Kate, You are so funny! I thought it would have some horrible story about larvae...glad it was TWO offsets! No more scary shows! The seed will grow a root before a leaf, so plunk it "white thing" down in some good soil. The seedlings like to be kept on the moist side, but don't let it drown....or dry out! Well girlie...even though that malformed flower and scape were UUUUGLY....you might have left them on til they shriveled so that the moisure and nutrients went back to th bulb. What's done is done. Just leave that hole as is and don't get any water in it. It's a direct path to bulb central. Wouldn't that be an invitation to rot!! Next time, just stick it in the corner so you don't have to look at it! OH...and if a scape of pretty flowers ever breaks off, you can extend their life as a cut flower by turning the scape upside down and filling it with water before you stick it in a vase. Change the water in the scape and vase every few days and you can get the maximum enjoyment out of them. Because....sometimes, accidents happen! Love the pics!! Have a great holiday break at home! K

Don's latest update... ----------- Hi all, This crew of hosta fans never ceases to amaze me. Many donations are in at this point, around half what we usually have as a total, and we have yet to hear from many of our long term donors yet. Amazing! We are on track for one of our best auctions ever if things continue in this direction. Some time this coming week look for a link to be posted to get you all to the auction site. I will begin to post announcements and have one for you all to test out your existing user name and password. Forgot? Use the same news item to initiate a new one. You will then be good to go! I look forward to the usual fast paced action and generosity of the bidders that matches the generosity of the donors! Again, help your friends and the society out by relaying this message to any hosta fans that may not be on the mailing list or have not relayed their new email address to me. As usual: 1. I (dabber) enter all items ... attempt to protect donors from numerous unwanted contacts, prevent malicious entries 2. a reserve price is posted as a target or goal ... not required that this be met unless stated in the text of the item, some are suggested to me, some are estimated by me to indicate a minimal goal we would like to meet fundraising 3. closing times are staggered ... allows an individual to bid on as many different items as they wish and time to do so 4. results will be posted as soon as completed and double checked ... aiming for some time Sunday, stay tuned to NEWS ITEMS ... several will continue after the bidding is over 5. corrections, changes, reminders, payment info are all posted (or in process of being posted) under News items (these are ALL none bid items and bids will be trashed at the end, there are no items to be had here - just pictures) 6. payment may again be done on-line ... PLEASE help out by being sure to include the item title AND alias(these are a nightmare to sort out if only your real name and amount are included) 7. make payments within the 10 days ... many reasons (one is personal ... I really do have another life in addition to the auction) 8. estimate 99% of those participating are quite positive and appreciative of the donors and the people involved to put this together (several have input) 9. Bob Axmear has continued to allow us to use his site and lent invaluable assistance ... a HUGE THANKS TO HIM Different: (ONLY ONE this is posted in News items) CHANGE IN ENDING FOR AHS ON-LINE WAS INITIATED IN 2010 and CONTINUES THIS YEAR Each year we try to take what works and improve upon the way the auction performs. The way that items end will change this year. End times will STILL STAGGER as in the past. Past years the items closed the moment that the internal clock hit the posted closing time. This time IS STILL important for you to pay attention to. The time posted initiates a type of "interval timer" that allows bidding to continue until there is a 5 minute lull in the bidding. Once a 5 minute break of no bids occurs, the item will close. There will be no need to "out bid" yourself. Restated, bids will continue until there are NO bids for 5 minutes beginning at the posted closing time. We hope that this will reduce frustration for the new comer and even the playing field for all in terms of technology skills and equipment. Some participants have dial-up service, others vaguely recall how long it takes a screen to refresh especially with a picture included. This is especially true with todays speeds on DSL and CABLE. Thanks, Don Dean Here is a link that might be useful: Contact Don here

An update from Don... AHS Online Auction 2012 We are staged to begin this year's event starting on January 14th and will run through January 28th. Many donations have been submitted with more promised to arrive soon. Do not miss out on this year's fun. It will be another chance to have winter hosta fun, see great photos of plants that are sure to entice your interest, and know some will be hard not to bid in hopes of ending up the winner come the close of bidding! Once again this is a team effort. Bob Axmear has graciously allowed s to use the Hosta Library, the First Look team is on board for technological support, Jojo and I have been busy with descriptions and photos. A sneak peak of some of this year's unique offerings is available on the American Hosta Society's web site as well as the link to access the auction page. Pay it a visit. Read the article from this year's Online Journal. If you plan to participate in the AHS Online Auction, and we hope you will, you need to be registered. Registration can be completed through the AHS home page link provided or the Hosta Library home page. Go to the AHS home page. http://www.americanhostasociety.org/ Or go to the Hosta Library and use the Hosta Library to register. Use the Hosta Library Auction page to register. When using the Hosta Library to access registration click on Hosta Library Auction found on the home page about half way down. Look for the red arrow pointing to the link. You can not miss it. http://www.hostalibrary.org/ Both auctions use the same database for registrations. Registering in one location will have you registered in BOTH. The Hosta Library Auction is in the process of a makeover. Over the years many hundreds of visitors have registered under many ID's and the files had gotten to be too large with many of the registered IDs never being used. In a housecleaning measure, Bob Axmear, owner of The Hosta Library, has cleared out all of the old files and IDs and passwords. Bob is asking that anyone who wishes to use the Hosta Library auction to reregister with your old or new ID. He has asked that you not use someone else's ID and take it as your own. Those that already completed the process of reregistering are ready to go! Those new or that have not reregistered will need to register before participating. Here are the simple steps to register or reregister: 1. Access either auction pages as explained above 2. At the bottom of any page there click on NEW REGISTRATION 3. Fill in the info with valid information and the Email address you wish to use for auction notifications. 4. Click register me 5. A temporary password will be Emailed to you. 6. You can keep that password or 7. Go to either auction page and click on CHANGE REGISTRATION and use that temp password as your current password and fill in a NEW PASSWORD. 8. Click on CHANGE REGISTRATION and you are done. You are set to participate in the AHS Online Auction Jan. 14 - Jan. 28, 2012. Even if you were registered in years past, you will need to register again. Please keep a record of your auction password somewhere you can find it. AHS members, make sure you take a moment to check the old printed Membership Directory and send any changes in your email address, mailing address, or phone number to Sandie Markland IF you have not done so already. The AHS is getting ready to print and mail out a new version soon! If not a member yet, there is no better time to jump in and start receiving the benefits that current members have been enjoying. You will be given access to the latest Online Hosta Journal without delay - who doesn't like immediate gratification! Access the following link to update your membership info or become a new member. Directions for membership are included or click on the link near the bottom of the page to send membership information corrections to Sandie: http://americanhostasociety.org/Membership.html

I ordered all my appliances from Lowe's, and had delivery in April. You probably didn't see my post back them, but the delivery was 2hrs early, they got my shiny new fridge stuck in the front door, and never left the range cord. The manager actually drove down himself to deliver the cord that evening. I don't know about your Lowe's, but ours in this area uses a contracted delivery service. What a headache for you. I hope they can make it up to you in some way.