Hi Countrycarolyn, hmmm...it really depends upon what you are sending bare root, and where you are located (state) and where the other member is (state), and what time of year it is, and what maybe members prefer and agree to. That is one reason why I always encourage members to put their state location in the one box provided for the garden zone. See, I am zone 5/6 S IN I suggest you ask on the Conversation side of the forum, and there will hopefully be several who will see it and give you their take on things. The link to (off topic) Conversations is found just above the list of threads here on page one of the Seed Exchange. I think that would be the best place to be seen, as Conversations on the Plant Exchange doesn't seem to get as much traffic. Sue...resident busy body

Well I'll take a stab at this.. As a suggestion I would cut some of the bamboo and then let it dry, or cure. Long enough to resemble something that does not have any green to it.. I am not sure how long this will take? Hopefully not all that long. I do agree with your concerns about the fear, and possibility of it sprouting and growing in the garden., For better advice I think you should perhaps post a question to the bamboo forum?? I think they would definitely have better information in the regards to it sprouting or the chance of it taking off on you in the garden..... Also I have seen some neat video's on youtube with the regards to using bamboo as a trellis, and how to do it... I would check that out as well... i.e. just a general search of how to make a bamboo trellis should pop something up? I hope this might help with your dilemma. I have used, and still do use bamboo for trellis's for my tomatoes, and other such gardening projects. It is really great stuff! Makes me tempted to plant some just to have an endless supply however, I don't want a forest of it either. Hope my suggestions help to point you in better direction.. I'm not very good at describing construction projects. However, I've found it very helpful, to watch someone else do it via video... such as on youtube and such. happy gardening! bgrow_gardens

FG is the only one left on my subscription list, and that largely due to their excellent index, pronunciation guide and on-line back-up. . . Jackie, YOU have touched on something that I find really stimulating - catalogs.....many years ago, they were pretty lame compilations of seed and/or plant lists, frequently with drawings instead of photos. With so much competition today, glossy catalogs have really come into their own; I often wonder if White Flower Farm started this whole trend, for at one time their catalogues were not only a joy to look at, but also to read (much less so today) and loaded with interesting garden information. Then, there's the late, lamented Heronswood catalogues, which were such classics that I think a lot us of hoarded them; and we still have Tony Avent's gorgeous (and delightfully off-the-wall) catalogue from Plant Delight's. Over the past few years, I've taken to ordering (it's so easy online) a few new catalogs each year, just to get me through the winter, and have often discovered wonderful new sources as a bonus. Try the David Austin Roses catalog (stunning) or even pay for the always valuable one from Fairweather Gardens. . . Carl

I'm not surprised. The early years were full of ideas for creative types who were interested in DIY (but not necessarily full-fledged DIYers) and had very down-to-earth ideas and budgets. In the last few years, it's been a love letter to expensive, mid-century modernity. Sorry, but I think Blueprint was vastly superior and was going for the same market. I agree that there are some design bloggers out there who just regurgitate what's put out by magazines, but those are the bloggers that will fade out in time. There are so many excellent bloggers who are in the field and give us pictures from shows, information about designers, and humorous stories about their own projects. They will easily take the place of some of these magazines. I hate to say it, but this is a good thing. While I love magazines, every time I go to dump them at the recycling center, I feel guilty about having them. Most of them are 70% ads. Design websites with ads might allow those ads to take up 20% of the space (with a few exceptions like that Nester blog which is easily 60% ads)...I much prefer the online version.