Here's a little alba news from me.;) I have Chloris on order from Pickering for November delivery. They have sold out of her already, BUT they do 11 other albas still available: Alba Maxima, Blush Hip, Celestial, Felicite Parmentier, Great Maiden's Blush, Konigin von Danemark, Maiden's Blush, Mme Legras de St. Germain, Mme Plantier, Semi-Plena, and Suaveolens, http://www.pickeringnurseries.com/web_store_alba.cgi?&variety=alba Just received an order from High Country Roses in Colorado. Decided to take a chance on an alba found in Denver's Fairmount Cemetery called Jeremiah Pink. It was quite large for the pot (roughly equivalent in size to a band but with a wider and shallower container) and had an abundance of leaves. Arrived during one of our heat waves! but didn't seem to skip a beat. Now in a one gallon pot. See HCR's found rose page, http://highcountryroses.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=009&DEPT=1076372882&CAT=1110979713&BACK=A0007A1B01076372882B1 Heirloom now has one of the Rolf Sievers' albas in stock, Golden Blush. It's a cross of Maiden's Blush with the hybrid tea Golden Giant. The picture on Heirloom's site looks pretty, but HMF describes it as orange-pink, with photos that tend more to the orange side. I have an aversion to orange roses, so I don't know that I will try this one. If they decide to offer Crimson Blush or Summer Blush that will likely be another story. Imagine a RED alba! Heirloom's alba page, http://www.heirloomroses.com/roses/old-garden-roses/albas.html?limit=all Look how many are out of stock! It appears there are alba fans wanting to shop.;) Melissa

Isn't it weird how some people say "Ew, stinky!" to the scent of Hoyas and others say "Mmm, how nice!" To me, Hoyas have only slighly varying scents, but they all smell musky to me and I like it. I got one of my first Hoyas (of course, an old carnosa) from my step-grandmother over 20 years ago. She gave me this huge thing because her husband couldn't stand the smell and swore up and down that the flowers "spit" at him. Well, her loss was my gain! All the years I got carnosa flowers, I had to literally stick my nose up against it to smell the scent. Until, that is, this year. I have a plain old green carnosa that grows in my kitchen (a year-old restart of that original from my step-grandmother who has been long gone...) and it started pumping out blooms and they fill the kitchen with the aroma. I can't quite figure out what could be different... This isn't the first time I've restarted the plant. Hm... Denise in Omaha

Good Morning All, A Big WELCOME to Lisa and Mellen!!!:) I received my box from Anita and as always it is GREAT! There was a very heavy cedar bird feeder, Anita how did ya' know I wanted one exactly like that, I have been eyeballing them since last fall,(that was the surprise from you unamed by me) also there was a wonderful book, yes a book named "From flower to fruit", it has a wealth of information in it about seeds and how they have changed the world, a section on pistals and fertilization, boy do I need this book! That was for the garden magazine. Something green was Shamrocks. For something that smells good; humming bird food, I always see about 6 or 7 each year and they are sure to love this. Something that is a flower/bulb of the persons name, enclosed she had a daylily named Emily 'Jaye', now Anita you know that will have to go somewhere VERY special! Something for fun was a hummingbird feeder to put the food in. And for all of you that have ever had the pleasure of trading with Anita you know that she (and all of us) always put wonderful surprises in the box! Included was a red-striped canna, a box of wildflower mix, a ceramic garden pick of a chicken/rooster, which will go beside my chicken coup, I have two small beds on each side of it, it will look great there. Also a wonderful picture frame that has a gardeners tools, a sunflower hat and a watering can on it, this is just too adorable and it will go on my shelf in my kitchen. And of course M&M's..... (Anita!).... As always you brighten my day, THANK YOU!! BIG ((HUGS)) to you!!:) Canna~ My prayers and thoughts are with you. Jo~ Love the picture of the columbine and lupine. I lost my little doggie/baby 'lhasa apso' last week, the heart problem got the best of her. Hope everyone is doing well! Great pictures everyone. Have a Great Day! Jaye

It looks like the OP may have gotten fed up and left, but if you're still reading.... If you have reasons to believe this house will be a money pit and a burden, then it's better to pass on it. But if this is a good house that will suit you and your family, I would feel like the love and good energy you bring to it will be enough to make it a happy place. I would also feel like that house "needed" me in a way, and like it deserves to have your loving attention. My house was new but vandalized by local teens before we ever viewed it. It was fixed by the bank that owned it, but once in a while, in a certain light, I can see where the wall or cabinet was scraped with something, etc. I feel bad for this nice house that anyone mistreated it and that my house is so much better off with me caring for it. I convince myself that the house knows this and returns the favor. It takes care of me and my family. I know giving the house the power of emotion might not sound logical to some people, but it comes down to your attitude and how you want to feel about your new home. I chose to look at it this way, and that helped me adjust to a big move and a whole new environment. And I would try to keep in mind that this difficult seller who may have lied will not be there any more. She'll be gone and out of your house and out of your lives. You don't really need to hear any more from her or deal with her again. Home inspections will be more reliable than anything she says. I can see a widow not wanting to deal with repairs, but is it too late to knock off some money from the purchase price in order to do them? That's what I would have tried and then fixed things on my own. I don't know about a natural death being a factor. Only you can decide that for yourself. But I was thinking things like people going through a divorce or bankruptcy and losing a home could be seen as negatives, too. But that doesn't have anything to do with your situation and what positive energy you'll bring to the house. I don't really believe in ghosts, but I have relatives who swear they've come in contact with them. And all of them live in PA. What is it about PA and ghosts? I hope this has worked out for you and that you'll come back and let people know what happened.