After posting to a ID request, I have another topic which could be coupled with another FAQ or go by itself. No one is answering my ID request. Why? Reasons may include: - No embedded picture or clickable link to picture - A link to a photo album with many images - Poor pictures - People may not know! Ways to increase the chances you will get an ID request answered: - Embed photo directly in post - If embedding a photo in post isn't possible, include link to photo in "Optional Link URL" - Don't include links in the body of the post that people have to cut-and-paste into their browser window to see - If multiple images included of different plants, number them clearly - Don't include photo album links with oodles of plants to ID. Best results are gained when including 6 or less different plant ID's into one post. - Follow the photo and detail FAQ's as much as possible - If no one as answered in a few days, post a follow-up so the post gets seen again. - And in short - make it as easy as possible for people to answer your request and be gracious! People are generously offering their time and expertise to help you. FataMorgana

The latest update is as follows: Hello! This week we concluded our March Butterfly Festival meeting, where we finalized most of the events and matched volunteers with their interests. Events include: * Tours of the butterfly house and butterfly garden, and tours of the entire Close Botanical Gardens * Children's crafts and activities, including a caterpillar petting zoo * Classes on gardening for butterflies, native butterfly identification, and butterfly photography * Butterfly and gardening Information booths from the Missouri Department of Conservation and Springfield Public Works * Several vendors to sell butterfly host plants and garden accents * Butterfly and caterpillar costume contests for kids and a butterfly kite contest * Live butterfly releases * And more! The festival will be held July 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and July 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there are numerous opportunities to help on the festival days and in the preceding months. If you are still interested in helping with the festival (and I hope you are!), there are opportunities to help in the following ways: 1. Docents for group and school tours of the house and garden, dates to be determined, between May 15 and October 1. 2. Designing event signage 3. Preparing educational materials 4. Assisting with the Butterfly Photography class 5. Children's Crafts and Activities 6. Helping visitors with the Caterpillar Petting Zoo 7. Acting as Master of Ceremonies 8. Photographing and/or taking video at the event 9. General event help (directing visitors, etc.) Please let me know what aspect you would be interested in so we can keep you updated with relevant information! I will let you know when the next meeting will be held within the week. Thank you, Cindy Willis Friends of the Garden

We can start with the "Read Me" and "Stone Advice" threads...they're compilations of information and threads from various members. The "Read Me" thread is linked in idrive65's post above. The "Stone Advice" and other informational threads are contained within the "Read Me" thread. It would great to be able to separate out the various topics into separate FAQ items...that way you don't have to wade through all the other info just to get to what you need/want.

Some type of ash, Fraxinus species. In my area it would likely be white ash, Fraxinus americana, but I don’t know where you are in zone 8, and so don’t know what types of ash trees are common to your area.