homertherat Yes, that's the kind of thing I mean. It is really annoying, and sometimes you can't possibly know that what you've ordered is what you actually need. And now that I think of it, I suspect that the reluctance to list seed numbers MIGHT be to avoid cost comparisons. The reason I suspect it is because small seed companies that really want your business almost always say how many seeds are included in packets. ===== But Susan, that's the point. Why should anyone NEED to contact the supplier to get this kind of information? It's a drain on everybody's time and maybe even patience. Why can't it be included with other information in the product blurb? Some of us don't have the time or inclination to go running after the supplier to provide information that could EASILY be included. I'd rather call them when there's a problem, not a lack of information.

Carrie,I just bought a new SLGB this summer - my old one (bought in '99) was sadly lacking in things this one has - despite the date of publication, I think it is fairly newly out - and all the illustrations/drawings are in color, as well as the entries being much expanded! To quote from the book - General for Michaelia: Magnolia relatives native to China & the Himalyas. When in flower, they might be mistaken for some kind of magnolia - but unlike magnolias, they bear their blossoms among the leaves rather than at branch ends. M. figo has been in gardens for some 200 years, and M. doltsopa has been in cultivation in North America for perhaps half a century. The other species listed here are newcomers about which we have much to learn; they have not had time to grow to maturity in North American gardens. All are attractive, with lush foliage and profuse, fragrant blossoms divided into petal-like segments. Not usually browsed by deer. The cultural requirements seem to be for partial shade in the hottest regions, otherwise full sun, and they need average amounts of water. For M. yunnanesis: Shrub or tree. Coastal and tropical south. Another newcomer. To 15' tall. Blooms in early spring, when white flowers burst from dark, velvety buds. For M.x fogggi: Shrub. Coastal and tropical south. Group of hybrids between M. figo & M. doltsopa. 'Allspice' grows 10-20' tall, 6-15' wide, with glossy green foliage; bears fruity scented, 1.5" light yellow flowers bordered in maroon from spring to early summer. 'Belle Durio', to 6-10' tall & wide, is a spring bloomer bearing 3-4" white flowers with a purple style (reproductive structure) in the center. 'Jack Fogg' grows yo 18' tall, 6-8' wide; spring flowers are white, with each segment bordered in purplish pink. Hope this helps. And I wish I were in a warmer zone; the plants sound marvelous, but it's too cold here for them, except M. figo and maudiae! And I have more than enough things to plant out from pots right now - maybe next fall.....

Here are RGM Distribution's known suppliers: • Art Furniture Industrial Co. Ltd. • Taizhou Overseas Int'l Ltd.• • Anvifu Co.,ltd.. • Hangzhou Choose International Trade • Choice Topia International Ltd • Shenzhen Swift Imp & Exp Co.,ltd. • Bao Kien Co., Ltd. • Fu Yuan Wood Industry Co . , Ltd • Guangdong Suncoo Technical Co Ltd • Seng Da International Limited • Ideal Life International Co • Yatin Creative Home Corporation • Taizhou Jingxin Sanitary Ware Co.,l • Liansu Group Company Limited • Kaiping Yadanli Sanitary Ware Indus • Crown Joint Stock Company • Foshan Aquarius Sanitary Ware Co.,l Which one do you want to contact?

I don't use bookmarks. I made myself an "intranet." (The local-drive version of an internet.) I got that habit from work, where I used an intranet to store all the links and priceless info such as tried-and-true procedures, contact information for suppliers, etc. That was how I documented my job responsibilities. As I left each job, I told my replacement to "read the intranet." I was leaving him/her with established procedures and much more information than I had when I started the job! I used Netscape's HTML editor to make my intranet. I update it whenever I find new info. (It's not just quilting. It has info for all my hobbies and interests, and info I need to run the household such as: local government, the different insurance we carry, etc.) My intranet is simple. The frame on the left is for navigation. It contains all the categories, in alphabetical order. When I click on a category, the frame of the right displays all links and notations for that category. I find this very handy, because instead of just a single URL, I can store my login and password right next to the link that takes me there. I can store links to multiple pages of a large website. I can store any other info relating to the website or blog, with notations such as "she does a lot of applique." Lately, I have been visiting the blogs of quilters, to see photos of their projects. I don't think I'm ever gonna have a blog of my own. I like our little forum much better. Instead of post after post about me, it's a threaded discussion, and I get to learn sooo much from everyone else.