Dan, Sorry, I don't mean to hijack your thread. Dave, Here is a pic of my 'St Mary's Broom' planted on 9-2-02. Here is a pic of my 'St Mary's Broom' today. The plant measures 24" x 26". I'm pretty sure this is 'Globosa' rather than 'St. Mary's Broom' since the center of the plant has a depression in it and it just does not look like 'St. Mary's Broom'. And from what I have read, 'St. Mary's Broom' should not grow this fast. Here is a shot of the plant from the side: Your opinion? Thanks, Mike

If I'd waited until the local garden clubs espoused hosta, I'd never have become such an addict. It started innocently enough, with a few hosta purchased for the garden up in Massachusetts. I was already a GWeb member for a long time, and a helter skelter gardener, just ripe for discovering hosta. My philosophy is to pay back to the organization that has kept the interest alive, or else kept the information and research into the science of it forging ahead. It is worth it to me, what--$30 a year?--to help find the "cure" for HVX or other hosta diseases. I'm not a person to be active in a lot of groups, since I am basically a loner. However, I like what Ludi says about approaching another person, a one-on-one situation, it reminds me of the way neighbors are supposed to act. And, it was the way my grandma did things. Then along comes Theresa saying the preschoolers are excited to be growing hosta, and I know that to be the truth. It was my two grandmas who inspired my lifelong love of gardening. But back more to the topic which began this thread. I joined AHS as a direct result of THIS FORUM. I was asked to join. Being ASKED is a powerful thing....it is empowerment. I feel that by contributing to the membership of those who are motivated to attend the meetings, do the hard work of keeping the organization viable, balancing the books, publishing the directory and the journal, tapping into the volunteer work done by Bob Axmear and countless others, that I am still part of the AHS, the silent part. Maybe one day I'll be able to tour a display garden, which would be breathtaking and as much inspiration as my first visit to the Art Institute of Chicago when I stood in front of a REAL MONET PAINTING.......I almost fell on my knees to worship! Well, it would be fantastic to know that those folks who take hosta to a higher level are forging ahead. And, maybe Ludi is the one inspired by THIS FORUM, who will be instrumental in saving the AHS one day. Who knows. Stranger things have happened.

I have watched some of the shows mentioned. I like reality shows. I know that a lot of it is fake or edited to create drama etc, but I think it's so interesting to see how other people live their lives. I don't have to agree or understand it, but I'm fasicnated with it. I love House Hunters, but I'm not embarassed about that. I know lots of people who like to "look" through the different houses. I learn a little bit from the House Flipping shows or Mike Holmes construction type shows. Primetime television is so filled with trash, sex and violence so I don't want my DD's to see that (they are 3 & 6) My family likes watching some of the Food Network shows. My DD's love Unwrapped where they show you how certain foods are made (usually fun ones like ice cream or snack foods). My DH likes the history part of it and the kids just like the candy! Kid in a Candy Store or Cupcake Wars too. We were even watching a game show last night! But when they are in bed-My guilty pleasures would be...Sister Wives, Hoarders, My Strange Obssession, and throw in Days of our Lives once in a while! When I was single I would spend my Sundays doing laundry and watching cheesy Lifetime movies! Used to LOVE them! There is also another one-a Canadian show for Teens called Degrassi. I watched it when I was a kid and it's still on (new characters). Even though I am old enough to be their parents now I still like the new shows!

Quartz countertops. Bookshelves for cookbooks. As wide an induction oven as my layout will allow me! The other thing is... the contractor has in our contract that I'll be getting a stainless steel double sink. I'm going to be changing this -- it would look terrible with a log exterior, medium wood finished cabinets, black major appliances, aged bronze fixtures and pulls, sage green interior walls, white (eco luna white) or green (silestone olive green) quartz countertops. It would be cheaper to just grin and bear it, but I'll hate it.