Definite: No 8 Eranthis hyemalis - Winter aconite a charming and very early spring bloomer. Also in the photo is crocus foliage. Probable: No 2 Eryngium sp. - sea holly No 6 Rudbeckia sp. - black-eyed Susan No 11 Chickweed - a weed No 12 Dock - a weed Possible: No 10 Barbera sp. - a weed, unless you are growing land cress No 4 Lobelia cardinalis No 16 Artemisia sp - Powis Castle if you're lucky, but also many weedy sp. The 'onions' are wild onions (Allium)but I have no idea what sp they might be in your area.

Most importantly is the plant inside against the wall all the time? This Euphorbia Ammak is a large growing tree and needs bright sunlight to maintain itself. Soil looks to be dry but they should be in a gritter mix to increase drainage. Is the brown spots mussy or soft, and/or smells funny. It is possible that it is still okay. Needs better living conditions. Turning brown or black is sometimes part of growing this white ammak. If you must cut, Use a sharp knife and cut across where there is no rot and only good stem. Have a spray bottle of cold water to spray the white latex sap. Sap is toxic and a skin irritant and wash right after cutting it. If you get any in your eyes, wash out with tons of water then go to the hospital for treatment. Let the cut heal and dry for a few days before planting in pure grit or perlite. It takes almost a year for new roots to form. No water can be taken up till it grows new roots. Google 'cutting my euphorbia ammak' for videos and more instructions.

We're home, thank GOD!!! I was getting stir crazy in that hospital. I have Warren (dh) with her now so I could come home, sew her some more drain bags (the others got blood on them, so I think all breast cancer patients need 2 sets upon admission, wash clothes, let the 4 legged children know their "Mother" remembers where she lives, etc. We'll keep you posted with the progress. She should find out about chemo on Tuesday. Susan

Tax Status of Employer-Provided Lodging Like other fringe benefits, free or discounted employer-provided lodging is usually subject to income and other taxes. To determine the fair market value of the housing provided to an employee, an employer may check local newspaper listings for comparable rental properties or ask a local realtor for an estimate of the property’s rental value. The employer reports the net value of the employee’s lodging fringe benefit in Box 1 of the employee’s W-2 form, and the employee declares this value as income on Line 7 of IRS Form 1040. For example, if the employee pays the employer $300 a month for the housing and the property's fair market rental rate is $600 a month, the employer must add $300 a month to the taxable income it reports on the employee's W-2. Lodging Not Subject to Taxation An employer can exclude the value of housing provided to an employee from an employee’s taxable income if the lodging meets three conditions. The employer must furnish the lodging on its business premises. The lodging must be furnished for the convenience of the employee, which means that the employer must have a valid business purpose for providing housing beyond giving the employee additional compensation. For example, if the employer’s work site is located a substantial distance from other housing options, the IRS would likely conclude that the employer is providing the lodging for the convenience of the employee. The employee must also accept the lodging as a condition of employment, which means that the employee cannot have the option of accepting or declining the lodging. If any of these conditions are not met, the employer must include the net value of the lodging on the employee’s W-2 form, and the employee must report that amount as income on his tax return. So Jasdip's friend could very well qualify under the 'Lodging Not Subject to Taxation'...under US tax law. Given that the lodging is the sole compensation for labor rendered, would that make a difference? In Canada? I don't know. US tax law is complicated enough w/o trying to delve into Canadian tax law.