The first message is from my friend Carl. Carl attended Dundas council meetings and we became friends. Even now he believes I have super-powers through the magic of the Faithful Reader brigade. Shall we test that theory, F. R?

Carl has less than full vision but that is beside the point. He brought to my attention that too many property owners have shrubbery and trailing vines that escape their bounds in gardens and obstruct folks using the sidewalks. Some years ago I was such a culprit.

A mulberry tree grew at the front of the house and branched over the sidewalk. A knock on the door. A flustered young woman introduced herself. She was hesitant to report that her child in a pram had been stained blue the day before. Could I trim the mulberry back from the sidewalk? Indeed. It was cut down. A mulberry thrives in the back garden for me, my friends and the birds.

If you have an enthusiastic shrub, and in my neighbourhood there are several defying property boundaries, perhaps it is time to take a stroll with the pruning shears. This has been a particularly fine growing year. The wild rose that clings to the hydro pole by my driveway requires trimming almost weekly.

Some years ago Dundas lost its horticultural society. A few members moved to the Flamborough group. The rest of us stumbled on. During the Carnegie Gallery garden tour, a contingent of Flamborough Hort Society members set up tents behind the gallery and did a rousing business selling plants. They gave me their brochure, which has an entire column's worth of information. Workshops, plant sales, judging Trillium Award gardens and the friendships that come from mutual interests. Karen Brunsch is the contatct person. 905-653-2132 or kbrunsch@cogeco.ca

An appalling appeal from my favorite magazine, the Walrus. I have been a subscriber since the inception and give subscriptions to friends and relations. It is Canadian, well written, topical and just the proper size to read before the next copy arrives.

Horrors! A letter from the Walrus Foundation states it is floundering. If you want to make a simple effort for our country, Canadian publishing and yourself, write to 101- 19 Duncan St, Toronto, Ont., M5H 3H1. Reading books and magazines is an old-fashioned habit. Comforting in a comfortable chair, musical accompaniment optional.