I think Zone 8? We have little microclimates within our area, but a few times we may get down to -10C. I am intrigued and tempted when I hear people grow m. figo outside and are pushing the limits. My uncle had quite a mature figo right by the house until finally one cold winter killed it. So I don't want to risk the heartache. I confess the main reason I use a ceramic pot is because they look nicer, haha. I don't worry that much about the pot being cold. My main concern is how dry the air is in the winter. I don't like a hot house, so my heat is not turned up very high (that heat register right by pot is closed off). But I still find I have to water my plants more carefully than in the summer. Of course, the plant is not as happy, might lose a few leaves but it always rebounds in the spring. The pot is 18" diameter across the top and 15" tall. The nursery pot was probably about 10" ? I transplanted into big pot thinking I would keep it in there long term so as to disturb as little as possible, especially when the plant is a bit hard to handle (big leaves, etc) Oh my gosh, mites! They are the bane of my existence. So annoying. My m. figo has finally stopped dropping leaves. Hope she is truly settling in and not just playing with me. Thanks for that link, bboy. Very excited to see Cistus might be able to ship up to me in Canada. I see the figo var. skinneriana is 'Zone 7' - hmmmmm... Maggie

When I was making my own mortar, I used three parts sand to one part Portland cement - maybe a little more cement to make it a tad stronger. Once I used up all the Portland cement, I decided it's easier for me to use the Quikcrete Mortar Mix, cuz the Portland comes in 96-lb bags. It had to sit in My Jeep until my yardman w/take it out and put the bag into my garage. It's just too much for my purposes. The Mortar Mix comes in 40-lb bags (there's a bag in the Jeep now waiting for my yardman), and I sift it and add water - in a wheelbarrow/hoe. Use a little water in the beginning, working up to a nice consistency that you can pick up w/gloved hand and make a nice soft ball - not too wet and not too dry - crumbly. Keep adding water a little at a time, mix thoroughly b/f you add more water. You'll get the hang of it w/practice, and b/f long, you'll know just how much to add. It is sooooooooo easy to use this technique w/the wire mesh/mortar, that you'll be quite surprised at the ease. The possibilities are endless. You'll no longer have to look for substrates, forms or moulds - BUILD THEM!!! There's nothing you can't do w/this technique. If you get so confident that you want to build a small bench, chair, table etc., use the diamond lath - cuz it's stronger. Three tools necessary - get the Wiss tin snips, a good linesman's pliers and the 17 - 18 or 19 guage wire for stitches. Put a crook in one end of the wire - making a "needle". Slip the wire into your armature, catch the two layers of mesh, pull out, and w/your pliers catch hold of the end of the little hook and pull it through, twist it and w/the pliers wind it once/twice and viola - a stitch. Repeat until your armature is all put together and you w/be soooooo proud of what you've done. I can't wait for you to try this and report back to us.

One more for the road. Another spinach container filled with a little soil. You cannot see the two very large green leaves in there but the little green ones on the right side are from the big leaf under all the rest of leaves on the left side. I put this down from a friend back in August but am unwilling to move it out this time of year so it will stay until spring. The rest of the leaves have been added over the fall months. I dropped the container and probably ended up kicking it as well (by accident - clumsy big feet) which disturbed the soil but no harm done. Just shook it a little to settle everything and put it back under lights. The first two big leaves were started outdoors in this container in the shade. No water has been added since I started it - the moisture from the leaves and whatever was in the potting mix is all it needed. Easy? You bet. The problem is separating everything later on - it always puts stress on the plants.

cpartist -- I'm still OK haulin' laundry. There's a lot less of it for just two Seniors, and we're on one floor in 2900 sq ft. I prefer to 'tend' the laundry in the back hall during the day. I've even ironed my sheets -- on the board that is stowed in the back hall closet with hanging space. Which is fine while you're still in the go-go years, but what happens once you reach the no-go years? Or what if something happens so it becomes difficult to haul the laundry? My mother's laundry was across the house too. In fact it was next to her office. She was so upset when she could no longer haul the laundry around because of being unsteady on her feet. I have tub, then FL washer and dryer (raised, left to right). How do people live without a laundry tub -- as a mop sink if nothing else? (Garden gear, boots, soaking a big pan, washing plants... and small dogs.) I have no laundry tub. Have never had one and don't miss it. I do have a slop sink in my garage though. I'd opt for one-floor living at any age. Senior friends with home elevators avoid them in daily life. The only reason I avoid it is because I'm slightly claustrophobic. However I designed it to be as open looking as possible and would have no problem using it if I needed it. Nobody likes to wait for an elevator anywhere. Let's see it takes less than 15-20 seconds for the elevator to go from one floor to the other. And that's only if it's on the other floor. There are days it takes me longer to walk up the stairs! New elevators are a lot more efficient and fast. If like us you're on a narrow lot and your choice is to either have smaller spaces or to build up, I highly recommend building up. Especially if it's two rooms that will rarely be used.