Thank you Chuy and Ladytotus. After 5 years the caudex still the same. It gets a little bigger, but not very much. Marie

Nancy, I have spray painted as well, works for me. Another task that has helped me over the years is to stick, whatever tool I am working with; such as shovel, potato fork, hand trowel, etc. , into the ground to keep upright instead of laying it down on the ground. It has helped me, when I leave it in an area I was working in, to see it from a distance if I get to searching for it. I have searched and searched for tools laying on the ground too many times. Still make that mistake though on occasion!! [ : Patty

When I misplace the cell or the cordless phone I just call it, although the cordless has the option to push a button on the base and it'll ring the phone. Doesn't always work as was the case with a good friend of mine. He was mowing his lawn and when he finished he couldn't find his phone. Looked all over the house, garage, vehicles... Wasn't totally sure he had it on him when he was mowing. So he tried calling it. Nothing. Wandered around the yard dialing the cordless. Nothing. Then it hit him that he had it set on vibrate only. Now THERE is a challenge! So wandering around his rather large yard hitting redial over and over, hoping the cell battery isn't dead and finally he heard a buzz in the grass and there was the phone. At least he didn't hit it with the mower. This was back when the flip cells and bar phones were just becoming popular but were still hideously expensive so he didn't relish the thought of buying a new one and he needed it for business. But it ended happily and glad yours did also.

Wish there was a news station that would just report good news and stories of good and decent people doing things to help others and the world in general. I am so sick of constant reporting of "celebrities" who are nothing more than entertainers whose millions are funded by normal people! Maybe if more of these stories were reported, it would encourage people to know they can make a difference. I was asked to rescue an old dog once - Tucker. One of the best dogs I ever had. So wonderful of that little boy to help these older dogs! Years ago I was in Houston visiting a nursery........I had either forgotten my credit card or run out of cash and only had a check to pay for my loot - I figured the nursery wouldnt take an out of town check. The owner said oh honey dont worry about that - gardeners dont write bad checks! Always remembered that! If more people would garden the world would be a better happier place!