The Ayam Bekisar is a male hybrid between Green Junglefowl (Gallus varius) roosters and domestic bankivoid game hens. They contributed some small but integral package of genes to the ancestry of the archaic Oceanic island breeds. Ayam Bekisars were originally used as the original Foghorn Leghorn by boat cultures who used the vociferous hybrids to literally stay in vocal distance from one another when separated by the frequent tropical squalls that one experiences in these seas. To this day one finds Bekisars in Java and Komodo contentedly perched in their bamboo cages hoisted above the fishing boats crowing or rather roaring their terribly long songs. (Anyone interested in the Ayam Bekisar would do well to read William Beebe's Monograph of the Phasianidae. He set aside an entire chapter on the subject as an after note to his chapter on Green Junglefowl.) Tropical downpours and horrific winds do not seem to bother either the wild species or the Bekisar. Like the wild populations of G. varius on some of the tiny desert islets surrounding Komodo and Flores, feral Ayam Bekisars appear to thrive without access to fresh water during the dry season when precipitation is unlikely for months. They appear to take their water requirement from copepods and marine life stranded in littoral pools. The outrigger canoe mascots of this type were integral to early seafarers as their long crows can be heard for several miles. The residents of Madura and Kangea, Flores and Komodo continue to have contests to determine the most beautiful and long crowing of these seafarer fowl. The Bekisar roosters are kept in bamboo cages on the canoes. They crow to one another over the sounds of the breakers after the storms have settled and the boats have been separated. Some individual Bekisars make an incredibly human sounding song that closely resembles a call to prayer. In Western Java, the Bekisar is the national bird. The hybrids are generally sterile or only partly fertile with some males being capable of breeding domestic game hens and producing semifertile offspring. Female hybrids tend to lay generously but their eggs are generally sterile or fail to hatch. To date there are no reported backcrosses to Green Junglefowl. Nonetheless, this has been mentioned by several authors as a serious threat to the integrity of wild Green Junglefowl populations. In my opinion the captive stocks are more vulnerable than wild populations to the deleterious effects of genetic pollution via hybridization. It is very likely that some of the most ancient breeds like the Japanese Long Crowers (e.g. the Tomaru), the Black Sumatra, Ayam Cemani and all of the Oceanic breeds are derived in part from Ayam Bekisar ancestors. These breeds are no longer hybrids but true breeds that happen to have a few exotic genes hidden in their collective woodpile. Here is a link that might be useful: Ayam Bekisar

Prayers and many caring thoughts also from here in Indy - I've been remembering our one GW fig friend who lost his house years back in Katrina (was it BigEasyJock? I keep thinking he was/is a radio DJ, was working on another house at the time his main residence - and fig collection - got wiped out, but the graciousness of many here who had figs to spare, reached out to him immediately afterwards). How quickly we find the material things of this world are lost in the blink of an eye, and yet the most precious things (our relationships) are truly what matters, need to be kept safe & cherished. May the Lord's hand of protection be upon all our southern coast friends and their families, as this storm bears down in the next 24 hours. Chime in from down there when y'all can, **please** let us know you're okay! Sherry

This sounds like a great time to me. I've never been to a gathering of gardeners that wasn't! Most of what I have to share is common yard ornamentals, and quite a few house plants/questionably hardy plants. So thought I'd drop a note here to gauge the general interest in such among likely attendees. I'll take a fresh look around and post a list soon. I would be especially interested in any nectar and/or host plants for butterflies/hummers, and more Passiflora plants or seeds, if anyone has any to share. The cutting I planted last year turned into a huge mass of vine, but in the past few days, it's almost gone and sadly, doesn't look like it can regrow fast enough to make something for all of the new (gulf fritillary) caterpillars to eat.

We've had a Hydropool for about three and a half years. It's been trouble free, except for one big problem - the jets kept popping out. At one time, we were up to a dozen that were out. It wasn't that big a deal, since we rarely use the jets. It's usually when we have friends in it that the jets get used. Last year the dealer replaced every jet in the tub. It was covered under the warranty. Problem solved. So far, the cover that came with it is holding up well. The seams are just beginning to pull apart at the outside edges of where the two halves are joined. I've only reversed the foam once, but it still sheds water and isn't waterlogged. The cabinet finish leaves a bit to desired. We're very satisfied with it and wouldn't hesitate to buy another Hydropool, but we would go with another brand if there was no longer a dealer nearby. Joe Here is a link that might be useful: