So funny...I am the one who started this thread back in 2004 (and we shortly thereafter moved to Colorado). We moved back to So Cal last September, and just now moved into a home on a huge horse ranch in San Timoteo Canyon. Our yard is a blank slate (except for having mature pepper and birch trees)...no grass, so I am on the lookout for anything drought tolerant and rabbit proof. I don't have a lot to trade at this point, as I am starting all over, but I do have some seeds and can get my hands on some great succulents (as my mom and dad's succulent garden is always in need of trimming). And if anyone is in Redlands or thereabouts, let's see about having some get togethers to do some trading!

Hi Everyone, I am so glad I've found this forum. I am in WNY Z6 and I would love to participate in plant exchange! My apologies for being late to post. Garden_frog, could you please add me to the invite list for Annual WNY plant swap next year (adrijanar@yahoo.com)? I have for sharing: ( Garden and house plants) : Garden: Shasta Daisies,( Lots) Lilly of the Valley ( Lots) Day Lilly ( red and yellow) Hostas - These will be dug up and divided next spring ready for the annual plant exchange Greek oregano Milk weed (Asclepias Incarnata) - seeds and plants Lavander - few small plants Echinacea purpurea - coneflower Ajuga Reptans Vinca Minor ( Dwarf Periwinkle) Hens and chicks two varieties. House Plants: different types of African VIolets ( White multi petal, red, purple, Bob Serbin, Mini pink with purple specks, Please ask for pics as they're all in bloom is you want me to root some for you. ) Spider plant - verigated Pothos ( verigated, green) Jade ( small and large leaf variety) Wants: Bergenia (Lily - the picture of your bergenia is beautiful, Do you have any more to spare? I am willing to wait!) Bee balm Japanese Painted fern Ostrich Fern, ( any fern will do) Annual WNY plant swap Sedum spectablie ( any sedum is welcome) Centaurea Cyanus (Corn flower) Salvias ( any) Liatris Spicata - praire gayfeathers ( white, purple, pink - I'll take any) Dephinium - Blue, purple, white Heuchera Hostas ( looking for any variable color ones, light green, multicolored, white, anything out of the ordinary and blue ones.) Bleeding heart Oxalis ( purple, red, versicolor, any will do!) Thank you! Adrijana

Final update, for me anyways. Sylvia : Papi Amarillis, lavender mint, pink rose For me : Yellow bird of paradise, culinary sage, lemon mint, schoolhouse lily if you have any extra Phyllis : Varigated ginger, lavender mint, lemongrass For me : Flame acanthus, sabrina hollyhocks, purple butterfly bush Seamommy : Orchid For me : Pots and purple salvia will be great Fortunegardener : Rose and mexican mint marigold For me : Texas Star Hibiscus, garden phlox preferred or sedum is fine element : 3 gallon potted Vitex seedling do you have any potted plants on my wish list?? or kombucha baby or several 3 gallon or large pots?? barkingdogwoods : I have a large hawaiian crinum spiderlily, multiplying onions, elephant garlic For me : rooted fig cuttings, corona de cristo passionflower I will have some extras for the orphan table for sure. See you all Saturday.

If you look at the orig post, you can see my ginormous egg that came from my big layer who was not the one who got carried off by a hawk (my neighbor witnessed the massacre, so no mystery there). She laid double yolks just about every week, and was so pretty and big--but like Marilyn Monroe, "her candle burnt out too quickly" and we found her just dead one morning. I am incredibly jealous of Zipdee's beautiful coop and may need to start whining to DH about our "poor chickens" and their sub-par coop and run. And I also may need to get myself a cute chicken tree like furlet! The duck thing is totally compelling and once I finish with this remodel, I might start concentrating on other things like raising ducklings! CITY FOLKS: Here is a post of the nest boxes--they have a lid that YOU lift each morning and look for eggs. The hens lay their eggs in these boxes. From Misc photos When you open the lids, there will be an egg or two or three, depending upon how many hens you have. Our hens during the winter lay about 2 eggs every 3 days. here is a picture from the inside of the coop with one brown egg. From Misc photos I have been surprised how much I love our chickens and how great they have been for our kids. We live about 30 min from San Francisco in a suburb and wouldn't really consider it the "country". Many people here have chickens, and as a previous poster recommended, you can call and ask your local city govt offices if they allow poultry. If they do and you are interested, look up www.backyardchickens.com. With the dangers of construction all around, the chickens have no free ranging abilities, but in June I hope they can scratch up the ground and eat bugs and weeds to their hearts content! Anyone have a Polish Fancy with the "hats" and plumed heads? Those make me laugh! Post your chicken pics!