It is amazing that family reunion takes so long in this country. They all say that family comes first, and it seems like they prioritize in everything except family. I am glad, Maria, that you found solace in your flowers while you had the pain in your life and that now your daughters also enjoy playing around with your flowers. They feel that the flowers are special to you, and even though they cannot be switched for them ever, you found a common ground you will always be able to connect, no matter what. There is a saying in Hungary: One who loves flowers cannot be a bad person. I truly believe this. We've became such a tight little group here, it is almost a second family. I don't get as much attention of my old family as I get from you, even though you don't even know who I am.

When I lived in Texas a bunch of the guys were sitting around having lunch on the job one day and we got to talking about eating wild game. One of the guys mentioned possum and probably half of us had eaten it, then one of the guys says..."Do you know why God invented Armadillos?" I said,,"ok, I'll bite, why did God invent Armadillos" He said, "So the Mexicans can eat possum on the half shell."

Hi All Thanks for all your advice - I can really relate to the sulking, V, we really get emotionally involved with these roses, don't we?!! We went for a mechanical deterrent rather than a chemical one. Each of the shrub roses has its own barricade of stakes and wire mesh - I guess that's the advantage of only having 20 and not 200 like some of you ;) The only exception is Tatjana - my is she thorny - I guess she can look after herself. She gets a 7 on the MGR thorny scale (a point I overlooked when ordering her) but I don't see how any rose could get more. As you say, Hazel, the barricades don't look too aesthetically pleasing but hopefully they're temporary and can be removed once the bushes are more established and the rose garden is off the possums' tucker lists. Thanks, MM, for the condolences over the loss of my first flower. I'm certainly looking forward to reaping the rewards of the past year's labour and photos will be forth-coming in due course :) Jackie

I don't think we have possums here, not sure though. Don't want them here, just started to grow some fruit trees. I know nothing about possums, but I have a couple possum fur lined rain coats. Possum fur is not pretty, but it's very warm in the wet snow/ ice rain. On the country property there is a huge hole next to the house. Is this a fox hole/raccoon hole? I hope it's not a possum hole. We can hunt/ trap here, might have to trap them and drop them off at a church......should I flood the hole and see what comes out? I'd love to have a fox in the yard.