Naaahhh . . . That's a different thing Barb. I'd LOVE to come out there to your garden -- so we gotta do something about this business of $4.00/Gal gasoline! I don't mind newly-planted roses, either. I just don't want to convince my husband he's driving the breadth of the U.S., only to get there and find out that in fact the rose in question was NOT the "last living witness" to the Surrender of the Army of The Confederacy -- but instead was planted 6 months ago, in front of a re-constructed building. It's a darned good thing it turned out that we got there the day before Rose Day at the Lynchburg City Cemetery! Jeri

Reasonably common, actually. I currently have an orange zinnia that has one bright pink blossom on it. The blossom is malformed, however, so the mutation is deleterious--just not nearly enough to kill the plant, the branch, or the flower. I'm idly waiting to see if it produces seeds. It probably will. Plants have fewer problems with mutations than we do, so it's not at all surprising to find an altered branch, blossom, or petal. In many years of gardening with tons of flowers in 2,000 square feet, I've seen that happen...not often, but perhaps once a year on one plant. Unusual combinations of genes from tight inbreeding are much more common and occasionally useful; my Salvia splendens is now more the height and color of cardinal flower. If you like it, you can take a snippet from the branch and try to root it as its own plant. If you hate it, chop off that particular branch down at the base and it probably won't re-occur. If it does, it probably won't come back next year. If it still does, it's a mutation in the tuber's stem cells and you're stuck with it.

Hi Karen, IÂm happy for you that your big plants are going to make it! If there was ever a chance for you to recover from plumeria addiction, it will disappear when your own plants bloom for you. ItÂs said there are no ugly cats, but that some are more beautiful than others. This also applies to plumeria. Your nighttime temps are ok for starting cuttings. Water them well the day you plant them and then wait at least a month before watering them again. Place your pots on concrete in order to provide bottom heat; I always used the edge of my driveway at my last house. Rooting may take as long as ninety days. Reds as a group are the most prone to rot; some rainbows are also very rot prone during rooting. Let what you see guide you after the first thirty days. If leaves are developing begin watering lightly and infrequently until leaves are six to ten inches, then start giving lots of water. When they are well rooted you are in the clear; a few varieties have a reputation for being rot prone even in their second year, but once rooted, plumeria are tough plants that can tolerate anything except freezing, standing water, and cold wet feet during dormancy. IÂm using BillÂs bottle method for making a planting cavity in the pot because it makes a lot of sense. I can tell you it provides excellent support for the cuttings until they have roots to hold them in place. Also no soaking wet soil is held in direct contact with the bottom of the cutting while it is rooting, decreasing the odds of rotting. As water vapor evaporates through the perlite and pumice on itÂs way out of the pot, the cutting senses there is water nearby and sends out roots to find it. Philip

a) This sounds OK. If you can get at the box without having to affect any finished surfaces (having to open the doors take all the food out of the pantry is fine), it meets the definition of accessible. b) No spot on a counter wider than 12 inches, can have a spot that (along the wall) that is more than 2' from an outlet. That's roughly what you said, but note the wording...the first outlet must be 2' from the end (or closer). You only are required to have 2 circuits. You aren't required to balance them out although sane practice would recommend that. There is no limit to the number per circuit. c) Seems reasonable...only the small appliance circuits are enjoined from sharing other outlets. d) If the thing is plugged in and you can get to the plug (mine for example is under the sink) that would meet the disconnect requirements. Some dishwasher installation instructions mandate a specific switch to disable it. In this case you should follow their guideline...you can still put it under the sink or someplace conspicuous only to those servicing the appliance. e) Nearly every one I've seen has this requirement from the manufacturer. Even if not, it's highly recommended. f) Should have it's own circuit. I'd put 20A in there anyway. g) When fishing into closed spaces, the stapling requirements are relaxed. Since they aren't bundled tightly together, the proximity isn't a concern. There is no limit to a staple (other than what will fit) but be careful not to bundle more than 3 together for more than 18". h) If the penninsula is more than 24" long and 12" wide you need a receptacle.