I tried a different planting method with Orange Door last year. In the spring of 2007 it appeared that the row had died, but when I dug the plants out a few shoots were found deep down, about 6 or more inches. So when the row was replanted the new plants were set 6 or more inches deep. It could be done because the sandy soil in the row is very free draining. Who knows if it will work, but it is worth a try. Steven, I like Orange Door for the reasons Richard mentions. Plus for some reason I don't quite understand, women are attracted to it. Whatever color it is, some sort of pink, it has very vivid flowers, they absolutely glow. I don't know what is the problem with Wild Watermelon. While it is among the oldest microphylla in the garden, it has never thrived for me. For the past 10 years or so it has returned each year but performed poorly. I should move it away from the San Carlos Festival patch with which it can't seem to compete.

All parties are ultimations...be there or miss the party :) Come on now, that does not mean "be there or miss the party and I'll never speak to you again" it just means the party is on Saturday and I'd love to see you, but if I don't we'll see you another time. :) The party takes place on whatever date it's set. I wouldn't call that an ultimatim, but maybe that's just me. I too cherish time with girlfriends W/O kids. I rarely get it (two days to date since my son was born) so it's a big deal for me. Just last night I invited my bunco girlfriends to come down for a bunco retreat at our new house sometime. I'll be leaving them and would love to have them come visit, but I didn't offer to foot the bill. It didn't even occur to me. And as said above, had it been reverse, me being invited, I'd almost have been insulted to have someone pay my bill for me unless there was a logical reason (and friends traveling to a casual party is not a logical reason). I know that of the twelve ladies I invited last night that maybe six or eight will attend. They are busy, and timing is always a challenge, and perhaps expense as well, but I won't be offended if someone does not join us for the weekend. I just want to see my friends and enjoy sharing my new home with them...not much different than wanting to share a special weekend (birthday) with friends really :) and nothing to get upset about.

A lot of us have friends that live elsewhere ... but a lot of jasdip's fiends ("friends", that was supposed to be: honest!)... are worms ... that make themselves at home in her apt. She does get some useful work out of them. ole joyful

The risk from fomites landing on surfaces and then getting picked up by hands and the hands transfer it to the nose or eyes is not zero, although being in close proximity and not masking are the main means of spread. There aren't hard numbers on any of this, just some ballparks and public health officials always go for the biggest bang for the buck, can't waste the time and resources on the small stuff. Still, I'm not a fan of multiple hands touching things. I did too many bacteria cultures in science lab . . . the high hand touch items were the germ-iest, not the toilets. They got sanitized! That's why hand washing is known as one of the most effective disease prevention methods, at least for ones transmitted from person to person. It's simple and very effective. But no need to go overboard, just do what is easy, so we tried to walk the line between what would be most effective and what was easy even if one of the less problematic concerns. Getting sick with flu as seriously and often as I have, I have gotten very conscious of ventilation, sanitation, distance, etc. Also allergies. We constantly have to clean, clean clean at our house with so many trees and plants on the property and going in and out all the time, shoes, etc,. etc. We're currently battling tiny biting gnats outside, trying to keep them outside . . . The saddest thing about this pandemic is the person to person spread is really the main means of disease transfer. It's so isolating and stressful for folks in high personal contact realms. All the more reason to help your community by getting vaccinated!