Beauregard is a ten or so year old, 12# throw away Chihuahua - Daschund mix. He came home to give the 93 year old (well, 83 at the time) a reason, or rather, force him to get out of bed in the mornings to take care of him. The dog became his protector lion, until the 93 year old passed away. Now, Beau is MY protector lion. He's mostly blind, very playful and loving and totally attached to me at the hip. He screams for me when I go out side to work. Paddy is about the same age, 6# retired brood breeder Toy Fox Terrier. She was very socialized by her breeder (who is also our groomer). When Susan retired her, she called saying she had a really good dog needing a home. After getting fixed, she came here for a trial and took over the place. She looks like a 6# Greyhound. The one time she got out the front gate, just after she arrived, it took shooting up the street at 20 mph to keep up with her. Fortunately, she only turns right, really! So she trapped herself in a dead end. Now, she doesn't want out the gate, but she definitely lets anyone in the street this is HER territory if she's out. I wouldn't worry about them getting loose as they stay right with me if anyone else is around. Beau is just too blind and both are extremely protective and quite attentive, but they do NOT tolerate being left alone too long without making "social comments" on the kitchen tile. Kim

I think if you contact the Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation they can give you that information. They are looking for people to grow them and find new sources of indigenous Georgia trees that can contribute pollen to the breeding program. They do have some, of course, but want more. Most of the previous breeding has been using sources from outside of Georgia for pollen and mother trees. Their next step is to breed indigenous Georgia genes into them to create southern crosses. By the way, Martin said that the chapter annual meeting will be at Berry College this year. He said keep an eye on the website for more details - I think it will be in May. Here is a link that might be useful: Georgia Chapter, ACF

Tigernach, Disclaimer or not, your post sure seemed like a slight on Mexicans. There's an increasing trend to hire any warm body who has no experience with plants, Mexican immigrant, or more commonly, American teenager. Take both side by side and ask a plant question. Reaction: from the Mexican, maybe blank stare while he tries to comprehend your question, but cannot due to the language barrier, and yes, he probably doesn't know the answer anyway. But he is there to help you carry your selections up to Britany at the register, and then out to your vehicle after you've paid, and to work hard at doing what he's directed to do to keep the plants in good shape for you to buy. Now the reaction from the American teenager: blank stare, maybe an "I think so", "I don't know", or "It should be OK". No offer to find someone who knows the answer, no interest in finding the answer herself so that she'll know next time it's asked. Just a quick nonanswer in the hopes that you'll accept it, pay your money and leave so she can get back to being busy at not thinking. Last year I found an interesting variegated geranium which I'd never seen before. It was unlabled, even without a price, by the hardworking apparently all American staff at the nursery. At checkout I asked the friendly senior American gentleman what this was called. His exact answer, with authority he says: "This is some type of geranium." I thought, silly me, for not asking what type of geranium from the outset, but it wouldn't have changed his lack of knowledge, or prompted him to care to see that I got an intelligent answer to my question. My point in all of this is to please not single out the Mexicans. Many who I've seen are extremely hard working. They just want to be here to get a better life for themselves, and work hard to to it. They do take jobs that most Americans don't want to do. I know that we're talking about horticultural knowledge here, but it's not quite fair either to say that most don't have any plant experience. The thoudsands of migrant farm workers in the fields and the landscapers who work on gardens for all the rest of us to enjoy have more than their share of a different type of plant experience. A general comment about inexperienced nursery staff would have gotten your point across, without singling out a certain group. Personally, if I had a choice, I'd prefer to be helped by the Mexican. At least I'll expect a communication challenge and a high probability that I won't get my answer. From the American teenager, not only will I not get my answer, I'll get horrible service to boot.

THANK You for that web site information, brandon7. I just went ot see the site. There is a button at the top of the Earth Fest home page"SPECIAL EVENTS". Click on that to get information about the GREEN BIG TOP sponsored by Ijams Nature Cnter. The statement says they will have a seed swap...a plant holding area, and more Earth Fest is a FREE event.