1-9-21 update: The little Picea mariana lost about an inch off the top leader. The inch or so below that had dormant buds that broke nicely but seemed to be much slower growing than the rest of them. So after a while, I cut another inch off the top and tied up one of the side branches, which were all growing vigorously. The new leader has side branches and has grown another inch+ since the picture was taken 10 days ago and the tree is about a foot taller than it was this spring. Without getting too lengthy, the other trees in this thread are doing well. I replaced the two small hemlock seedlings, planted in the ground, that refused to grow, with those replacements I kept in pots. 'Larry' is now over 4ft. tall (so much for his life as a dwarf) but nice looking tree. I gave the Thuja o. to my Grand SIL for their yard at their new place. The Bicolor oaks are healthy and growing vigorously.

Due to a knee injury, I don’t downhill ski any more, but even when I still skied, no one ever did more than one run with me. ;>) I didn’t learn to alpine ski as a kid because I was clutzy and because OH is mostly too flat and too warm, so learning when I was in my mid20s, I never totally got the hang of it. I was a slow skier, though I enjoyed it. So I would go to the ski area with others, but mostly skied on my own. (DH was a beautiful skier having started as a young kid since there was the community ski slope in his back yard, literally. Parents ran the tow. He raced in HS along with the other kids who learned to ski in his back yard.). http://www.nelsap.org/nh/canterbury.html

Bayarea girl, I was just looking over the thread again and I'm scratching my head trying to figure out HOW you take care of so many roses?! lol. Wow. Great job, really! Sheila, I noticed your photo above, I always enjoy your rose photos with the house in the background with the tile roof and the grasses in front and the beautiful mature tree in the background. Very beautiful scene!

Thanks Fred. It's actually a lovely cream with some green in it. I've seen pictures of some that are quite green with darker markings but I'm happy with mine. Cindy, that was Jody! ;-) But I am certainly sorry you are battling drought! Last summer we had nearly the entire summer without rain in my neck of the woods, not pleasant to go through especially when just 50 miles or so north they had more rain than us. Good luck with the watering! Donna☺☺