Aftermidnight, your comments are right on. MOST nurseries can't afford to hire people at anything other than minimum wage because even loyal customers won't pay the kind of prices for their plants and supplies that could support hiring of experienced horticultural staff in large numbers. And unfortunately, that's largely our (meaning we gardeners') fault. We want to pay the kind of prices that justify a kid with a lawnmower, but we want to get the knowledge of a Christopher Lloyd and the service a Tiffany's diamond salesperson (assuming you can afford to blow a cool million on a diamond bauble). Horticulture is only rarely a lucrative field. to cactus joe: Wow. You got helped by a demigod in horticultural circles. How utterly cool. :-) It's always fun to encounter someone in the plant world whom you admire (or come to admire). And to all--sometimes ignorant help is an enjoyable thing, especially at a high-end nursery. I know that after I finish carping and muttering a little, I feel very gratified to know that *I* knew more about (insert your choice of plant or technique here) than the highly praised help at the highly rated (and highly priced) nursery in (insert choice of location here). It's always a bit of fun to feel smug and self-satisified. I got the same silly satisfaction when visiting RHS Harlow Carr a few years ago--their Hostas looked positively tatty and slug-shredded, while I knew I'd left mine looking hearty and beautiful. And my roses? Not even a whisper of blackspot, while a 'Brother Cadfael' at Harlow Carr bloomed bravely, completely bare of leaves except for one blackened leaf. I later commiserated with another visitor, a local, who told me the blackspot had been shocking that year due to all the rain. I chose NOT to describe how dead easy it was to grow roses in Northern Nevada, blissfully free of blackspot, seldom plagued by powdery mildew, and happy with all the sunny days at home. But after seeing plantings of incredible diversity, beauty and lushness, those tatty Hostas and battered Roses made me feel a great deal better. Lisa

I agree I can't understand why malls etc pay for trees, and then ignore them. Many moons ago, when young, my hubby did landscaping for GE and Samsonite, and his estimate included care (to get them going well) and if they died, replacement, so he took a lot of care getting them going. But then, maybe thats good ol American pride in a job, which seems to be sorely lacking these days. In all fields. I have to say that at least, there is an attempt to have trees and plantings, which is a step in the right direction. We all talk about "going green" and all the possibilities. I've talked til I am blue in the face about one plan. That if there was a "law" that every acre of land MUST have "X" number of live trees on it, one way or another, groupings, fence lines whatever, maybe we can make a difference. I think it would make a HUGE impact. The forest service already gives away free trees. So no one can say they "can't afford one." But as a landowner, you are responsible for its care. You can "own" the plot of earth, but apparently care of it needs to be legislated... Oh yeah... I forgot... Legislating the pollution of a plot of earth didn't work, why would just caring for a tree??? Sigh. Maybe the trees WOULD be cared for, if they hid where the dumping was going on! :0 I don't know why these companies haven't thought of going underground? Wouldn't that be cheaper for climate control? When you are in a mall, you don't know whats outside. Then they could build a gorgeous park on top... Draw people who then might decide to go in and buy something. And now I am shutting up before I write an epistle. Poor trees. Wish I could water them all.... A forest lover...

I was somewhat torn between Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray. I'm much more familiar with Phil (so to speak), and used to enjoy his showÂalthough I found Robin irritating. But his show has gotten so sleazy! The couple of times I've seen Rachael Ray I've been puzzled at her popularity. Her food is way too unhealthy to appeal to me, although I can understand most of America liking it. But that voice! She seems like a nice person, but that never made someone a celebrity. So I voted for (against?) Dr. Phil. I like Nate a lot. I like Dr. Oz, perhaps to a lesser degree, but agree with the writer about the scrubs. What's with that? Suze Orman can be a bit much, but I wasn't aware that she had any connection to Oprah. I like Jean Chatzky, but thought she became popular on the Today Show. Gayle can be funny. I have Rosie's cookbook because my mother gave it to me as a gift. I can't stand Marianne Williamson. I'm familiar with some of the other names, but not the people themselves. Some, like Peter Walsh and Stacy London, I'd never heard of.

Kegels are really helpful. I do them like doing the rosary: 10 quick squeezes and then 1 "elevator" where you squeeze all the way up to the top, repeat 10 times. The hardest part is remembering to do them! But if you're in any position where you think it might be an issue, put in a pad designed for the purpose (teva, poise...). They make very small, unobtrusive and very absorbent ones that are great for the unexpected sneeze/cough/laugh or dribble. I wear a pad on a long hike just in case as I'm not a fan of dropping drawers even alone in the woods as murphy's law says that's when someone will come along. If you have urgency issues which is different from stress issues, they do make drugs that will help that.