So nice to see everyone here.  Been awhile.  I am still working as they (state of Illinois) has decided I am an essential business.  We are but I as well as many other wish we could stay home and not get this virus.   So far just got chapped hands from washing them way to often.  Have to admit many are taking the warning as traffic isn’t there. Yeah. 

Interesting how we all have evolved but still care about our animals and gardens.  

Hugs melody.  Auralie wish I could stop by and help.  Gene what is the link to your book?  Kitty does your comments mean you are still doing the plant sales etc?   

Hope to retire soon.  Husband already has.  Moms at 87 is still doing well but with working way too many hours keeping up two houses and gardens is taking its tole on me.  

Donna 

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 24, 2020, at 3:40 PM, Gene- NetSurfUsa <e*@rewrite.hort.net> wrote:



Talk about smiles on a gardener’s face this gloomy day. Good to see all these names. Especially Auralie and Chet’s. Found memories there.

Doing OK here. Was self-quarantined before all this virus 19 began. Had pneumonia in addition to my other ‘technical difficulties’. Doing OK now.

Playing in the garden every day weather permits. Not much, but out there doing what I can when I can. My health issues had had a side benefit. More time to write.

My book ‘A Gardener Grounded: Meeting Life’s Challenges Post Diagnosis’ is now on Amazon in both ebook and hold in your hand paper. Have another book at the editors.

My wife has taken 2 weeks’ vacation time to stay home with me. She drives bus or van and takes ill and infirm to doctors, etc. so she is in contact with quite a bit of less than healthy people. Thought all things considered it would be best she stay out of that for a while. My age is 80 now, have copd emphysema and other ailments so don’t need the virus to top it all off.

I do strike quite the handsome pose with my oxygen bottle.

Gene E. Bush

Shade Garden Correspondent

Speaker-Consultant-Author-Photographer-Gardener

www.shadegardenexpert.com

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From: o*@hort.net [mailto:o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of Auralie
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 1:51 PM
To: g*@hort.net; g*@hort.net
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Zem

 

It's so good to  hear from so many of you - I've missed you all.

 

Chet and I are managing pretty well.  Tomorrow is his 93 birthday, and  I still manage pretty well for

 91.  My gardens have pretty much gone to pot since I can no longer work in them, but I have had

for the past week the most spectacularly beautiful white hellebore - it has at least 35 blooms, and

is really lovely.  There is a pretty lavender one, too, as well as lots of the common purple kind.

My early daffs are handsome, too, and I can see more of the late ones coming.

 

As I said, we can't do garden work any more, and the help I can get doesn't do it the way I  want.

I do have a very good helper who comes in half a day twice a week - one day to organize the garbage

for pick up ( I have cats so there are three bags of kitty-litter to carry up from the basement and  I           

just find heavy lifting is too bad for my bad back ) and the other day to take me to the grocery store,

bring things is, and take the new kitty-litter bags downstairs.  She is also very good at the other small

chores.  The cleaning woman  that usually comes twice a week, has called in sick with tonsilitis - hope

she recovers soon, because things need to be done.

 

The way things are going with this crazy virus, who knows what next week will be.  I'm glad to hear

of things that are working out.

 

As ever, Auralie