I'll update my experience with the seedlings grown from the horse chestnut tree in downtown Edmonton. First the results were somewhat favorable, though that's now turned into failure. They had been grown on for several years and set out as 3 ft specimens, most had not made their first winter and died right back to the ground. About one in five survived with only the top buds dying and the plant then being able to recover and do pretty good in that season, though these have also all now perished. I did have one that was seemingly superior in hardiness and having much more attractive foliage than the parent tree. It was about 4 ft tall and went through two winters without any tipkill whatsoever, though last winter it was struck right back down to the ground, maybe the nasty October had done it in? I'll give it time to see if it recovers. Even the established horse chestnut at Wellington Garden Center (north Edmonton) had a fair amount of dieback after last winter. Terry

Here it is just after midnight, April 27, and the logo is gone. They are fastidious about dates, too.

Not sure what Loyalty Day means now, but several years ago it was a salute to the military. In Gardena CA they use to have the annual Loyalty Day Parade, and had horses, bands, and lots of military stuff. DH was in charge of that for several years and we actually lined up 2 of the parades. It was alot of fun.

This was an episode of Amazing Stories, a TV show from Steven Spielberg that lasted about 2 years. I've been looking for it but haven't seen it this year. It is my hands-down favorite Christmas - themed broadcast. It stars Douglas Seale as Santa, Pat Hingle as Sheriff Horace Smyvie & Gabriel Damon as Bobby. Wiuthout going into too much detail, Santa trips a burglar alarm while delivering gifts in a small town and is locked up in jail with three drunken department store type 'Santa's. Christmas would be doomed without young Bobby's efforts in getting Santa out. The mean sheriff also has a change of heart at the end. Does this sound famailar? Have you seen it? If not, be on the lookout fot it; you won't be dissapointed. Here is a link that might be useful: Santa '85