Bruce, you should clean the seed of any berry pulp of polygonatum and sow it as fresh as possible. I'm not sure how much difference 4 more weeks of drying might make, but can you prepare and do one pot now? Sown now, you could have germination next Spring, but don't be surprised if it experiences double dormancy and doesn't germinate until the second year - after being exposed to multiple cycles of varying temps. Pots I know will be with me for many months, I like to top with grit to discourage algae and moss, prevent a crust from being formed on top the sowing medium. About 1/16" or so is usually enough and if you don't have someplace convenient to buy chick grit or won't have other need for it (usually sold by the pound), I've used parakeet gravel from the pet aisle at the grocery store in a pinch :)

Glenn, I have always girdled the bark according to the article by Everett Janne on Airlayering. I suppose it would work some other way but this is the way I have always done it. Elder, I have always used the zip-lock bags because that's what's been handy around the house and the quart size is perfect for the size of A/L's I make. You can use any type or size plastic bag. But what I do is I cut off the stiff zip-lock side of the baggie and discard it. Then I cut off the bottom of the bag. So what you're left with is a clear pastic sleeve. I thread this over the end of the branch. It's a little tricky but then I gather up the lower portion of the plastic bag and tie it snug around the branch below the girdled bark ring using string or tape. Then I fill this sack, so-to-speak, with moist potting soil and try to distribute it equally around the branch. I leave enough room to allow me to tie the upper pole of the bag snugly around the branch in the same fashion. What's nice about using the plastic bag sleeve is that there is no seam. You just need to tie off the two distal ends of the plastic bag and there's little risk for your medium (moss or potting soil) from drying out. Another trick I use to get the plastic bag over the branch. I stick my hand through the baggie sleeve so that the baggie is now around my wrist and forearm. I grasp as many leaves and any small stems on the intended A/L with the same hand and thread the baggie over the branch. I can prepare an airlayer in minutes this way. I never use rooting hormones either. You don't need them with figs. After I see alot of root growth through the plastic bag and the A/L is ready to be separated from mommy (usually 3-4 weeks), I prune it just below the lower end of the sack and methodically remove the plastic and pot it up. If you wish to mail an A/L like this, remove it in the same fashion but leave the bottom tie in place so that the plastic remains intact around the root ball. I snip a small pinhole in the lower part of the plastic wrap and soak the A/L in water so that the soil inside the bag gets refreshed for the trip. Then you can mail this A/L to your fig buddy as is (like a little potted plant)and let them remove the plastic on receipt. Hopefully they'll reciprocate and do the same for you! It'll save you some money by not having to ship a heavy potted plant. Here is a link that might be useful: Airlayering

Here are some sites with other hummingbird feeders to make. http://thinkcrafts.com/blog/2010/10/05/how-to-make-a-hummingbird-feeder/ http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Be-Out-There/Activities/Garden/Make-a-Hummingbird-Feeder.aspx http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/04/hummingbird-feeders-using-recycled.html http://www.growandmake.com/homemade-hummingbird-feeder http://margaritastewart.blogspot.com/2010/06/coke-bottle-hummingbird-feeders-pepsi.html This one is made out of a coat hanger, they are selling them, but the design looks so simple to make. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E2MNV2?ie=UTF8&tag=lovetoknow-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001E2MNV2 http://fohn.net/hummingbird-pictures/hummingbird-feeders.html This is a beautiful one, you can put an etching on a clear bottle to make what design you like on it, but I think I would go a different route for the hanging wire, seems that would come apart in no time. http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/2010/08/make-hummingbird-feeder.html http://alliemakes.blogspot.com/2010/06/wine-bottle-hummingbird-feeder.html I hope this gives you some ideas. I like the little flower petal idea you don't have to use the tubes. Good luck to you all, Happy Spring!!!

No Ikea near me, but I'd love to take a road trip sometime. Lascat - I haven't checked out any boxed sets for a while. Our TJ Maxx & Marshalls stores seem to be hit or miss. Jlc & Cindy- I used to work in a restaurant we used very similar looking glasses! They were very heavy duty, but the style does remind me of that place unfortunately. Funky - I like those ice tea glasses. I like the contrasts too! You know, I like stemless wine glasses, but I'm not a wine drinker so I didn't know if that was weird/wrong to buy them for everyday use. Beagles - I'll have to stop by one sometime and see what they have. I have one of these coke glasses in clear and use it for the occasional iced tea since giving up soda. coke glass And lookey here - these are the drinking glasses I had, but mine were in a box set I think. glasses that broke Sue - That's a fun site! I found some Christmas gifts! Ruby - They do look huge! Thank you everyone for the recommendations. I'll do some more browsing around here since I haven't looked much lately. I know they're just drinking glasses, but I haven't seen any I really like. I'm going on a fun shopping trip in a few weeks so hopefully I'll find something. I like these bee ones from Ballard, but for some reason I can't pull the trigger. Do I really want bees on my drinking glasses? Ballard bee tumblers