostas sold by places that don't specialize in hostas will have very poor root systems in spite of having multiple divisions with profuse foliage. This generally indicates that the plants have been treated with a chemical such as DAP that forces heavy foliage growth, but at the expense of root growth. And it's the roots you are really buying, not the foliage. Finally, if you prefer not to receive any free plants with an order, by all means let the seller know. I think most sellers would be delighted not to waste a plant on a customer who doesn't want it.

I used to order them from a local brick & mortar agency. But now have my tenants order their own and submit them to me with the Application. They can be ordered from Equifax, Experian or Trans Union only. Must be an original color printout, no pages missing, no xerox copies, nothing altered and must be dated within 7 days of the application. I direct them to this site, it's the only one approved by the Federal Gov't for consumers to get their free annual report from each Bureau: AnnualCreditReport No gimmicks, no sign ups, no fees, just answer security questions that only the consumer themselves would know and the report is generated and can be printed or accessed online for about two weeks. If they choose to go elsewhere, or have a membership elsewhere, that's fine, as long as it's from one of the 3 Credit Bureaus. If they don't have a PC, no problem, they can use a public library PC for free. I have them submit their own for three reasons: 1) Fraud protection(for me). Agency ordered reports show full bank account #s, full CC#s, full SS#, full loan #s. I don't need or want that much info. And I surely don't want it on hand if someone has their ID stolen. (We're small, only 3 homes, not a huge complex or anything.) When the applicant obtains their own report from site above, all pertinent numbers are blocked out except for the last 4 digits. So I can't see full bank account, SS#, etc. 2) Cost. It's free if they use the means described above. 3) Less hassle. The agency I used (and many others) have been forced to become very stringent in recent years due to ID theft. They must come inspect the office (mine's a home office), all reports must be stored in a locked safe or file that only I have access to (which they were anyway). I cannot show the consumer their credit report unless they are being declined (even tho they pay for it). I must destroy it after retaining it for one year. They have quadrupled their membership fee ($100) and started charging a $90 inspection fee annually (which essentially is them coming in and taking photos to show I've got the proper set up). So far it's working fine. I put the info on how to obtain the credit report on my apps. They fill out the app, get their report, and return all of it to me. Then I can review it all at once, check references, etc. If I lease to them I simply staple the credit report to the back of the app and keep it in their file. If not, I return it to them with a rejection letter via Certified Mail, and put in the rejection letter that their report is being returned. While we're at it, a few other quick easy screening methods I use from experience. Cell #s are not permitted for references on the App. Has to be a landline phone. (I'm amazed at how many people try to put down friends or neighbors as prior landlords due to something bad happening.) I then go to White Pages.com and put the landline number in the reverse directory and make sure it matches up to the reference's name and address (that gets fudged too). I'll also go online to local County Auditor or Assessor, do a search of prior address listed, and make sure owner's name matches owner listed on app. If not, I search out a phone # for the person who is listed on tax records as the owner and give them a call. Twice in recent years I've spoken to owners who gave me a big red flag on an applicant who they had serious issues with and for whatever reason did not go to court (therefore no record would have shown in court docket searches). In this day and age, most Counties have their court dockets online. Once I have the app with name, D.O.B. and last 4 digits of Social, I search the local docket to see if there is past history of eviction, Property Judgment, convictions for domestic disturbance issues, or other convictions that might influence renting (passing bad checks, selling drugs from a residence, etc.). If they put down they have lived in other areas I check those County dockets as well. I also check Sex Offender registries. All it costs is a little bit of my time, is very revealing, paints a pretty good picture of what kind of person the applicant is, and can save a lot of grief. ;-)

I have used HR Block on line for years..Think it cost 30 dollars or so and its a hand holding simple walk you thru it, read carefully and fill in the blanks. Its free to do it until you go to file and that is when you pay. I dont even have to enter our basic information anymore..Its all saved..of course it gives you the chance to change anything that might need to be changed..ie when our daughter got married and we could no longer claim her. Give it a try!