nhbabs, my brother in northern Idaho gets moose in his yard sometimes too. He also has an occasional turkey. One even adopted him and hung around for a few years until 'Joe' was run over chasing a car. Here's some tree frogs on grape leaves. Mike

G'day Jaro, The pics in the first set are a combination of plants from Botanical gardens, here in Hobart as well as a few from my garden and an arboretum as well. Fortunately I have them all under cultivation but most remain relatively uncommon and much the domain of the collector, I struggle to give them away. The woolemi foliage is very unusual indeed and much like a cycad as you suggested. The Phyllocladus glaucus superficially resembles a Ginkgo but foliage is only a quarter of its size. The Phyllocladus genus (total of 5 species) is quite unmistakeable once you have seen it. The second set of pics were taken on Tarn Shelf, a heavily glaciated geological feature on the north eastern side of the Rodway Range in Mt Field National Park. Tarn shelf is at an altitude of 1150-1250m ASL,which in a worldly sense is not high, but it does constitute "alpine zone" over here. Unlike most parts of the world, the diversity in flora increases with altitude and there is a high level (around 50%) of endemism here. Here it receives up to 2600mm (100+ inches) of rain per year as well as snow and ice. Soil is shallow,fibrous peat over a stony clay subsoil derived from dolerite. The shelf itself runs for around 3-4 kms in a roughly NW-SE direction and approximately 500 metres at its widest point. Along its length it is dotted with a myriad of small lakes and tarns formed from glacial scouring, and of course......some amazing plants. I am fortunate in that my work requires me to visit here fairly often but you can never tire of it, it is a very special place. It is a must see if you are ever in Tasmania. Cheers Tasmanii

That's funny, Melissa - I understand about letting those suckers have an escape hatch from the cardboard! Last year I was dealing with nutsedge in my veggie garden (in my neighbor's yard on the other side of that wall), but the thick layers of cardboard really did the trick. I was so glad to read about Anna's technique, and living next to the trash, I got more than enough cardboard. Yes, my neighbors and my church are making me sad to be leaving. But I'm going to a place in Fla called "Way Closer to the New Grandbabies"! The Everglades are so far from the family . . . and when we got here, we didn't have any grandchildren. Oh, and I forgot to mention about my unique way of gardening - it's one I cannot take any credit for. Almost all of the flowers and colors you see in the pics are volunteers. As Snowbirds left in past years, I got the plants they yanked out of their spots and left for dead. Some lived after TLC and some went to seed in my pots, or in the soil I recycled. Alot of them just grew where they are, like the petunias in the plumeria pots. And each spring is like Christmas for me as I discover new seedlings. This year I got babies like torenia and ageratum and alyssum that I never had any parent plants of. Then there are the trees from seeds from GW and the cuttings from GW trades, the plumerias from various island trees, and the different roses from friends' cuttings. Only 4 hibiscus plants were from somewhere else, the rest I grew from seeds I hybridized from those 4 (about 20) I went crazy and couldn't stop! Anyways, my goal will be to have a nice big yard so I can host a Super Swap like Ricky's and share more of my stuff with all my GW buds! There ain't no place better than the Florida Forum . . ...right? Here's the Blue Butterfly bush that started as a GW trade cutting (wish I could remember from whom) And here's the Seaforthia from Denise that I truly adore and it never stops blooming! I hope it likes its new home. If it wasn't raining right now, I'd go get some more pics to show you all the great treasures I got from my friends here on Fla GW. The best treasure, though, is just the friendships. I love that the best! Susie

Thanks for sharing the garden and the pictures. For a new gardener like myself, I find it wonderful. Ian and Judy I wish myself in a position to garden with such dedication as you in the future. (Once my son has grown, as a two year old somewhat limits the time one has in the garden). MM, you too are an inspiration, I love your genuine enjoyment of all flora and fauna, and ability with the computer and camera ( I must get instructions on how to post pictures one day - although I know you have given them many times) Cheers again and thanks for your enthusiasm, artistry and generosity. Andrea