Google "Cuban Anole". There are very few green anoles left in Central Florida,due to the arrival of the Cuban variety. I was at Ritters last weekend, coincidentally, and had a tree frog jump out of our selection while we were loading the mini van. I caught it, and was walking back to the cashier to tell her there wasn't a price on this item- figuring we would all have a laugh. Just as I got to the door, I saw another customer have a tree frog jump onto her, from her selections! Tom's nursery sits between two lakes, which I'm sure helps moderate the winter temps we occasionally get here in winter, but it also seems to be on a migration route between the two lakes! Mike

"And eric is living just about in paradise, AFAIAC. Little more sun and you'd be overrun with people". Dan Shh keep your big yap shut, it's our little secret. It's funny, I keep hearing people call it the banana belt. No! the Islands are in a Rain Shadow. Dryer, not warmer. Only concern I have with painting the containers is flaking off. Maybe roughing up the surface would help. Dan, The subject about the ice cube in the water glass. I'm about 45ft above sea level. I'm worried about the big ice cube in the large water glass. Mark, Do you upload to Photobucket or flickr or any other photo web site? Eric

Here's some farms/garden centers I know of, including links to their websites: Johnson's Roadside Farm in Swansea has a simple farmstand operation that I frequent. The prices here are unbeatable. The vast majority of produce they sell is grown on their farms, however some organic fruits, like California peaches, are imported (I'm guessing because they don't grow well in MA?). I choose not to buy fruits that they don't grow themselves, anyway... you can taste the difference. What else I like about Johnson's is that they sell products from a LARGE number of small, local businesses from the Providence/Fall River metro area (Landry's, Willow Tree and Star just to name a few). There is also a greenhouse that they share property with--I'm not sure if it's owned by the same people, but you can purchase annuals here (buyer beware). A 4-pack of tomatoes I bought from there all succumbed to bacterial spot on exactly the same day. Weird mojo from that greenhouse; I called them to ask if they were having bacterial spot issues with other customers or plants at their greenhouse, and the woman on the phone completely disregarded the issue and told me my plants were probably being under-fertilized. The tomatoes are dead as of tonight when I get home from work to pull them all up to throw them out. To sum up a long story: I'm not sure if the two shops are affiliated, but I'll keep patronizing the Johnson's Farmstand because aside from importing some of their fruits from California, they have some really economically focused business practices that I'd like to support. I will not shop again at the greenhouse next door though, for fear of the bacterial spot! http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farm.php?farm=930 4-Town farm near the Seekonk/Rehoboth/Swansea border has healthy--yet slightly pricey--plants every year (annual and perennial). This year I purchased two blueberry bushes, two hydrangea, and various other herbs and annuals, of which NONE show any sign of disease. Customer service here is great. They also operate a farmstand out of the same building as the flower shop. I consistently visit 4-Town farm because their produce selection is always fresh. You can tell this farm has been in the family for 5 generations... http://4townfarm.com J&L Landscape and Garden on 44 in Seekonk is a great supplier for bulk soil, stones, mulches, etc. They also offer a variety of plants. The staff was friendly and knew a lot about various species. I took issue with their recommendation that I apply insecticide (read: poison) to my cherry trees to kill the bugs one year**. I guess it's just me, but shouldn't farmers be advocating for the END of chemical fertilizers and xxxxx-icides? Seemed odd to me/the organic gardener. After a terrible failure with the product**, I have since stopped using that product and stopped returning to J&L. http://www.jandllandscapingcoinc.com/index.html LittleTree Nursery(ies?) in North Seekonk specializes in an immense selection of young trees, 'bonzai' style garden trees, and loads of those ugly evergreen trees (that are shaved like poodles). They do sell other garden related items and tools, but specialize more in landscape design. http://www.littletreenurserygroup.com/landscaping.html **PS: The chemical J&L recommended was a product from Bayer, I'm not too sure of the exact name, but it is supposed to enter the entire plant from the roots and protect for an entire year after just one application. My trees could have done with a second application this year, but after one I think I've polluted my yard enough. What a terrible, $40 product recommendation. The product works as long as there aren't immense rainfall totals washing it all away to the ocean, and even when the weather was dry, the results were minimal. My cherry trees were able to send out about 6 uneaten leaves per branch before the bugs continued their feast.

I think you have made great purchases. Those two roses are so beautiful! I also saw them at my local nursery and picked up Olivia. I may go back to get the Poet's Wife rose too. To my nose, Olivia has an awesome fragrance, heavy on the rose scent and light on the fruity scent. The Poet's Wife smells like a fruity scent spiked with fresh lemon.