Yes, Ki, I'm moving. The stress and BS of the past year have finally worn me down. Not to mention the fact all my money is tied up in the house and I'm broke. And houses soak up money faster than a sponge water. Taking care of a 2600 sf house and the yard by myself is a lot of work. Of course, one person doesn't need a house this big anyway. I use all of three rooms and one of the baths. I dust the other bathrooms rather than cleaning them. When friends come over and I actually venture into the living room, I usually notice it's been a while since I've vacuumed and dusted the whole house. I've got half a mind to buy a condo on the beach in Miami, except I can't afford it. I've wanted to move back or nearer to a bigger city for a good 12 years. I used to take long weekends once or twice a month to get my dose of "civilization" but haven't been able to afford that luxury for a few years or haven't had the time. Since downsizing is a pain, I'm just going to sell it all and replace everything when i know how much room I have, when I get where ever it is I'm going. Seriously, the only furniture I'm taking is the master bedroom furniture since it's gorgeous solid cherry, a recliner (it had been my dad's but I never use it so it looks new) and some occasional tables I have in the living room. The artwork is coming with me as is the pottery I've collected in the various countries I've traveled to. In two weeks I'm having a moving sale and hope to sell the house, everything in it and the car all at the same time. Paul's coming up to help me out. What doesn't sell or that I'm keeping, he's going to take back to Florida and store for me until the house is sold. I'm only keeping behind with me the dog, the birds and computer (I still have to work while all this is going on), and a few things i don't trust him to "handle with care". But it's all got to fit in the van when it's my time to leave. I've never been one to just slowly ease my way out of a rut. Total upheaval is the only thing that works for me. Or, I could be having a midlife crisis. I think I'm going to get that Honda S2000 I've been coveting since they came out. Y'all have strange dreams.

Mark:Huge figs does not mean tasty figs. No Offense but usally the smallest size figs are the best tasting. Usually the tree that form embrio very early will be the first to get ripe. If the Panache and Blue Giant has enough time to ripe fruits then they are ok for our area. You are now in position to tell us. It is true some cultivar are late in forming fruits and that is a minus in zone 6 and colder.I do have a good number of young trees wich are late in forming fruits but i blame it on being too young. Only growing we gain experience.Peace

Bragu, I beg to differ. They don't need 50+ days of sub 30 degree weather to go dormant. That doesn't happen here in San Jose, California. They need about 6 weeks of nighttime temps below 40 to stay dormant. We hit the 50's-60's during the daytime Winter months. We didn't drop below 32 degrees this year and my hostas in pots in bark are going gangbusters. I've been growing them since the late 1990's. It's been my observation that they go dormant due to the changes in daylight hours. Keeping them dormant (and dry-ish)until they wake up in Spring is the key. I totally agre that the soil makes the difference. They will do fine for a year or two in potting soil (I even used 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 perlite for a couple years but it packed down and all the perlite floated to the top. messy). I've found that mini-bark with just a few scoopfulls of organic compost works well, retaining some moisture, but allows the water to flow freely thru the pot, even after a couple years. Diluted liquid fert supplies the nutrients, so does,as some have suggested, a few tablespoons/or handfulls of manure on top of the bark, depending on the size of the pot. -Babka

Bass Gibson had an off year, as did many. There were some nice blooms, but a number of bad openings and shorter scapes; BG can be inconsistent, but was great the previous year. Brown's Ferry Peaches and Cream did nothing for me here. Oh, there were a few nice blooms, but just wouldn't establish and get beyond 10-inch scapes. Where in central Ohio are you located, Steve? I am generally wary of Brown's Ferry intros, after being burned a few times. I wonder if you can say more about Blackbird's Song, Nancy. How quickly established, bud count, etc. Boss Lady had a very good year. Big Bang Theory has big blooms. Bud count could be higher. Butter Cream always provides scenes for pics. Belle Cook, despite its shortness, can wow. Black Bird Sings (not to be confused with Blackbird's Song) could stand some shade. Here at Crintonic near noon. Bridge of Sighs can have a nice flower, but would rather be farther south. Blazing Saddles has the typical Hansen tall scape. If only it had a Hanson scape. Blushing Escapade--long blooming glowing color on taller scapes. Blessed Are the Meek. I decided to try this, though one person warned me it is not that vigorous. Broken Chains, one of Karol's better ones here. Butter Pecan in a clump that needs division. Scapes a bit shorter after those late spring freezes. Birthday Wishes. Scapes less consistent here the past year, though not as short as this picture looks. Blue Pink Beauty is in a part of the garden where it is difficult to photograph, but there is always something deserving of a picture. Bubble Gum Twist has yet to make it out of the pot because I don't like the scapes. In the twilight of life, spaces in the garden go to only the most promising. Blood Sweat and Tears --moderate increase Buddy's Wild and Wonderful - a pic from 2020, when it was nicer. Early, which I like. Bloom Where You're Planted --quite showy, though every bloom is not perfect. A great name.