Personally I don't plant or move anything in the fall or winter. I wait for early spring. I've had very bad luck with them dieing over winter when I did try it. For some reason they don't seem to settle in very well and never come back in the spring. Don't ask me to give you a scientific explanation because I can't. I just know from my own experience that it has never worked for me. Fall planting is money wasted for me. I don't prune anything in the fall either. We bounce back and forth from warm to cold for a long period of time. For example, today the high is 55, veritably balmy, Saturday our high will be 26. It's been back and forth like this for weeks now. Every time it gets too warm for a few days they try to grow which isn't a good idea because then the temps drop again suddenly and that new growth is toast. I want them to store energy not use it on useless growth the will surely die off. Pruning them makes them want to grow even more so I just don't do it. I think some of you are HT-aphobic, lol. I have dozens of them, both in pots and in the ground, and they winter very well. The pots do get protection but none of the ones in the ground get any protection at all. Many of them are green to the tips come spring. They're like any other class of roses. Some of them are quite hardy and some of them are tender. Not even all OGRs and shurb roses are winter hardy. The trick is to find the ones that are hardy for you and that takes time and trial and error. I could tell you what winters easily for me but it might not in your yard. And what winters blissfully for you may croak it's first winter in mine.

I know this is a really dumb question but I really just started growing succulents in my home a mere 2 months ago and am still learning. I have a mix of summer and winter dormant plants according to the above. I know many succulents are not supposed to be watered more than once a month during the colder months because the cold can destroy their roots, I guess I thought this was the rule of thumb for all of them (I know it really is a plant by plant basis depending on lots of different things but I am just talking generally). Is this in direct relation to dormancy? So far I've only been watering my Sanseveria, Crassulas and Echeverias once a month and it SEEMS like this is ok (though my Crassulas seem to be moody right now but I saw that they lose some of their leaves this time of year, and they have healthy new growth so not too worried), my Sans is extremely pleased with me actually, and I think I even put it in the wrong soil (whoops - first house plant ever though!). Anyway, so what I guess I need clarification on as a "newbie succulent gardener" is - summer dormant means water less in summer, winter dormant means water less in winter, or it just means that is when it takes a break from growing? Again, I know it depends on a lot of different things but I'm talking about generally. Thanks for the help!

"--- the forthcoming Modernist Bread: The Art and Science, which will also retail at $625 and is currently available for preorder, ---" That's a lot of dough!! :-) I can buy two Zojirushi bread makers plus a year's supply of flour. The book may give you more ability to make a variety of good breads, but I can't see how it can help you to make a more delicious bread, if you are already a competent bread maker or have a good bread machine. I will definitely read it if it is available in my local library. dcarch

It's funny how often in my mind the name of an artist, especially in the visual arts. is tied to one particular piece of work. Say Duchamp and it's not his face but the "Nude descending a Staircase". This and a picture by Franz Marc are the first 'Modern' art pictures I remember having seen as little kid, before they were contemned.