Thanks for writing about that Jacaranda - I have the perfect spot for that (if my strawberry treelet dies, which it looks like it might). I also have a Ray Hartman (6 months old) that I'm growing as a tree. Going well so far. Btw local people around my area (west side LA) are saying that ceanothus don't really do well in full FULL sun. They are having better luck with a little shade. Cannot vouch either way for that though.

Just wanted to update on the snowstorm tonight just in case our power goes out & I can't post tomorrow. The storm has already dumped close to a foot in my yard and it's coming down fast & furious at 11:30 p.m. It's supposed to go all night and til around noontime tomorrow. I've been watching the weather channel and it's crazy how much snow is coming out of the storm for such a widespread area. The wind is getting pretty strong up here and when I put on the spotlight the trees are bowing down with the weight of the snow. They are saying at higher elevations there will be the most amounts so I expect when I wake up in the morning I will be in for a shock. I notice that the Weather Channel focuses mostly on the metropolitan areas in their coverage. Those of us in tiny rural towns are getting huge amounts of snow. I see there are already some deaths related to the storm and I hope there will be no more. Jean, my husband works weekends so he will be at work tomorrow whether he wants to or not. He owns the local hardware store and also fixes power equipment so he was swamped by folks desperate to get their snowblowers fixed in time. Snow shovels were selling off the shelves...LOL. My son works the overnight shift at our local police department and when I talked to him a little while ago he said there are cars off the road everywhere. People just weren't expecting snow in October so they don't have their snowtires on yet. Everyone in the path of this NorEaster, please be careful! Celeste

Laura, Oops! Those perennials should have stayed underground a while longer. Mine that were close to the house are OK, but the ones further away from the house were bitten back a little by the freeze too. Maybe we'll have the last freeze behind us before we all gather for the potluck dinner and swap! Randy, I hate losing the fruit again, but am getting used to it. I had three good years in a row with fruit in the early 2000s, but am paying for it now. The law of averages always wins out in the long-term, doesn't it. Diane, Send your excess rain here. LOL Y'all watch out early Mon. a.m. and early Tues. a.m. because another freeze is forecast. In fact, I'm gonna start a thread on that in the hopes that it will slow down anyone who thinks this weekend is going to be a good time to plant warm-season crops. Dawn

Dianne, I have quartz (not Caesarstone, they were out of my choice at the time) in my bathroom; looks new 2 years later. Online, you will find many cons or negatives about most any product you are considering buying. I wouldn't let that hinder you, as that's usually the minority. Caesarstone has a warranty. I will be buying either London Grey or Organic White in the next two weeks for my kitchen reno, but I love real marble. This is a happy compromise. Check with the company you are buying and ask if they've had any issues with Caesarstone. I asked the appliance company about Thermador vs. Viking and they gave me their opinion based on what they service the least. Good luck!