OMGosh, thank you all! You are all such an inspiration...what wonderful ideas! I really bought it for outside... and today I found a great spot for it. (I sure was tempted to keep it inside after reading some of the postings). I knew that I needed to put it on the house in a spot where you can see it real well! So my DH pounded some cement nails in for me. I have a walk-out basement with a garage. So it is in-between the big garage door and a window in the cement block. It will be awesome when decorated. I went ahead and stained the wood today for protection (winter around the corner) ... and I'm keeping an eye out for some metal containers to put conifers in the 2 circle holders (hopefully cone-shaped) ... and also lots of pines, nuts & berries. I will send a pic when it's done. Might even use some little lights and run a cord into the garage. Thanks so much for the feedback. Jeanne S. p.s. It was a $15 flea market purchase...the lady had marked down her stuff half-off on the last day...I fell in love with it...thinking I'd put it on my garden shed.

I've heard good things about Kordes' newer roses being disease-resistant in a variety of conditions- how interesting that many of the roses you've looked at have similar foliage types. I wonder if having smaller leaves is beneficial in itself (smaller target for pests/fungi or promotes better air circulation?), or if the similarity of appearance is a result of using certain disease-resistant parents who just happen to also have small leaves? Sorry- I do tend to overthink things. But I wasn't trying to hijack this thread- I was wondering if the Carruth-like foliage of the rose in question means this is likely to be a Carruth plant, or if that leaf look could be seen as a clue to check out plants with similar ancestry... Given your familiarity with the Carruth roses, do you think any of them has a flower shape that's pretty similar to that of mauvegirl's rose? From what I know about plant genetics (mostly from working with camellias), a plant with a dominant leaf trait is likely to bequeathe that trait to most of its offspring, even if the parent plant is chosen for reasons unrelated to leaf shape. But Mendeleev I'm not, so I may be off-base with this line of inquiry...

Sunflower - here is general info on all the ones in and around Bham. BESSEMER - - FRI-SUN Bessemer Flea Market. 1013 - 8th Avenue. North. Exit 112 off I-59. Behind McDonalds restaurant. Hours: 8am to 5 pm. Average attendance 10,000 per weekend. Averages 450 vendors. Wide variety of goods at this market, crafts, collectibles, new merchandise, great bargains can be found here from electronics to sportswear. Food and beverage concessions. Restrooms, h/a. Inside and outside spaces from $6. Camping available with electricity. Camping and motels nearby. Can make reservations for space. c/p Beverly Morton. Box 805. 35020. (205) 425-8510. BIRMINGHAM - - FRI-SUN Dixie Land Flea & Farmers Market. 3000 Highway 25 S. Average weekend attendance of 25,000+. Indoor and outdoor market, with covered spaces and approximately 300 dealers. New merchandise, sportswear, housewares, antiques, collectibles, country items, crafts. Snack bars, restrooms, h/a. Space from $6. Overnight camping avail $2. Showers on grounds. (205) 672-2022 or (800) 440-4125. BIRMINGHAM - - DAILY Farmers & Flea Market. Hours: 8am to 5pm. 344 Finley Ave W. Indoor/outdoor market with approx 50 dealers. Lots of produce, used merchandise, some new items and lots of locally made crafts. Restrooms, snack bar. (205) 251-8737. Fax: (205) 251-8106. BIRMINGHAM - - DAILY Jefferson County Farmers Market. Free adm & ample parking. 344 Finley Ave. W. Snack bar, restrooms. (205) 251-8737.

you're the third person to suggest a pamphlet this week. I'm gonna have to consider it. I went again today, I made roughly the same amount that I did last sunday, but last week I had a lot more sampler pack sales, this week I had substantially more sales, but most were just one bottle. hey, that's fine by me. all the people in the booths next to me kept commenting on how slow it was, and how I seemed to be the only one making any money. I am slowly but surely beginning to put the pieces together to do farmers markets and larger outdoor events. it's almost scary to me how much more comfortable I'm getting when it comes to speaking to customers, and calling people over to try samples. I don't wanna get ahead of myself but this is starting to seem like it's gonna work out just fine. the most difficult part is getting people over to my table to try samples, once I get them there, actually selling the sauce is easy. it pretty much sells itself.