zzepherdogg, thank you for the compliment of attributing to me far greater knowledge of hardy fuchsias than I possess :-) Unfortunately, my experience with these great plants is limited to the ones I grow personally and to those I bring in to sell at the nursery and they tend to be the relatively more common forms and those that exhibit reliable hardiness in our climate. It is interesting to see the hardiness values attributed to these plants by various fuchsia sites. I think we in the PNW enjoy a pretty benign climate rather well suited to growing a lot of hardy fuchsias but not all will make it with the same degree of vigor. Interestingly, both Double Otto and Lord Byron are listed by most sources as half hardy (whatever that means) but I know folks that have grown DO with ease. My feeling is that if you admire the plant regardless of listed hardiness, grow it, but until you are sure of its establishment and reliablity, it may be prudent to provide winter protection. The loss will not break the bank and you could very well be rewarded with a tough, great performing addition to your garden.

Roberto, If this is true, then Prain cannot be considered the true author. He did not correctly follow the process of nomenclature. If you do it quickly, S. trifasciata Roberto (Surname unknown on line) could be it's name! However, if laurentii is to be considered validly published, then the name must be S. laurentii fma. trifasciata. This ends with the variegated plant being the species, as it was first named. Now this would REALLY be messy in the system! All the cultivar names would be flipped and switched, wobbled and tipped!!! Yikes. Oh, but I do love your unorthodox viewpoint to stir the cauldron of science. Don't you just love taxonomy?!?!?! Michael Interlaken NY Z6

My take: Why no closet doors? That's an expense I'd have to make right after buying the house. Why traditional stained wood trim in some rooms, and a modern look in others? Why are they hiding the sink? Is there something wrong with it? They've removed the upper cabinets. Now everything is on the counters or walls. Looks cluttered. Another expense for me--adding upper cabinets. Advertised as a 3-4 bedroom house, but only one tiny, awkward eating area crammed into the kitchen. Where will the family eat dinner? Where will I host the extended family on holidays? Bathroom is a very traditional style. Kitchen and living room are not. How will I make that work? Will I need to remodel shortly after buying? More expense! Shiny wall of cabinets in living room. Mostly, I'm in favor of the Big Wall 'O Storage, as built-in storage can be space-saving. But the shiny finish on these cabinets gives me pause. So totally not my style, yet a centerpiece in the living room. How expensive will it be to refinish the cabinets to something I can live with? A large part of this is that it is right in the middle of the living room. That same cabinetry in the basement family room wouldn't bother me so much. It would still not be to my taste, but I could deal with it better in a casual family room than in the main living space in the house, the space I invite family and friends into, if that makes any sense. No one of these things would prevent me from looking at the house. But put them all together, and I'm looking at a lot more money than just the price of the house to make that house *my* home. In order for me to look at the house, it would have to have some other massively redeeming feature--location, low price, fantastic school district--something that would outweigh the cost and time and energy needed to alter the house to make it work for me.

I'm curious, koritsia...are you greek by any chance????? anywyas, i think you and your hubby need to sit down and gently put it to him that you are not blaming him, it takes time for someone to warm up...especially at 11...she may be close to menstrating..hormones going...it was an iffy time for my sd...mood swings or just quiet zones at times. I knew it was her hormones. HAd to explain that oneto my husband..he had no clue. Your hubby maybe also more cautious with her because of the 16 year old. That's a given...its automatic response. You also need to sit down with 11 yar old daughter and calmly speak to her and tell her not to be sad. He deosn't understand. I think all of you need some bonding activities. All of you together. ANd a side note....greeks in their culture tend not to go to psychologists...but to their priest. We've been taught that way. Depends of course on yoru up bringing. i know peope are bringing up counciling but if that root wont do for you then try your local priest or community centre. It did help for in my situ. i tried a councilor...just didn't do...went to 2 priests...it helped.