So sorry to hear about this - how frustrating! This sounds like my kind of luck. May of this past year, we hit a deer, which totaled our van. We searched forever for a good used van (since the insurance company didn't give us much for ours - it was older, but in mint condition). Our financial situation is not in a position to add another monthly payment. Finally in August we found one that "worked" - although we weren't sure about buying a Chevy. But I needed one by fall, when my craft shows started, so we decided to get it. We got it on Sunday afternoon and Monday I drove it to town and got whammed in the rear end. We hadn't even had the title work done yet. I was sick. But it was fixable and I wasn't hurt - so it all worked out. So glad Carol wasn't hurt anymore than she was - been there done that - triple Advil every 4-6 hrs. was the dr. advice for me - that is prescription strenth. We got hit with 8 or more inches of snow this weekend and as we were shoveling/clearing the drive/sidewalks, I asked my husband if he could imagine climbing on the roof and shoveling it! We just replaced that roof 2 summers ago and I will attest that it was SCAREY being up there when it was dry, let alone snow covered and slippery! I can't even imagine. Hang in there - spring is just around the corner! Arlene

collielover what temp is your basement? i think mine is just a bit colder than the house. i normally keep my brugs in the greenhouse, but you're right they're whitefly and aphid magnents, plus don't really have the rooom for so many full sized plants, not with the 1200 daylily seeds i start every year. i also finally got dahlias again from poochella. i don't really like the small ones, mostly aa and a sizes but i may try some b's later. what temp do you store these at. i lost all mine the first fall i got them. i dug them and left them lay to dry off and went away for two days and when i got back they had all frozen.

I hope those camellias thrive for you! My friend in Keller finally removed hers - but she didn't have them in a well-amended camellia bed. Here in east Texas they grow almost sinfully easily - my vet has a sasanqua for a hedge in front of his building that gets trimmed like a hedge and blooms beautifully! From what (little) I know of camellias, the large-leafed ones (e.g. japonica) do well in the shade, while the small-leafed ones (e.g. sasanqua) can take full sun. I only have high shade here, so I lean towards getting japonicas, but I will buy any on sale! (yes, it is a sickness!!!) I read on the camellia forum that White by the Gate starts to bloom in late December in Alabama, so you may have to cover it to enjoy the blooms. From the photo, it looks like it's worth it! Lin

I am wondering if any of you have reached a point, when we say we have enough hostas??? I thought when I reached 100 that would be great, then it was 200 and so on and on and on. I decided last fall I would just concentrate on trading with fellow addicts, and dabble at hybridizing. That was until I saw the new listings from White Oaks and ordered MORE hostas. I am such a weak soul!!! Help, does it never end?? Dollymomma -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I actually down sized this past year. I'm down to about 650 varieties from close to 800. They just got to crowded and started looking terrible. But to answer your question, no it doesn't stop because I keep ordering and replace older ones I no longer care for with new ones I can't live without! Kent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: When is enough, enough? Posted by: Dollymomma zone 4 IA (My Page) on Tue, Jan 3, 06 at 15:57 Well, Kent, You haven't given me much hope for a cure. And Kent, what criteria did you use to downsize. The only hosta we have I don't care for is Lunar Eclipse, and I keep it for the educational purpose of showing an example of drawstring. Even u. Albomarginata has it's virtues. Dollymomma --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. does not grow well 2. looks like something I already have 3. slow growing or not growing at all! 4. slug bait 5. I find an improved variety 6. I get bored with it. 7. it dies (this usually only happen to the expensive ones) 8. I need the room for something I like better 9. the picture is better than the plant! 10. just because ;-) Ok, I'll fess up to another.... When I get a plant in the mail I realize that I already own it! My son has ended up with a nice collection this way. Kent Original question posted by Dollymomma, responses by Kent