Ingrid Yippee! I am celebrating with you!! These tiny darlings are truly our little rose babies. I have a RVR Botzaris that subjected me to similar parental joys and frets. When the postal stork arrived with it, Botzaris was just a minute green sprout tucked into its cozy 4" pot. I watered it and then transplanted it to a larger plastic cradle in a very special corner of my nursery. I checked on Botzaris several times per day, testing its soil diaper and nursing it diligently. One morning I went to the nursery to peek at its progress and discovered that...it was gone! Eek!! I practically stuck my nose in the dirt in my frantic search for traces of Botzaris. Then I spotted the remains. An 1/8" stub just above the soil line. The fluffy-tailed tree rats had struck my garden again. In a tearful panic, I ran to the garage in search of anything resembling armor-plating. I spied my rather expensive English riddle teetering on a shelf at the back. (This unique piece of equipment was purchased from Smith and Hawken back in the day when S&H was truly S&H.) Yes, the riddle would serve the purpose. But the riddle would rust and disintegrate in Portland's late winter/spring downpours. Hmmm. Rose. Riddle. Rose. RIddle. As you may have guessed, Botzaris--my precious baby Botzaris--won the debate. After keeping a watchful eye (like a mama hawk), enduring more stretches of constant nurturing including many gentle feedings of compost tea, I spied a microscopic stem with even dinkier leaves emerging next to the stubbins. My neighbors must have heard the WHOOP for blocks! I left the rusty riddle in place and maintained a constant vigilance against further attacks by fluffy-tailed rose assassins. When I finally witnessed my little white damask growing into a strapping young toddling beauty, I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Ahhhhh. The joys of parenting! Please post photos of your first grandflower! Still cheering for you in PDX-- Carol

Thank you everyone! This post was meant to be cheerful not about me being sad but I appreciate your support. Tom that is the same day lily as mine or almost. It looks darker in that picture than the other ones. My brother is holding his own. His neurologist will only say you are much better than the first time I met you. Well lets hope so, the fluid on his brain had him so confused he thought Reagan was president and the year was 1982. They don't know or wont say what caused it and if it will happen again since there was no trauma. They also don't know if he will completely recover or remain like he is now. So they will take another CAT scan in 2 weeks and see if fluid is building up again. In the mean time life is very different. SOOOOOO who has some good edible plant news or pictures?

Good for you! Those little things really do mean a lot.

Right now it is looking at my new sparkly burgundy mobility scooter! I am thrilled to finally have my own. My little dog makes me smile every day and quite often both of us laugh out loud at her silliness and playfulness. The days I have less pain and can actually get some things done! Seeing all the beautiful plants and flowers in the atrium and yard, we have had a wet summer which is pretty unusual and the grass, plants and flowers are happy.