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Dear Helen: My family is a little band of enthusiastic beginner food gardeners. Because one of our favourite vegetables is cauliflower, we have been discouraged by advice that it is very difficult to grow. Is this your opinion, too? C.D. Not at all.

There is no better garden manual available than the West Coast Seeds catalogue and gardening guide. It lists a fine selection of interesting varieties and does much more.

Dear Helen: When we moved this summer I took cuttings from a favourite rose that I did not want to part with. One cutting rooted. The plant is now in a small pot at a bright east window. I know roses don鈥檛 do well indoors.

Dear Tony: We have been looking at a condo in Nanaimo that we are hoping will become a good retirement home for us in a few years.

Many of my in-office days have been brightened through the year by reader mail. Thanks to everyone who has written to聽share gardening experiences, photos, tips and useful comments.

It鈥檚 been an eventful and somewhat challenging year. The growing season, in its length and extreme heat, brought both bounty and fatigue. Then, in late summer, came sadness and alarm at a tone of acrimony and division building in the country.

Christmas is Marilyn Schmah鈥檚 favourite time of the year, a trait that seems to run through the generations.

Dear Debbie: I need to repaint a bedroom that has painted panelling, but it looks like the panelling is warped. I cannot afford to replace the panelling at this time. What can I do to cover it up? D.D.

Dear Helen: I鈥檓 disappointed to聽see that the 鈥渟prouts鈥� on my Brussels sprouts are open and leafy rather than tight and button-like. What might have caused this? G.P.

Linda Holmwood adores decorating her home for Christmas. Garlands up the staircase, rivers of red ribbons, a table set with glittering lights and silver accents on the mantle are just some of the decorative touches she adds to the holidays.