Mari, you sound like me. Friday night, I slammed my left foot into the base of the couch....ouch! scream! cuss! THEN, I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and slammed my left foot again, but this time, into the ottoman...brought tears to my eyes. Well, here I sit with 2 broken toes and 1 fractured toe. Man they are sore! And like you, I had rose work to get done this weekend...oh well. Take care of yourself and take it easy!

"If my reward for that kindness is to have to deal with unscrupulous creeps who feel entitled to do as they please with my work, then something needs to change." But, it really is the bad percentage that we often react to, isn't it. I'm sure you've had a ton of profiteers stealing your work, but are they really the majority of people using your work? (and by using, I mean, visiting your site, reading your site, looking at your photos.) I would guess the majority, were people who -didn't- take your stuff, and just really enjoy your website. (How many hits does your site get and how many instances of copyright violation are there?) I can totally see how you'd get tired and frustrated from having to protect your copyright. Your site was one of the first that I found when I was looking for more information on Old Roses. (Google quite likes you as I'm sure you know.) And it's your choice. So please don't think I'm blaming you. But something doesn't necessarily "need to change". It has to change for you because that's where you're personal line of "enough is enough" is, but it's a choice. All the emails I've gotten over the years, and the friends I've made from being online and the unusual opportunities,... those to me outweigh my personal profiteers. Everyone has to make their own choices as to where that "worth it" line is. Like I said before, I have friends (who are artists) who don't post their work online for these reasons. campanula - I think if someone owns the copyright to something, it should not be stolen, according to the legal rules of copyright (whatever that is in each instance). I don't think that it's related to how famous or even how talented the owner of the copyright is. I don't really understand why we even have to argue the worth or how "professional" something is. If you create a work of art, you own the copyright. Even if it is hideous or amateurish. on the notion of taking photos of people's private gardens without permission. I must admit that over the past few months, when I drive by a house with a particularly beautiful garden, I stop and quickly take a photo. I've been saving these photos in a private folder on my computer. At one point, I'd thought about posting a thread sharing the photos so that other people could admire or be inspired by them, but then, I was also worried that perhaps by chance, one of the garden owners might see the thread and somehow be annoyed that I'd posted a photo of their garden without permission. So I haven't, and probably wont.

I am in the market for either Etoile Violette or something like it to go w/my New Dawn climber. I saw a Nelly Moser and several Jackmanni at our local Agway but they were in the quart size milk carton like container and the price was $12.99. I was told Jackmanni might not be big enough to compliment my New Dawn. Anyone know of a nursery in Fairfield/Newtown CT area that has a nice selection of clematis? Also what is the going price for a nice clem in CT? I would love to take a ride to White Flower Farm but that would have to wait until after Easter. suebot sbot@ur.com

Thanks-- I really can't tell any of my friends/relatives that I've been feeling up my counters, but I knew you all would understand! Maureen, Bob seems pretty proud of his seems (or lack there of-- I really can't see it at all). He's doing a great job so far.