This is not my plant. I took it home because it was living in an interior hallway at my dentists office. No windows at all, just overhead light. He and his staff seemed clueless that all plants need some sort of light. He won it at a fund-raiser. It was in a large basket with a bunch of orchids (his words) but they all died. I offered to take it and see if it was still alive. It spent 8 months sitting in this dark hallway. He stated it had beautiful flowers but they fell off as did the leaves. He thought it was coming back to life as he saw the beginnings of a leaf. But that died too. So, I did some reading. Seems its a high light and fast grower. Any growing instructions would be appreciated. I don't think I have a pot big enough for it and might put it in a basket. Wonder if I should use bark, sphag mix or just bare root? Not even sure if its alive although the bulbs are firm and green. I see some roots which look viable coming out the small pot its stuck in. I will try to cut this pot away from the plant. What did I get myself into?? Jane

Do you speak French? Or do you know someone who does? ;-) There's a huge tomato database in French, which I've put in a link at the bottom of this post. When I absolutely can't find a variety anywhere else online, I usually find info there (though it is not without the occasional mistake). Anyway, the reason I thought of that database in this case is that it usually gives the number of sepals and info about the stem scar. (Apparently those are of vital concern to French tomato connoisseurs?) It's difficult to look up BW since there are so many different strains. The only helpful info was for BW Sudduth: "Côtelage en partie haute. Profonde dépression à l'attache pédonculaire." Which translates more or less as "Ribbed on the top part. Deep depression at the stem attachment." Alas, no sepal info for the main pink BW varieties. And unfortunately there's no sepal info for CP either. It does tell us "Légèrement côtelé en partie haute. Dépression moyenne à l'attache pédonculaire." Which translates as something along the lines of: "Lightly ribbed on the top part. Average-sized depression at the stem attachment." Not too helpful for you. The only other suggestion I can give is that when I've seen heirlooms at our local Fresh Market, they've always had Brandywine (unspecified pink strain) and Cherokee Purple -- identified as such. At least once they've had a bi-color, but I don't remember which variety it was. Here's a good free online dictionary which I have found helpful for translating tomato terminology (sorry, but I don't know how to post two links in the same post): http://www.wordreference.com/ Here is a link that might be useful: http://ventmarin.free.fr/passion_tomates/passion_tomate.htm

remodelfla - true quartite doesn't etch. It is metamorphosed sandstone. The problem seems to be that some of the stone being sold as quartzite either has something else mixed in that does etch or isn't quartzite at all. So far, I've only seen this issue posted on the mainly white quartzites. Some people have them and have etching while others with very similar looking stone don't. Quartzite is made primarily of quartz so it is very hard. It's harder than granite. Porosity varies in quartzite. Some is very low porosity and doesn't need sealing. Some is more porous and needs sealing - sometimes more than one application. It depends on how the metomorphic process went. Note that most of the stones sold as granite are not in the geological classification of granite. When you go to a stone yard, most group the slabs as either: marble: includes true marbles and other soft stones similar to marble, e.g. serpentine. Most of these etch with kitchen acids. granite: includes true granites and any stones about the same hardness as granite. Most of these don't etch, but some do so it's a good idea to test a sample from the slabs you want. Quartzite is sometimes grouped with the granite (ours was). It seems to be identified as quartzite at the stone yard a bit more now.

I'll be there! When I lived on Long Island, I always wanted to open a vivarium where people could walk through, enjoy the flowers and butterflies and stop at the cafe and enjoy coffee, cake etc. I did a lot of research into it and the biggest problems were the short lifespans of the butterflies, the damage the kids and people do to them, and the long dreary winters. It just wasn't feasible on a large scale. Utility costs on LI made it prohibitive as well. A nursery / cafe on the other hand is a doable combination. I hope you get to live your dream, and it becomes very successful for you. I know you have the desire and work ethics to succeed, so once it's up and running, yes, I'll be a customer. So will a lot of others you've met along the way. Never lose sight of your dreams Brad. All the best always..... Bill