Disasters always bring out the best and the worst in people. Supermarkets and other larger stores have employed security guards to prevent looting, which is probably inevitable although we haven't heard of any. On the other side of the coin however, is the story of how a neighbour rescued somebody's pet galah (bird) - the only thing to have been salavaged from the wreck of their home. Or the story of the business owner who sacked all his workers because he couldn't afford to pay them, and they all, to a man, refused to accept - and have promised to stay on and work for free for a month to help out. Then there's the woman who has accommodated a young man unable to get across the river to his wife and family. She also has a family of 4 Vietnamese people who arrived in Australia less than a month ago, do not speak English and didn't know what to do or where to go when the water entered their home. There are many such stories, very heartening indeed. I have mentioned to a few people that I've posted this thread, and they have all been united in their gratitude for all the kind thoughts and the donations that have been made. They have asked me specifically to say Thank You on their behalf. Even a kind thought gives an enormous amount of comfort. I guess from so far away, the best kind of help that can be given is to give money as a donation. The cost of rebuilding entire towns and cities is estimated to be in the multiples of billions $$$, and every little helps. It isn't just the cost of repairs to damage - but with such widespread floods, there is already a shortage of essentials like bread, milk, fruit and vegetables, and prices for those have skyrocketed. Before the Brisbane floods hit, I did my fortnightly shopping last Friday, and decided against paying $8 for a single lettuce. Prices like that are downright scary, and while supplies can't be relied upon from interstate, also affected by floods, we can only expect things to be very expensive for the foreseeable future. But - we are a resilient people, and no matter how long it takes, we'll get through it. We're an unquenchable bunch. Still, your kind words are spreading far and are deeply appreciated by us all.

Hi Verandah, Greathawks and brissi555......I just happened to check the Australian Forum for tropical plants, is anyone still cultivate Plumerias/Frangipani ? I was actually in Brisbane for a month, visiting one of my sister and her families, she lives in the area of Chermside! Did any of you buy Plumerias at one of your local nurseries or from a website ? I'll be curious to know because I have 10 of them, here in the San Francisco peninsula. Well...good to know you....maybe you can check the GardenWeb Forums/Plumeria !! Hopefully I will find you in the near future, Annamaria

Thank you very much to all the responders to my questions :-))) My question really revolved around *making the roses resist diseases and pests* rather than actual treatments. That's my understanding of the philosophy behind "organic" gardening. I'm aware that everything is a chemical and it's not a term I use in the context that some people use "chemical" and "non-chemical" - as though something could be a "non-chemical"! It wouldn't be anything at all! Regardless, it was an interesting exercise and I am grateful to the folk who answered - I was not able to answer personally as no email addresses are available. I'm still at the beginning of my quest for some cultural changes I could make to help the roses *resist* disease and pests. I have squashed regiments of aphids and have heard of the milk spray - regardless of the benign nature of these treatments, they are still *treatments* and not ways to make the roses intrinsically healthier which is what I still want to do. I should live so long! This form of communication is complex so I'll sign off from this forum. In the meantime ... Happy gardening and thank you again for your responses :-))) Elaine

Ian and Judy how lovely to see your garden. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have snakes and lizards just roaming in your garden. They were really nice. They certainly wouldn't survive this 'cold cloudy' climate. I think you have done so well especially with your fruit and veg. I love my flowers and pond, but I do think every now and then that I should put in a little veg plot somewhere. Maybe I will put a few things in large pots first and see how I go. If you would like to see how my garden is doing in not only a cloudy cold climate, but a very windy and sometimes sunny one you can go to my website at www.the-horsfalls.co.uk .I hope you enjoy the creatures that can survive here. Alison