This is a terrific article, Henry. Thanks for posting it. Gary

Since this is a thread about cats, the thread readers may be interested in the following links: https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/cats-ferrets-susceptible-to-sars-cov-2-study-67374 https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19 Also: "If you are not ill with COVID-19, you can interact with your pet as you normally would, including walking, feeding, and playing. You should continue to practice good hygiene during those interactions (e.g., wash hands before and after interacting with your pet; ensure your pet is kept well-groomed; regularly clean your pet’s food and water bowls, bedding material, and toys). Out of an abundance of caution, it is recommended that those ill with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. Have another member of your household take care of walking, feeding, and playing with your pet. If you have a service animal or you must care for your pet, then wear a facemask; don’t share food, kiss, or hug them; and wash your hands before and after any contact with them."

Vase life of flowers that were sprayed with gypsum in the garden 48 hours before cutting-- I bring flowers to work out of water for 20 minutes and put them in plain water without recutting. I am just looking for 4-5 days worth, except from extraordinary keepers like Traviata. Jadis, a 4-5 day rose, lasted 6 days, and the Savoy Hotels are going strong in their 10th day, crisp as can be. Here is another abstract that got positive results, this time with calcium through the roots in fertigation. But it has to be done apart from other nutrients, so it doesn't seem applicable to the garden. "The main results and conclusions are: increasing the Ca concentration in the solution from 0.5 up to 5.0 mmol·lÂ1 increased Ca concentration in the flower organs. Susceptibility to B. cinerea decreased with increasing Ca concentration in the solution and was negatively correlated with Ca concentration in the diagnostic leaf and petal. Potassium and magnesium reduced Ca uptake by the rose flower, and increased its susceptibility to Botrytis flower blight." Here is a link that might be useful: calcium and Botrytis

Actually, Gorey wrote and illustrated many bizarre books, and his home is a museum on Cape Cod, I believe. I got Clare one of his books for Christmas a couple of years ago. It was about these strange children, and I think it was written in verse. It was called The Gashlycrumb Tinies. I talked to Clare a bit about your poems and book. She said getting them self published by Amazon's publishing company is easy. Then I forgot to get her to write down the details. But I think if you go on Amazon's website and hunt around, you'll find info on self publishing. I've seen the info many times. Clare was interested in the illustration idea, and I want to talk to her more about it. She's deep in a job right now, illustrating software on teaching children to read, and the publisher/editor who hired Clare keeps making the work more elaborate and changing things. Clare's stress level is building dealing with this person. Say....this thread is a great place to have private conversations I've noticed. Heehee. Maybe I should post a rose photo. Diane