Carol, mine would generally be considered partially to mostly closed, I believe. When I obtained my 90 and 55 gal tanks, the top glass came with each. (The 90gal was a garage sale purchase, and the 55gal a hand-me-down from a friend's father who decided that after 20-30 years he was tired of keeping cichlids.) With the 55gal, the top glass covers about 75-80% of the tank -- it's missing the rubber "hinge" section as well as the plastic backsplash section. With the 90gal, about 90% of the tank. Having the top glass does help with keeping the humidity higher and more consistent. The only way the "above fluoros" would be anything more than useless would be if the tubes sat across the top of the tank. Sorry about that. You are absolutely correct that you would need to provide supplemental lighting. I did have a buddy who did just that with one of his larger terrs. He got 2 -two bulb 4ft shoplights and sat them across the top of the tank. Worked well. My tanks both have simple hoods I designed and my dad helped me make years back when I went upstate to visit. Each hood is hinged so I can flip back half of the hood to access the tank and the bulbs. The hoods -- from front to back -- cover about 90% of each tank. For lights I use six 200W equivalent coiled fluorescent bulbs in my 90gal and four 200W equv + two 100W equiv in my 55 gal. I have pondered trying some of the newer tube LEDs (I know a grower who supplies plants to the pdf hobbyists. He has done a great deal of investigating to find a brand of LED he feels will actually work for growing plants... as opposed to the junky ones you will find at a BBS.) Unfortunately, the suckers are EXPENSIVE. That has held me back. I'm currently testing out 2 LED tube bulbs on my plant stand. I'll see how they work out. (Definitely a LOT less heat than even regular fluoros, but haven't had them in play long enough to see what the plants think of them.) If your tanks are open, you will have to play much closer attention to humidity issues ... or more to the point a lack there of. Even without a top, you should wind up with an overall higher humidity level within the tank than the rest of the room. And depending upon just what plants you wish to grow, the humidity levels you will need to maintain may or not be more challenging to maintain in an open system. The buddy of mine who had the shoplights lying across his tank had a stream running through the tank (I think it may have been a 125gal L tank but it has been too long so memory is fuzzy.) The stream kept the tank envir. quite humid even though the tank was open.

Tom, I will bring you aster plants - the mom plant sends out lots of shoots after she is done blooming. And then, when the young pups are done blooming, they too send out pups - so the population grows rather well :) I have QW vine, but unfortunately, this year, due to the nasty weather, it froze to the ground :( It is finally starting to coming back from the roots and has a long way to go. Anna is , I think, a bit more south of us, so her vine did much better through the winter.... Does anyone know the name of this plant? I forgot! And does anyone have it in other colors? I particularly have been looking for blue, not sure if I will ever find it :) From Backyard Summer 2008

Goodmorning Everybody ! :) I heard from my swappers last night...:))) Mariann I have a couple of surprizes for you...We love putting surprizes in our boxes Regina started it.. Chell you are so creative and your writing is so much fun to read... I bet the boys loved playing pirate.. I can see their smiling faces now...What a great idea to make a hideout.. They will always remeber their hideout mom made for them... Norma I havent traded with you but I am sure you went way above in sending her nice cuttings..I seen pics of what you send...They are awesome boxes..:)) Please dont be sad..:)) Regina howdy :) I am so sorry about Mark having to have surgery and the heart condition would just send me into heaven.. Wow I am so glad to read it all went well...Shooo My heart sank for a minute...He will be all healed for college this fall..:)) You empty nester dont go through what I went through...Stay busy and call them alot... I miss my kids so much it hurts sometimes... Dogs are okay but they cant replace our true babies...I love reading about chell and her boys... It makes me smile so much... Frances lol You poor gardener..ahhah You need a break from mother nature..Really..:)) Oh big snakes yucky... I would be screaming... I love chippies...They are so cute...Havent had many around with a cat now...Kiki has brought home two gardener snakes...He was very proud of himself... Yesterday I was getting ready to go out and play in the dirt...The crows or blackbirds were screaming...It just like a scene in the movie the "birds"... It creeped me out really bad...I couldnt see what they were yelling at.. I watched tv...Than got bored and went coleus shopping..lol The master gardener sale for the next county over is tommorow... I cant wait to see what they are going to be offering..I have never been to this one...Oh I almost forgot..I heard from the master gardener I met...Looks like we are building another gh..lol She wants to do it closer to fall since everyone is busy with their gardens...I am glad we could help her..They are a pain to build.. well I gabbed enough lol must be the strong coffee and I got a lot of sleep...:)) Have a good day everybody..Barb

Hello everyone, Here is my updated list for the swap: Haves: Pink Turks Cap -10 Red Yurks Cap -1 Mexican Heather - 3 or 4 Purple Fountain Grass - 2 Yellow/Orange Brugmansia - 2 or 3 Yellow/Pink Brugmansia - 2 or 3 Yellow Iris (will dig if anyone wants them) Yellow/Orange Bulbine (will dig if anyone wants them) Confederate Hibiscus - Cuttings only if someone wants them Cape Honeysuckle - Coral - 3 (Special trades only) Variegated Magig Lantern Abutilon (cuttings only) (Special Trade only) Magic Lantern Abutilon (cuttings only) (Special Trade only) Double Purple Althea Hibiscus (Cuttings only) Texas Sage - 2 (rooted & potted) Special trade only or make me an offer I can try to have some of the cutting offers rooted by the time of the swap but I am rappidly running out of time. I am going to try to take cuttings & start them this coming Monday so may not be rooted by the time of the swap. Books: 1 Book by: Better Homes & Gardens: Roses, The Gardner's Collection 1 Book by: Better Homes & Gardens: Annuals 1 Book by: Lawn & Garden: Gardening to Attract Birds & Butterflies 1 Book by: Lawn & Garden: Landscape Gardening 1 Book by: Ortho : All About Annuals 1 Book by: Ortho: Color With Annuals 1 Book by: Ortho: All About Water Gardening 1 Boob by: Ortho: All About Garden Pools & Fountains 1 Book by: David Squire: Herbaceous Perennials (Pocket Gardening Guide) Wants: Elephant Ears (Any but the typical large green ones) Plain Orange Bulbine NOT the yellow/orange Lady Baltimore Hibiscus Lord Baltimore Hibiscus Heartleaf Hibiscus Ornamental Grasses - any but the purple fountain grass or lemon grass as I have these Purple Iris Pineapple sage Tempt me as I like unusual plants & variegated plants