I find the whole subject very interesting, as my first 'real' job was with the postal service. It's ironic to note, when I was working for them, we still had mail cars on trains, where mail was worked in transit. We also received mail by truck, and being in Missouri, I remember one mail truck did come in from Ft. Smith, Arkansas.........the route hadn't changed. Just the mode of transport. The only thing I find surprising, Gandle is how well paid the riders were, especially if they were young men, and boys. $25 a week was the salary of a government worker for a Federal office. A male teacher made about the same for a month's work.......with females earning an average of $12.00 a month. The more things change, the more they stay the same. LOL.

The museum job sounds so interesting, and it's surprising how many people in the world have heard of the history of the American West and of the Prairie lands, the world shrinks, doesn't it?

I ordered from Forestfarm last year too and am very pleased with the plants they sent me. Very healthy and on the large side of the size range they were being sold as compared to other online sellers. Only one was a rose, and it is a nice one, R. webbiana. Came as a tube last fall and now has multiple canes over 5 feet tall. Very beautiful quite dark, dark green foliage. Since I liked what they sent so much I ordered again this fall. Plants arrived in October. Mostly roses this time. I love species!: R. arkansana R. blanda R. eglanteria R. nutkana R. rugosa alba (2) R. setigera (all were tube size with some so big they were more than ready to pop outta those tubes!) The 2 non-rose plants I received were wild buckwheats (for the butterflies): Eriogonum compositum Eriogonum umbellatum 'Kannah Creek' I plan on ordering from Forestfarm again in future. They have just too many species roses that I covet--including some of Tammy's acquisitions. You better watch those Tammy lest they get spirited away to California one evening.;) Melissa

might want to rethink that cold protection....? we had one that had four inch caliber, ten foot tall, turned to ash two years ago and it was covered! great plant, but protect it look at where they have it, makes a big difference. we never thought we never thought we'd lose it.......:)