Yes, I saw that in the news. When I was writing my books, I did a lot of research about WW1 and one of the most interesting things I learned was that our language was very different back then. Like the term "Basket case." That came from the battlefields of "The Great War" (later known as WW1). When a soldier was severely wounded and suffered the loss of multiple limbs, he was carried off the battlefield in a wicker basket. Not surprisingly, his mental state would have been pitiable after enduring such a horrific loss. Today the term "basket case" generally means someone who's troubled or deeply upset. Ever since learning the etymology of that word, I've never used it again. The other term is "Slacker." I always thought a slacker was just a lazy person, but in fact, a slacker was ANY able-bodied young man who did not VOLUNTEER to join the AEF (American Expeditionary Force) and sail overseas to help defend America. The term "slacker" appeared often in the print media of that time and it was considered a most egregious insult, worse than "coward" or "idiot." It really called their very manliness into question. The fascinating thing about "The War To End All Wars" is that it was the first war where we had airplanes in use. Stories abound of wartime pilots flying over enemy targets with BOMBS in their lap, and when they thought they were in the right place, they chucked the bomb out of the cockpit. One of the great inventions of the war was when they figured out how to "time" bullets, so that when a pilot fired an automatic weapon from the cockpit, he didn't shoot off his own wooden propeller. Conversely, one of the great logistical problems of WW1 was getting hay to the horses on the front. Interesting war, eh? Airplanes and horses. And it was WW1 that paved the way for WW2. Very sad.

DtD, Such pretty combinations! The first one is probably one of the dark-leafed forms of C. recta, such as 'Serious Black' AKA 'Lime Close' or purpurea. I planted 'Serious Black' last summer and have high hopes for it. I really like the combination of the deep pink clematis with the dark-leafed smokebush. I will have to tuck that in the back of my mind for when I have a spot for a smokebush. The purple ones sometimes have severe die-back here, so it needs to be in a spot that it can be late emerging and planted with one of the smaller clematis, perhaps Piilu to match the 5 or 6 foot height they usually reach as a maximum after die-back. Jane, yes that is the top of one of my baskets. It's a bit homely, but since the voles tend to winter tunnel at the ground-snow interface and summer tunnel just below ground level, I wanted them to be both above and below ground. Usually my gardens are dense enough so they don't show much, but this is in a new bed that I started in 2013. I have seen evidence of vole tunnels turning aside summer and winter, so I know the baskets work. I only started using them extensively fall of '13, so I don't have long term experience. I figure that the roots will grow through the basket and so there may be some root pruning by the voles outside the baskets, but there will always be some roots and the central growing part of the plant remaining rather than total loss. I do go around in the spring to pack down soil around the baskets so they aren't surrounded by air-filled tunnels which the plants don't like. I use them also for some other plants that the voles particularly like such as Dianthus, though usually smaller baskets (from 24" wide rolls, so a bit over 7 1/2" diameter) sunk closer to the soil rather than 2" proud of ground level as for the Clematis. I also looked for something commercial I could use, but didn't find anything, so I make my own. I get 3' wide rolls of 1/4" hardware cloth at the big box store. I use tin snips (not wire cutters - too slow) to cut across the roll to make a strip that is 6"-8" wide x 36" and roll it to overlap about 1". The roll comes wrapped with wire, and I use a piece of that with a pair of small pliers to "sew" the ends together with 3/4" stiches to make a tube that is 6"-8" high and about 11" diameter. Wearing leather gloves helps prevent the sharp wires from chewing up my hands as I make them. If you have a storage spot, making them is a good garden chore for winter evenings.

Sorry to see this. I know she suffered from depression every since her daughter, Teresa, died several years ago. A friend of mine helped her with her daylilies and daylily auctions that year. Mary Jane, or Bubbles as she was known on the Lily Auction, was a sweet lady. Her brother, hybridizer Wes Kirby, got her interested in daylilies. Debra

It's too young to know if it is a good healthy rose. When I got it in early June, it was pretty small and almost bare with few leaves. It has taken a bit of time to grow but it has given me 3 beautiful blooms so far. So for a 2 months old rose in a pot, i think it is not too bad. It is so beautiful that I think I can forgive its other faults should it prove to be not disease resistant. The color is just so nice from bud to fading.