Olga, I have some very small Marus I just grafted last year. The reason why I know it does well here is the tree I got the scionwood from has been growing on the eastern shore of Maryland for perhaps 40 years. My vague recollection was the tree was 15-20' tall. It was interesting to see how different the heights on the old trees were, some were monsters and some were tiny. The Yotsumizo was only 8' after 40+ years of growing, and some must have been 30' tall. These trees were on the Wye plantation. Scott

I'm not positive, but from what I've read a lot of the ones you see in the grocery stores might be Fuyu. That is what I grow in Crystal Springs, MS. My trees's are only 3-4 years old, approx 6 feet tall. My step-dad's are lots older, but still only 8-10 feet tall. Very good producer's, excellent fruit. You might want to look at the fruit and orchards forum My mom was japanese, they have Ichi's and Fuyu's. I think she liked the Fuyu's the best. He also has Tanenashi. Here is a link that might be useful: fruit and orchard forum

Mimi...My Mom started out that way, too, when she still felt time passing...now it could be a day, an hour, it doesn't mattter. When we were considering going away for two weeks in August (before she was placed), I was going to give her a calendar that she could "X" out each day in an attempt to show her time passing and getting closer to our return. And perhaps doing it another way: a sort of "advent" calendar. Patti may certainly have a point: they can simply forget they asked. Does your Mom do that with other things as well? Perhaps ask the same question about when her care-taker was coming, after she'd been and gone, for example? My Mother always enjoyed a soap opera on here at 4:30pm, and started handing me the tv remote to "make it 4:30" so that she could watch it. Alzeimers patients simply revert back to childhood, and telling time can be one thing that they forget how to do. Go. Enjoy your weekend away! I'd been told here many times that I needed to care for myself if I was to do a proper job with Mom....heed that advice. ;-) And if she's cared for, warm, fed, dry, you don't have to worry about her at all! Now go! Shoo!! ;-D

Hi, Mimi...yes, it could be another decline. My Mom started to walk all stooped over her walker and her legs just wouldn't straighten up like they used to, so she more or less shuffled instead of walked. Now she can't support herself at all and is in a wheelchair all the time. We were fortunate to find a wheelchair second-hand in the newspaper at a very good price, before it got too late for her to negotiate around with it. She hated it in the beginning, but I got in it and tried to use the wheels to get around and kept bumping into things, she was having a whale of a time with my silliness...so she tried it and I left her alone with it, and just peeked in from time to time. She kept working with it I'm sure just to show me how easy it was! LOL! Anyway...she realized it was much more comfortable than trying to walk and she got quite good at it, and it was certainly easier for me to take her through the house (I always worried about her falling with her walker, as she seemed to list to one side). Perhaps you could keep your eyes open for one and just keep it aside for when she'll need it. As for her questioning you about being a burden...don't forget she may not likely remember asking you before, so for her it's the first time she feels she's asking...just reassure her with lots of huggles and kissings and she'll be fine. Focus on the better times ahead...getting to know her other daughter more, the outings you'll both be taking her on....lunches out....Yes, they do need a lot of reassurance..just like the child they're becoming. HTH! Linda