Hey Tally, I sympathize with you. We had a little house over in Gilchrist that had been in the family for over 50 years, all gone but the pilings. It wasn't much of a house, but my father's father bought it in 1948 for 2k. In it were Grandpa's old fishing hat with his favorite lures all rusty since he passed in '57. My dad loved the place and we have pictures of him holding up possibly every fish he ever caught off Boliver. Daddy passed in '03. His sister, my old Aunt Tressie had taken two old double beds down there that she didn't want any more, couple of solid walnut Jenny Lind beds. She passed in '72. The house had one of the old 'monitor top' refrigerators in it and the last time I was down there it was still working like the day it came out of the showroom. We didn't lose anything that was really valuable, per se, but we sure lost a lot. I feel sad when I think about it and can't decide if I want to go rummage around on Goat Island and hope to find some old treasure or just look at the pictures and remember it how it was. My brothers can't even talk about it cause all their best childhood memories of fishing with Dad were down there in Gilchrist. I realize that losing an old shack is nothing like losing your beloved trees and plantings. It will take another 100 years for you to get the trees back. It's just a darn shame that so many great things are gone with nothing left but the memories of how they were. E-mail me your address, I'll send you some seeds. And if you happen so see my grandfather's old fishing hat, just feel free to pass it along back to me. My brothers would love to have it. Cheryl

Most of the residents are just rebuilding. We aren't waiting on the city, FEMA, the insurance companies or anyone else. There are a bunch of faith based groups down here and they have been amazing! The Mormons were just going door to door, they carried out furniture, drug out sheetrock, hauled away trees, took out appliances...there are other groups cutting trees, fixing fences, putting up sheetrock. They are giving out food, supplies, clothing, cooking meals. The RedCross and Salvation Army have left. The Baptist mens group is here with hot showers and laundry facilities. They are set up in one of the churches that had a lot of damage. Things are getting better but so much is getting worse. And I am amazed at what survived. The bouganvillas are blooming like crazy, though of course some are dead. The oleanders which are pretty tolerant are in pitiful shape, a lot of dead ones. Palms if they didn't fall down did fine. Trees-uugghh! The mulberry has leafed back out and so has the pecan. All the crape myrtles around town look dead. Avocadoes are all dead. Oaks are in trouble and so are the magnolias. Tally HO!

These have been planted in the last couple of weeks. This street lost every single tree on it, this yard had some huge old oaks. The new owners put in these two huge guys, some little oaks and a mesquite tree. I've got a ton of Beaucarnia both in they yard and in pots but the second one is the biggest I've seen for years. I wonder how much they paid for this thing and where they got it?? Haven't seen anyone at this house. Tally HO!

Thanks everybody. I would love to try cuttings, I looked this afternoon, and there are a few green branches still kind of trying to adjust after having been flattened...After first seeing them laying down and shredded, I hadn't had the heart to look again until my husband reported seeing some green leaves. I'll search for cutting how-to's on the web and the forum, but any advice on avoidable problems or expert cuttings tips would be really appreciated. Since getting power back, we've made a pretty good recovery...my husband finished replacing his truck bed today...the original "Maynard" was a 1991 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4. It wasn't a daily driver, but he used it alot. The bed had to be replaced, but no frame damage. Now it's a 1991/2000 LOL. Looks odd, but does the job. He's happy to have it back. Now we just have a yard to remove the ripples from (the tree left an imprint), lots of plants to replace, and a garage to build (so the cars don't get killed next time). I'm excited about the new possibilities of more sunlight with that tree gone, but I am sad to have lost so many established plants. So many people have lost so much, it breaks my heart. I can't imagine the struggle they have ahead of them to get their lives back together after losing a home or worse, a loved one, in this storm. Thank you all for your kind words, and your warm thoughts for those affected by Ike. Keep the prayers coming, there are many who still need all the help they can get!