Well, today is going much better. (Of course I am probably jinxing myself.) I went to the library and spoke to a few acquaintances who all remembered me and none of whom told me I had ratty hair or pimples. The Kindle Fire session went more smoothly, thanks to Frances I think I have figured out a thing or two or three. I think the problem is just plain old slowness. What I took for nonresponse is just plain slowness. I need to wait...wait...wait...wait a little more...voila! Being used to lightning fast responses on my work and home computers, I have become spoiled. It's not that bad, but it is definitely slow. And my two Kindles work differently - my old Kindle can receive books just about anywhere but my new Kindle Fire can only receive books if it has a wireless connection. Except for library books, which are a whole different animal. Yes, it is a learning experience. Anyway, I am tired of Christmas, not the spiritual beautiful part, but the I-don't-have-time-to-be-nice-to-you-because-I-have-better-things-to-do part. I will be glad when the holidays are over and my friends don't hang up on me because they are busy and stressed. I don't have the busy stressed part, because I pretty deliberately eliminated it quite some time ago. For instance, we don't exchange gifts in my family as a general rule. We all agreed quite some time ago that we all have too much stuff. But today is beautiful. It is snowing lightly and looks gorgeous. I'm so happy to have some snow that does not come part and parcel with a huge and ferocious storm. This is lightly falling, moderate temp, no wind, only half-an-inch expected snow. And yes, this is all tongue-in-cheek, I'm hope I have generated a bit of laughter!

One other thought. Cement can raise the soil ph radically. This is another factor of a 'Hellstrip'. Not so much the installed cement of curb and sidewalk, although that alone can raise ph to alkaline levels over time. And as you mentioned L. Clark, that the other trees aren't having an issue. But while watching cement being poured, have you ever noticed when the job is done or when one truck has delivered its load and is ready to leave. The workers will rinse the chute on the cement truck with water, before leaving? Washing all that cementy water down the chute? And where does that sludge water go? Generally, they point the chute into a void or area between the curb and the sidewalk. Leaving that spot soaked with liquid rich with cement. Could it be possible that your P. Cembra, just so happened to be lucky enough to be sitting on top of one such area left by the crew that poured the cement? I suppose a ph test could be done in just that area, deep enough to see if something so remote like that could've happened.

So, the ginormous artichoke was, I think, old. The 6” stem had no edible center. That is, it had a center, but it was dried hard. The outer petals were okay, but pretty flavorless. I started with remoulade, but it took over, so I made some spiced butter, which added some zing, but allowed the artichokey flavor, as much as there was, be the star. Oh, and, no, I didn't share. The inner portion, alone, was the size of a normal artichoke. The inner, soft petals had the most and best flavor! That's unusual. The choke was massive and extremely tall, having flattened the heart. The choke was the easiest ever to cut! Probably from being old, tall and dry. As things go, life is better with artichokes than without, but this one was not the finest example. The leftover spiced butter was good on the mushroom bread.

Paul, That makes sense. That’s what I though too but was wondering how often such unexpected events occur to where they cant offer what they planned. I‘ll keep a close watch on the site but I’m especially excited for LEH. i already have one MW but I need a bit of extra bloom power from grouping 2-3 plants.