Ingrid, I meant, thought I said June was the last time I personally spoke to her. I know she has been on since then. I was just making sure nothing was wrong with her. I'm used to her being here more, I guess. But I emailed her, or I may have sent her a message on here, never heard anything back, so then emailed, heard nothing back, so tried another email. So I looked up her name and it said no recent activity on here, so was making sure she was ok. But it was a month between emails, at the very least. I think she said she was a teacher, so she could be busy with back to school and her daughter. But was just worried, I didnt know if anyo6else had spoken with her lately, so thought I would ask. Kristine, I knew Carol from Canada was on the other forum. Thank you though!

Notwithstanding the tragedies that have occurred in N. California... I feel I must say something in defence of Eucalyptus trees, at least the ones we grow here, and which many of us love and put to good use... ...There are I think 3 varieties that have been popular for a long time... Eucalyptus gunnii, Eucalyptus dalrympleana and perhaps the most attractive of all Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. niphophila [Snow Gum].... ...you can see any of these pop up in gardens all over the place... I've grown 2 of the 3... We now also have 2 dwarf versions, Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura' and 'France Bleu'... ..'Azura' is very dwarf, almost a miniature... 'FB' is larger but very slow growing, a dwarf gunnii.. I would love to have 'Azura' and might be on my shopping list... The way to use gunnii I think is to give screening to a garden where you are overlooked by a neighbouring property that is on higher ground. A single specimen tree will do, it grows 6 foot a year, so within 2 years or so you start to have cover. It's crucial with this plant to cut 6 foot off the top with one incision every year in April, when it has reached just beyond the height you need for screening... if you miss a year it gets away from you and you have lost control.... I also used my plant to support a rambling rose... I grew 'Leontine Gervais' up it right to the top, where it would then cascade downwards, more so after the annual prune... the light pink and the blue foliage I found very attractive.. ..I also planted Cistus purpureus around the base and a tree lupin... gardeners here don't make enough use of these trees like this.. they plant them, neglect them, and before you know it, you've got a 40 foot tall tree on your hands.. there is one in a garden near me, it's about the tallest tree around here, perhaps 60 foot or more, that is just not the way to do it in my opinion.. used to best effect as single specimens, these are superlative trees, and I absolutely love them... I do not like to see them planted en masse, like a small wood [there are some here like that]... I'm so sorry, and was not aware, they had been over planted in California and that they have contributed to the fires..

I haven't been here for quite a while, myself. I've looked through older posts for Mike & haven't seen anything. Has anyone heard from him? Thanks, Betty Dotson

I have wondered about MDLN too. she was always so generous with her time and knowledge. I hope she is well.