Tom, I got a largish order of pachycauls recently, from the Kilometerstogo feller, and a number of them show green shoots - I just don't think it's the time to expose them to wettish weather in the high 40s/low 50s at night - that sounds like The Reaper would have an appetite for destruction. And I don't know why you would sell them to those SouCal folks - they don't need them, it's the rest of us who do. Mike, I'm going to lift some spirits later, too - agave ambrosia in the afternoon for the gardening help. I figure I'll have earned the wobbly soda by then. I'd like the plants to grow as well as they can up here, and that can be done only by, IMO, the plants growing outside and taking advantage of the (usually) dry heat and long days of sunshine. Karen, I did note that (being a Weather Channel daily watcher). It's been highly coincidental that the good weather's usually occurring during the week and the weekend is wet. Nevertheless, it feels warm enough to put out some plants. I'm going to take your happy thoughts with me as I prepare a table for some outside plants (and these will be in the wild, wild West of the yard - something I have to think about, plants subject to the depredations of bear and deer). Hmmm, bears further thought.

Well we are starting to get into our late summer weather pattern where it can be cool one day and scorching the next. We had a cold front push through last night and brought a good rain to my area. today we are having what I call a "california day" 60's in the morning and mid 80's during the day. Ive never been to CA but I imagine thats what its like, LOL The next 7 days are forecasted to be like this. Its such a welcome relief but also a reminder that I need to get the greenhouse ready and start making plans for overwintering. Our first frost isnt until October so I have time. Our weather here can be so crazy that it made me think of a few things. Those who live or lived here may relate and those who may visit might take this advice. You really have to be like a boy scout to live here. In the middle of winter we will have days in the 80's and then the next day it can snow 6-8 inches. The opposite is also true, snow in the morning and mid 50's to 60's by afternoon. In the summer it will get to 110 and the next morning it can be in the 60's. I have left for work in the morning and it was colder by 20-30 degrees when i left in the afternoon. anyways it keeps you on you toes. Mike

I have one. I am not impressed by them. For one, the wax still gets hot, hot enough to burn a child, so I don't see any safety bonuses over a candle. Second, a candle of any size won't melt all the way, mostly just melts on the bottom and therefore not much fragrance is released. Third, the fragrance does leave the candle. I mean, its not like you can have a candle sit on it for days. I don't know why, but the scent leaves the candle and eventually you have unscented wax to throw out. I much prefer burning a candle; I think you get a stronger fragrance throw. I am a candlemaker, and the only candles I have used on my candle warmer have been the ones I make. The one thing I can say the candle warmer is good for is when you have just a little wax left, not enough to burn but it still smells. The candle warmer will finish up the fragrance. Susan

I bought a warmer from Michael's which has the base and a removable bowl. I use scented jar candles on it, which will last for a long time, or the little wax cubes or votive style scented candles in the bowl. I have a couple of small glass custard cups that I also use, so that I can switch scents without cleaning the bowl. I will also add drops of the scented oils that were/are meant for potpourri or lightbulb rings to melted wax when the original scent is gone. I rarely keep it on for a whole day -- a little goes a long way with me, so I don't mind inexpensive melts that are good only for several hours. When it is time to clean the bowls, I just put the bowl into the freezer for a short time, then the wax pops right out. I have a neighbor who take the used wax to make her own candles. I actually like very few scents - I really don't like most florals, and many others are too artificial to me (like, "clean linen", or "fresh water" . My favorites are fresh apple (not apple pie), and balsam/pine. I like grapefruit, pear, lemon (if it is not too strong or artificial), gingerbread and some pumpkin spice scents. I usually find a Christmas blend at Macy's that I like, too. I'm fond of the Woodwick candles' Jolly Gingerbread and Cinnamon Cheer. Crabtree & Evelyn used to have a scent called "American Harvest" that I loved. I would be so happy if someone would make a "fresh quince" scent that really smelled like a fresh, cut quince.