I trial several varieties each year, as do most nurseries. I sometimes warn my customers I can't vouch for their characteristics, however. But, I don't label anything 'trial variety'. It just simply has the proprietary or botanical name on them. You'll probably just have to ask that particular nursery what it means. ;-)

I was just thinking the other day that it would probably be time for your guests to be leaving soon. From the things you've posted, you seem to have enjoyed having them share your home the past few months. And of course, you will miss them. When does the other one leave? Also, when do your other two arrive? Shirley

@parent of one Yep, its for real. Yeah, I feel pretty bad about the swearing, especially that last time. About the phone...it is my work mobile, so I can receive calls from anyone, but I am only meant to call out regarding work related matters. I just got in that habit, they are pretty strict about it actually. @incognitomom She is in college and works part-time for a telco. Actually I have met other parents who cannot believe the wife lets the boyfriend sleep over. I wouldn't allow it either but I have to watch what I say. @justmetoo No, I don't think I have been the horse's ****. Actually, although it might not sound like it, my wife is actually really quite conservative, like an aunty or grandmother type of personality, not the modern 'with-it' personality. I really love her. I believe she extracted promises from the daughter about the boyfriend, sort of like an honor system...you may have seen those wooden boards that were used about a hundred years ago so that a boyfriend could lay in bed with the girlfriend...well, sort of that kind of mentality. Hint: look up 'bundling' (tradition) in Wikipedia. @myfampg Pardon, but who is the whack job? Like, these things even the purported accident with the wife's former husband, are pretty much normal, I would say. Especially in her home country which has much larger disparity between rich and poor, and wealth was part of the problem, jealousy of wife's wealth being the reason her false friend contrived to ruin her marriage. At least in my home country we also have a huge problem with male suicide, which is ignored in the mainstream, don't know about the US tho'. And problems within step-families are par for the course, aren't they? In fact, I would suggest that only a whack job would suggest that step-families do not have their own unique set of problems. UPDATE: Well things have quieted down a little. SD is making arrangements to move out to near BF's place. SD has new pet rabbit. I have been keeping the swearing right down, thankfully.

If she gets expelled from school she'll have a nanny that makes a night club bouncer look tiny and a prison warden look like a fairy princess. This was DH's decision and I happen to agree. He says that she isn't concerned with our feelings when she gets suspended from school so why should he be concerned with her feelings when he hires a nanny. After all, we're only concerned about her safety and well-being. We'd do the same for my son. In fact my ex-husband would do the same with our son. Last time I looked she wasn't troubled because I'm a quiet person or even because DH and I are more strict than her mother. She is troubled because her mother permits her to run wild, her mother has let strange men in her home that have touched and abused SD, and her mother ditched her at our door because she couldn't handle her. At least that's what the therapist we pay for tells us. She doesn't get up in my face, and she doesn't scream in her sleep because DH & I care enough about her to make things a little rough sometimes to show her life isn't all about her. "I told MIL that if SD gets expelled I'm hiring her a babysitter that makes a prison warden look like a fairy princess." You betcha. What, am I supposed to let her have pool parties and get her a tattoo? " I don't care if she thinks she looks ugly." I don't, if she can continue to have her vision in 15-20 years. "Here you go, you barely speak to her and yet you are full of harsh comments about her. If you do not speak to her how do you know what is going on in her life, what makes to skip, what makes her not do well in school, is she depressed etc It is funny how some SMs want to be the same as parents and be treated like parents but then admit they barely speak to their SKs. Of course she throws out her glasses and does poorly in school, no wonder." It's funny how some BM's think they know it all too and really don't have a clue. Did your mother (BM) know what went on in your head at 13? Mine didn't. I do know what goes on in SD's head though. She's very open about things. Especially when she feels comfortable. DH and I will be sitting on the sofa and SD in the chair, we'll all be watching television and SD will see something that will remind her of something she wants to talk about. She'll start talking and will talk for hours engaging us all in conversation. Lately it's been about christmas stuff and her science project and about our upcoming move.