Good Morning all! Guess What??? Yesterday we had SUN for nearly the whole day! After TCS's swimming lesson and a short shoppoing trip, then off to get the two flat tires on the car repaired (road construction can be a nuisance!), we went for a drive to see a house for sale which apparently has huge and beautiful gardens. Unfortunately from the road we could only see about a dozen large hydrangeas, but to me that's indicative of a gardner-in-residence. We then actually sat on the wine deck, with wine even, disucssing weighty matters and being serious. What a waste of wine deck time *LOL* I finally got into my relocated back garden where the soil has compacted to concrete and the weeds have managed to sprount anyway. Got that all cleaned up before dinner. A sort of productive day I guess. Today I am going to finish painting the baseboards in TCS's room. I am going room by room here, decluttering, making minor repairs, putting small annoyances to rights. After IU VI I intend to try to do a room a week in this way. Just little stuff. Julie Jobs. I have done all my shopping for IU VI, and now am starting to pack. DH has told me that I won't exctly be a fashion plate, (he especially dislikes the Crocs) but he thinks I will have fun. I don't like my IUVI haircut so I'm getting another one today. Oh goodness that Ivy is sweet! Oh to be young and adventurous and go camping with a little one! Marie your DD and family seem like such an energetic and fun bunch! And another Ruby Birthday! Hope you have a happy day Michelle! Blackberries and Raspberries - I love them, and Raspberries are DH's favourite. Everytime I've gone to a "pick your own" place to pick my own, I have ended up with poison ivy. I just need to know that there's some nearby and I get it. So I do go to the roadside stands or farmer's markets to buy them already in the basket. Raspberry pie is heaven to DH but my pastry skills aren't the best so I buy the frozen pie shell and cook em up for him. Today if the weather is any good I will take photos of my gardens, being selective so I don't get the rotten parts on film (or whatever it is we get them on now!), and upload to a Photobucket album that we can look at if we have five minutes of down time at IU. Ha! As if! I still have one very messy area to put to rights after the fence construction but as it is on the nasty neighbour side I haven't hurried up. Not very kind of me and it's starting to bother me, so I will maybe at least get started there today. I hate being mean. Also, Tucker distinguished himself by eating the living room windowsill, so I have work to do there. And Ajax came prancing in yesterday with blood streaming from his paw, where he had caught a nail and ripped up his toe. He isn't putting that foot on the floor today, so maybe I will try to gently soak it and figure out what I can put it to promote healing without making him sick. It may mean another trip to the vet. They love me there, they see me so often it seems. Anyway, off to do battle with the elements for yet another day! TTFN! Julie

This product may contain clopyralid, an herbicide that has been found to be a very long lasting plant poison that will survive the composting process. The only way to know this would be to have some of it tested which may be fairly expensive.

I got my order as well, and am very pleased with the shipping and quality of the 2 Jap Maples and the hydrangea. I also ordered 2 clematis and 1 sedum. These have come all wrapped up with a label that says "I'm not dead, I'm dormant". I wasn't expecting this, and I'm not sure how to go about planting these....I ordered clematis from Bluestone, and the plant came in a pot with green leaves. I have no idea how to plant a dormant plant, and how to know if it is truly dormant and not really dead!! Any one have any suggestions? I haven't even unwrapped them yet because I can't plant until Sunday. Specifically, I'd love to know if it will be obvious which way is up (when I plant), and how long until I should see new growth. Thanks Donn for the link, I've been wanting to buy the maples, but locally they go for over $100, and I just couldn't afford that. These are really nice trees for only $15, and you certainly can't beat the $10 flat rate shipping. ~Deb

Hi Laura, OMG that would be awesome. I could only compare meeting you(Mike you too if you made it) in person to meeting a long distance relative. You really have been such an amazing person in my life. I support you Laura because you have shown me nothing but love, kindness, and generosity. You called me to check on me after my surgery. You and Mike sent me a really nice card, after my surgery that was really uplifting and you both have no idea how that meant to me! Man, I am so sad to here that Katherine's hubby is leaving now but I know this is a familiar fact of life for them both but what terrible timing! Your too young to be a grandma! The 'Dane' is sort of in limbo, even though I have it under my grow lights. Yesterday I dragged a few of my tropical fruit trees to the shower and I noticed that the 'Dane' did have leaves emerging on it. I am wondering if I should just send it down to you. I think it will grow much better and faster in VB, and considering what we paid for it, it may be a better decision. Jose just said "I guess were going to go shopping in Erie?" Guess he wants to meet ya too! Darn it Laura, now you have me all to excited about this trip! Take care and call me when you have free time. I will be home late afternoon today. Andrew