Neil - that is quite the set! And what a deal you got on it! $150 off, nice job! However, I wouldn't know what to do with all those attachments! Although I am sure I could find something. As for the drill bits, Rina is correct, they are specialty bits. I actually found mine back by where they sell tile, not by the drill stuff. And mine is like the first picture, not the second. Its circular with a hole in the middle. I keep water on it while drilling, and gentle pressure. You have to be patient! Also, I think the water may be the cause of my drill giving out on me. The chuck was stuck. I could not get it to move for nothing! I tried CLR (I noticed some rust inside of it). I also tried WD40. I could've just replaced the chuck but I couldn't get the hex screw driver down the middle. The chuck was stuck with a bit in it. :-( And MsGreenFinger - thank you for the information! I tried a taste of it alone, and I did not like it!!! So I don't know if I would like anything with just sage (e.g. tea, mouthwash, etc.) but I am going to try it on some pork soon, and maybe even some chicken. :-) Deva

Thanks guys! Maybe I'll have to try rooting some cuttings of SUMMER SONG when I get around to deadheading it. Ingrida, I'll try to get some new pics of the girls. It rained most of last week so I didn't spend much time out there. Plus I had jury duty this week. Only had time to go out to take goodies to them, pick up poop and collect eggs! I'm averaging 7 per day!! It's sunny for awhile now, and I'm off tomorrow, so I'll get to spend some time with them. I just love those little ladies...

I love how fast obscura roots! Never a problem with this happy Hoya. Beautiful flowers! Congrats!

First, know that I absolutely hate spraying. Not only the chemicals, but the work to do it since I have 25 bushes, so the hand-held spray bottle isn't enough, have to use a regular sprayer. I checked into having them done but $200 is too much. I've gotten information from the Huntington Gardens (here in Calif.) whose rose garden is also hit with chili thrips. They've tried some kind of wasps or insect which didn't work, so what they recommend is use Capt. Jack Dead Bug Brew (or Conserve which may be stronger). When 90+ degrees are coming, remove and bag damaged foliage and flower buds before spraying. Be sure to bag it as thrips can fly out of an open trash can. Spray late afternoon or early evening after bees are gone. Chili thrips are not active until our real heat hits. I also communicated with someone from LSU who said to alternate the Dead Bug Brew (spinosad) with a soapy concoction of 1T detergent to 1 liter of water. Or use ultafine horticulture oil, Bayer makes one. Your climate is probably more humid than here, so I don't know if these would work for you, but I wish you luck because as beautiful as the roses look now, when the heat hits, they are horrible when the thrips do their evil work. If you have any ideas, let me know! Here's a photo of thrip damage on my bushes. It's just sickening. Sorry you are having trouble already.