>>Since you have Bradfords already, you might try to "park" some scion onto them for the time being. When you have well established branches you can feel more confident about cutting down the old tree, then if the roots send up shoots you can graft back onto it. MileHigh, I think that was a very good suggestion. He could easily do half a dozen attempts on one of those trees, get a little practice, and probably have a few takes. And Daemon, your thought about taking them apart and putting them back together was good advice. You can often find watersprouts on trees (or where somebody has been pruning) and they are great to practice on. Just remember to collect scion wood when it is dormant and keep it that way in the refrigerator; don't let it dry out. Graft to existing trees when the early spring flush of vigorous growth is taking place. Graft close to the trunk and high on the tree, if possible. Clean your stock before working with it. Sharp knives make clean cuts. Make sure the pieces fit together well, even if you have to whittle a bit. Wrap securely, but don't strangle the wood, and prevent drying. And of course make sure that the cambium layers align nicely. I have pears grafted to my existing Gold Spice that bore in the third year, four years is more likely. Good luck, MarknMT

I would love to get cuttings of any doubles or triples or any cuttings that you may have. I am not rich so I have to be a little choosy with my picks, if I can get any. I am not trying to be a witchy "give me's" person, only that I would like to get a brug when I pay the postage. I just paid $7.50 for two "rooted" brugs and when I received them I had paid for almost all dirt. Two pieces of a pencil thin end piece of brugs. Both died from not being a piece that could make the trip. They were completely dried out and being so thin, the moisture was sucked out of them.

I've cut plants way back down by the street and they recover very fast so those will probably be fine. I especially like those annual gaillardia along with Desert Marigold, Blackfoot Daisy, Flame Flower, Helianthus annum because these plants are in for the long haul and bloom from spring, through summer heat and into fall without stopping. Its the into summer heat part that makes them especially good. If someone wanted to plant a meadow or prairie garden in the city without creating a mess like people talk about with prairie gardens, I can't see how they would with these growing along with the classic prairie grasses. These are all low growing and well behaved. That little Kansas Four O'clock blooms all summer into fall too. Did your seeds take hold? I've got them coming up here and there all over my property (exploding pods). Its OK since they are only about 3" tall. Plains Penstemon blooms all summer too. I've got two that volunteered last year but they are still small. Lobeleaf copper mallow is another long bloomer, spring to fall. Its tall but I can't imagine anyone calling it thuggish or overwhelming and its no flopper. Lots of stiff stems covered in blue foliage & orange blooms currently. For some reason some stems break at the base especially in spring. Maybe the wind that snaps them? I have 3 seedlings and am hoping to get another red blooming one. The only thing is, the plant takes up a big space which I am always short of but I did plant one down on the H. Strip. I let one Mentzelia decapetata come up last year. Same exact spot as last time. Its growing a tall center stem now and should be blooming in a month or so. Did yours make it? I finally figured out I've got a Pink Yucca that is a different kind than H. 'parviflora'. I I.D.ed as H. campanulata the other night. Its larger in every respect, has a bloom stalk that's practically as tall as me with flowers that are more yellow but not like the yellow blooming Hesperaloe. I got the seeds from a huge cluster growing at Will Rogers Park some years back. I think I sent you some but can't remember. The night blooming type hasn't bloomed for me yet but it did defy the zone limit. I think its hardier than they say. *CORRECTION: That H. campanulata bloom stalk is 8 feet tall, I just measured it. The leaves are almost double the height of H. parviflora. I saw the first hummingbird of the season on it yesterday.

Great quotes today, a historian with more than dry data. "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" in German I left in Germany. Reading it was interesting but it was work. Lilo, I like your comparison between writing and today's tweeting.