Thank you for the links, they look great. In answer to Mary - I have mine growing up an arbor and I have bent the canes over the arbor. Are there thorns? Yes indeed and very large. The beauty of the flowers should make up for the thorns which I despise. Mine only gets half day sun and is beautiful. Ginny

Ciao Nicky- I received my parcel on American Thanksgiving, so that was extra super because Duane was home and got to share in the surprises! You really outdid yourself this year with the care and consideration you gave to the inventory list and the quality of the seeds. This is a smaller swap than some of the others that I participate in, but you managed to fill 11 wishes off of my edibles list! That's VERY impressive! The quality of the flowers was also better than ever before, so thank you very much and consider yourself hugged by me!

1. It would be better for the trees to be kept outdoors, especially while dormant so that you don't risk them leaving dormancy early. Generally, only houseplants should be kept indoors. 2. You can plant it, or transplant it before the ground freezes. If you decide to plant it, I wouldn't go and dig it up again. 3. Since the trees are only 8 inches, you don't need a very large pot at all for them over winter. I would put them into a 1 gallon size pot with a well-draining media. 4. Trees don't require as much moisture while dormant. I would only water them when the media completely dries. 5. Same as 4. 6. If you keep them outdoors, it would probably be best to keep them somewhat sheltered from the extreme temperatures. Snow acts as an insulator, so it wouldn't be the death of them if they were covered by it, although I would keep them under a covered porch or something similar. 7. When you do plant them, now or in the spring, make sure you don't plant them too deeply. You only want to make sure the roots are covered and leave the root flare (part of the tree where the roots meet the main trunk) exposed. Make sure to dig a hole just as deep as the roots go and twice as wide. It's better to plant the trees too shallow than too deep. Apply an area of mulch 1-2 inches deep around the trees, not letting the mulch touch the trunks. Keep the trees well watered during the first few growing seasons when they are in their permanent location.

OMG, Ellie! Sending up prayers for your besieged cousin! Elly's bout with uterine cancer, last September, was the absolute scariest thing she & I have ever been through! Whenever I actually thought about it, while Elly was away up north in Springfield for eight days (with her mother, sister and brother, while I remained here with our autistic son), to have her uterus removed, etc., I would personally become physically ill. - God bless and comfort you all!