Well, an offshoot can theoretically be transplanted at any size. It really is best if the offshoot has roots before you plant it. To be on the safe side, I might hold off until the pup reaches 2 inches in height. As for the mother plant, the sad-looking base shouldn't be anything to worry about, unless it is getting moldy. If the plant starts to rot, the stem at the base and up will progressively get off-colored. I recently had to do the same with my aloe. I had watered the cut plant when I transplanted it, and that got it starting to mold. I cut off the discolored portion and it started to root after a few weeks. It molded more easily because I really didn't let the cut callus over, and I should have. I'd say for the parent plant, let the cut callus over, if it hasn't already, and don't water it. You can check it every so often for roots, like once a week. The same treatment will work for the pup also. It is best if it has roots to begin with, though. No worries! :)

I'm 2/3 set....well, sort of. I'm still working on the hand made item, but I found the cookbook yesterday. Like many of you, I had to get 2 of them, one for myself and one for my partner. I'm still puzzling over the local item. I've found a nice locally produce item, but I'm not sure about shipping it. I'm going to do some more research. I've thought of other things, but Texas is a big state, and I'm not sure if the other side of Texas counts as local. Unfortunately, where I live the primary locally produced products are McMansions. I know I can spend as much as I want, but I'm NOT spending THAT much! LOL. Besides, that would definately be hard to ship! Sally

"He said they'd turned the man in to the police because he was canvassing the entire part of town, and had no license or permit. So....was he canvassing for thievery? Possibly." very possibly. I used to do the licensing in a nearby town. those going door to door were considered 'peddlers' and needed licensed also. for them that involved a police background check - fingerprinting and they had to carry a photo ID badge. That I made for them. Surprise - one day when I went home for lunch - to find one at my neighbors painting house numbers on the curb. Imagine his surprise that I didn't believe he had a license... lol! If he did I'd recognize him - and he would have recognized me. I called the city PD to come check him out/run him off. our city was serious about keeping strangers/unknowns out of the neighborhoods-they encouraged people to report anyone suspicious in the area, including anyone going door to door who could not produce the photo ID card. privacy: at this point, my bedroom window faces my tv/computer room window... my front door faces my back door - lol! living in the country on over 2 acres, I don't worry a lot about who can see in. I usually sleep with a section of my bedroom curtains pulled back. I'd move into the new place with no window coverings except the bedroom - those windows I'd want covered while sleeping. my boy used to be cabled out front close to my window so no one could get near it w/o me knowing. temporarily he is penned in the back while work is being done. I'm sure i'll end up with something on every window but it's not a priority right off. It will be by June - to block the sun/heat tho. outside - I don't think too much about being seen when I'm on the land - there aren't that many people around me yet - and about half of those in close view are gone during the day. but I will be having new people to the west of me - I'll be planting numerous trees on that side very soon. probably 4 fast growing evergreens! it's more that I just don't want to see them than concern that they see me. The number of homes close to me (w/in 5-15 acres) has tripled in the past 12 yrs! on the back and west side I'll have to put up some sun blocking coverings for summer time. In the summer I'm closed up pretty much (from the sun/heat). Late Oct thru late May I like things pretty open- except on the very windy days when dirt is blowing everywhere.

I was really ready to go. I love to garden and hated that I did not have the space I wanted. It was your typical suburban back and front yard but I love plants, shrubs, bushes. I just longed to have a large space to garden before I was to old to see my dream expand. I found a house with a couple of acres and wished the new owners good luck. What I left was a beautiful manicured landscape with a small flower garden in the front and shade garden in the back. There was little sun on the property so a few dayllies, Spring, Summer Bulbs and sedum, succulents as groundcover. The beautiful shade garden had a few hostas, and other shade plants that bloomed for color. I removed every plant that I loved and replaced with either a smaller plant in the spot, mulch or a small garden decor that I could leave. I found a cute birdbath at the thrift store for 5,00. I spray painted and it looked good where the huge 10 yr old Sage Hosta once was. LOL Back at the thrift store I found a nice arbor painted it and attached the honeysuckle plant and a clematis that I was leaving. I drive past every now and then because I still have friends on the street. The gardens have not changed. It is just the way I left it. Some people just are not plant people.