Heere are a few that are listed in FC2. Blue Lace (8431) 04/24/1996 (B. Goodsell/J. Eyerdom) Semidouble medium blue sticktite frilled pansy/variable green band, thin white edge. Dark green, quilted, wavy, serrated/red back. Large Forgotten Dreams (6291) 06/30/1986 (J. Domiano) Single medium blue star/pink and white fantasy. Dark green, plain, glossy, serrated/red back. Large Kei-Yoki (7810) 10/03/1992 (Horikoshi/Shinohara) Semidouble-double white and blue frilled star/variable green edge. Medium green, quilted, glossy, wavy/red back. Large Laser Lights (6297) 06/30/1986 (J. Domiano) Single dark blue star/pink and white fantasy. Medium green, plain, glossy/red back. Large Measles (6299) 06/30/1986 (J. Domiano) Single dark blue/pink and white fantasy. Dark green, plain, pointed, quilted, glossy/red back. Large Rhapsodie Juliana (6985) 11/19/1988 (Holtkamp) Single white and purple-blue/dark eye, edge. Medium green, heart-shaped, glossy, hairy/purple-red back. Standard Royal Commotion (8552) 11/09/1996 (S. Sorano) Semidouble dark blue star/raspberry band, white edge. Dark green, plain/red back. Large Sky Diver (S. Sorano) Semidouble light blue and white mottled ruffled pansy/variable yellow. Dark green/red back. Standard Sparks and Spangles (5254) 04/09/1983 (C. Phillips) Double blue/white and pink fantasy. Medium green girl foliage/red back. Semiminiature Starry Night Blue (9198) 02/03/2003 (Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses/Sorano) Semidouble-double plum frilled star/thin blue band, white edge. Dark green, quilted/red back. Standard Yoki (7814) 10/03/1992 (Horikoshi/Shinohara) Semidouble purple-blue star/white band, green frilled edge. Dark green, quilted, glossy, frilled/red back. Standard I thnk you may be able to find the Rhapsodie at Selective Gardener. As for the Sorano hybrids maybe they still have them at Lyons. Any of the older ones you can try getting in touch with the Vintage Violet column at AVSA.org. Fred in NJ

I still think your Aloe is cultivar 'Grande', but I was wrong about it's origin. Here is it's more complex family tree: From: San Gabriel Valley Cactus and Succulent Society Succulent of the Month January 2001 - Hybrid Aloes Some of the best hybrids have been created by John Bleck of Santa Barbara. Typical of one of his complex hybrids is Aloe ÂGrande an ISI release of 1995. This hybrid is (A. descoingsii x A. parvula) x [(A. albiflora x A. bellatula) x (A. descoingsii x A. parvula)]. This means that four separate species were used in making this hybrid.In the first round, two hybrids were created, A. albiflora x A. bellatula and A. descoingsii x A. parvula. These hybrids were then crossed to make a second generation, and finally, this second generation was hybridized with one of the original pairs. In each generation a number of hybrids were created, and selections with the best characteristics were then used to make the following generation. The second cross of A. descoingsii x A parvula may well have been a different plant than the first. Here is a link that might be useful: Hybrid Aloes

If you plan to "share" the FW with your daughter and be close at hand to help her learn to sew, I think a FW would be a wonderful machine for her to learn on - and it's just her size! Featherweights are so wonderfully basic and sturdy. You might look at those that are not in "perfect, pristine, never-been-used" condition and you can pay a little less for one that has been loved and used. Just be sure that you buy from a reputable seller and the machine runs, has the bobbin case, manual (although you can print one off the internet if need be) and the seller can tell you the condition of the machine including the cord and foot pedal. A FW can be easily tuned up by yourself or a handy DH or a GOSMG ("good old sewing machine guy"). Have the motor checked out to see what condition it is in and read, read, read, everything on the internet that you can find about these lovely little machines. Have fun! You and DD will love it! Teresa

Happy Belated Birthday! If you have limited space, I cannot recommend Brother Cadfael. He throws out huge canes. I now have one that is about 6 feet tall. For some reason this year he had just gotten bigger than ever. That is with severe pruning. He mostly stands about 5 feet tall. Good first bloom then sporadic afterwards. He doesn't like the heat and will bloom when it cools down. Scent to die for! Not great as a cut flower. I adore this rose and will never be without it. Here he is as a baby plant. He is very easy to start on his own root. Which is what this picture shows. Here is a more established version that I cut back to about 2 feet in January. This is his picture in May. Those rungs are 4 inches apart and the arbor starts at about 6 inches off the ground. You can barely make out the first rung. Sharifa Asma. Love that rose. Gets to be about 3--4 feet by 3--4 feet. Great first blush. Spotty afterwards. Poor rebloom until it cools down again. Scent to die for. Gorgeous blooms. Love that rose but she got the shovel prune this year. I miss her terribly. If you want a pink with beautiful cupped blooms that stays relatively "small" for an Austin in an area that has warm summers, I would recommend Pretty Jessica. She gets to be about 5 feet tall and is not very wide. Blooms well in the heat. Great rose.