I know I'm late on this but I'd like to also welcome Al back to the group! Al, your vast knowledge and willingness to share that knowledge with the rest of the GW community is very much appreciated. I've learned much from your posts, and generally anything I need to know about soil building, fertilizer, watering schedules, etc. comes from your posts. Before reading the original "Container Soils - Water Movement & Retention" thread I had no idea about the importance or oxygen in the soil, or what Turface was, or why anyone would use pine or fir bark in their soil. Now, thanks to you, I can tell the difference between a good, long-term planting mix and a poorly drained, poorly oxygenated soil mix. Until reading your threads on here a couple of years ago I was the guy who would use peat-based MG potting soil and thinking I was using the ultimate soil mix! Thanks again Al. Great to have you back on here! Regards, Dave

I have all the sports channels and news channels blocked on my TV. If I need to know about something, someone will tell me. If you need someone to make drapes, Roman shades, slip covers, evening gowns, or casual wear, then I can help you, although it's been a few years since I have made a dress. BTW, men in Los Angeles are NOT from Mars!! Neptune, maybe. That Mars thing about men made no sense to me at all. Stereotypes are seldom valid and generally counterproductive, from my experience. Lars

I love that! And it reminds me of a bit from Dandelion Wine, a wonderful semi-autobiographic novel of Bradbury's - his young protagonist covets a new pair of sneaks. His masterful, poetic prose turns a rather mundane happening into something special.

If you are in the Chicago area, the Wisconsin - Illinois Lily Society’s winter Education Series starts this weekend at the ChicagoBotanic Garden! When we can’t grow lilies, we enjoy learning more about them, as well as gardening in general. All are welcome! You do NOT have to be a member of the Lily Society to attend. (Though admission to the garden is free, there is a substantial parking fee for non-members. If you belong to an different garden that offers a reciprocal benefit, you can show that card at the gatehouse to waive the parking fee. Check the membership page of the ChicagoBotanic Garden, or the garden to which you belong, for the list of participating gardens.) First Talk The first talk will be on Sunday, January 29, at 2.00 PM, in the Pullman Room at the ChicagoBotanic Garden by long time society member Ray Vlach. Called “Pictures at an Exhibition,” Vlach’s slide-show presentation illustrates the mind-boggling flowers at the KeukenhofGarden’s 2016 Annual Spring Show. The famous KeukenhofGarden, in Lisse, Netherlands, is known as the Garden of Europe. Over 100 big Dutch floriculture companies exhibited their latest spring flowering hybrids at the 79 acre show – over seven million blooms. “Everything imaginable,” Vlach said, “from Alliums to Zantedeschias (calla lilies).” Established in 1949 to publicize Holland’s floral industry, the annual show allows Dutch floriculture companies to present their latest hybrids to the world. KeukenhofGarden was started in the 15th century, when the, uh, geographically challenged Countess Jacqueline of Bavaria to use the area to grow and gather fruit, flowers and vegetables. The garden itself was built in 1641, and modernized in 1857 by landscape architect Jan Zocher in style of an English landscape. Four talks and two bulb sales are the features of our 2017 education series, announced Sue Augustine, Society president. Please check the WILS Facebook page later for more news about them! https://www.facebook.com/WisconsinIllinoisLilySociety