I used to run 880s in track...but I can honestly say I NEVER liked it. I used to run, bike and swim (masters swim at the YMCA). Now, I walk and will get back on the bike if the warm weather ever gets here...and I have taken up a new membership at the Y to go back to swimming and I am looking into Yoga again. I'm a bit scared of going back to biking and swimming as my hip took major hits when I had radiation therapy for cancer there....it just doesn't bend as much as it used to and I am severely bummed that a 6 month course of chemo and another 9 month course of chemo and being slammed into surgical menopause to control cancer at age 38 means I have now been diagnosed with osteoporosis....and I'm only 48. I'm ticked and not happy. That's with being on fosomax for 10 years and taking calcium AND I drink at least 18-24 oz. of milk a day.... I'm not looking forward to digging in my clay soil when I can finally get into the garden again. Now the snow is gone, but it is too wet to work.

Feegle, Yes, a sport is a mutation, but it doesn't necessarily breed true. Sports occur because AVs have somewhat unstable genes. You must remember, all AV species are single purple pansies; *everything* came from that. So sometimes the DNA doesn't split quite the way it should, or whatever, and you get a sport. Sometimes it's actually a reversion to a parent or ancestor, sometimes it's something new. If it breeds true over three generations, you have a new variety. Korina 'I don't wanna explode!' -Jayne, the Hero of Canton

Last evening I checked with RU via email regarding whether any cuttings of 'Magic Lantern' had been provided. As usual, I received a prompt response. The answer to my inquiry was in the negative. (Why am I not surprised?) ML has been in my garden for abt 12 yrs, & has been among my favorites since it produced its first bloom. My damaged plant has made a half-hearted recovery, & I'm now attempting to root a number of cuttings in the hope that I'll have at least one in reserve. If I succeed with these cuttings, I'll send any extras to RU and to one of the vendors I deal with on the West Coast. It's a fine rose, & I'm hoping I can help make it available to even more gardeners than the ones who are now growing & enjoying my plant's progeny.

flowergirl110, just google the word CHIMERAS is all we did several years ago. I'm betting there is more information out there today, will have to do this myself when things slow down some here. I have just created an album at webshots for you on some of the photos of Shorty's variegated which was sold by a local nursery as Peaches and Cream, which is an error on their part but this was done before a lot of us knew better. I shared her across the nation the first year I had her and was informed it wasn't the true P&C. I then went on the task to find out what it really was by comparing Shorty's with all the variegated plants I could get my hands on, yep them all but the new Miners. Shorty's is not like the other variegated ones and takes special requirements to get her at her best. I really have to thank Taji for her pushing me and making me grow in the Brug world. This is not a Peaches and Cream, Sunset or Maya nor the other variegated ones. She is close to Maya but really has some differences that make her out shine Maya. Maya here will not take the full hot sun all day when we grow them side by side and Shorty's will out grow Maya 3 times as fast with the same treatment. Also out blooms here 10 times the blooms than Maya. Plus Shorty's will stay in the Praying Position until the heat of the sun hits her, her leaves are thicker and fuzzier. The blooms are a richer orange color at the end of the bloom cycle. Hope this is helpful. Here is a link that might be useful: kht's Shorty's Variegated