Speaking of Taxodiums, check out this article & photo of 8 million year old trees.... Rare fossilized cypress trees found in Hungary Tue Jul 31, 9:19 AM ET BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian scientists said on Tuesday they have discovered a group of fossilized swamp cypress trees preserved from 8 million years ago which could provide clues about the climate of pre-historic times. Instead of petrifying -- turning to stone -- the wood of 16 Taxodium trees was preserved in an open-cast coal mine allowing geologists to study samples as if they were sections cut from a piece of living wood. "The importance of the findings is that so many trees got preserved in their original position in one place," Alfred Dulai, geologist at the Hungarian Natural History Museum said. "But the real rarity about these trees is that ... their original wood got preserved ... they did not turn into stone." The trees, which stand 4-6 meters tall and 1.5-3 meters in diameter, were found when miners started to remove a deep layer of sand at a mine in the north-eastern village of Bukkabrany to get at deposits of lignite. The trees date back to the late Miocene geological period at a time when the Carpathian basin -- present day Hungary -- was a freshwater lake surrounded by swamps. The trees were found on top of the lignite, capturing one of the last moments of these swamps, Dulai said.

Vicki - I just found some at one of my local nurseries here this past Friday. They had just received the shipment of that and a number of other hummer salvias (eg., 'Argentine Skies') that day. I think that many of the summer bloomers are being held back by some nurseries until this 3rd week of May to make sure that they can avoid those late late frosts - particularly those places that don't have much greenhouse space. You might want to try doing the rounds again to see if any are now appearing at your favorite spots... I know that I've never seen any over here at Lowes, Wally World, or HD so I don't even bother looking at those places any more.

Thought I'd repost this as a reminder so you won't forget to bring a lunch and something to drink, mark the plants you are bringing with their names, have some boxes to take your plants home in, a note pad for taking notes on culture, as well as good plant swapping etiquette. Hints, Etiquette, and Other Stuff Posted by castro_gardener 8b (My Page) on Thu, Feb 19, 09 at 10:14 Hello All ! Just a few reminders that will help us all have a nicer swap experience. After 10 years of hostessing and attending these swaps I've learned a lot from others. When you arrive, please seek out the hostess if we don't greet you first. Especially if you haven't been before. Any of us will help you with any questions you might have. Get a name tag, sign up for door prizes, and if we have one, sign the list for future notifications of swaps. Don't forget to bring a sack lunch. We'll need sustenance for continued swapping ! We will have door prizes. If you'd like to donate to our stash, please bring a new or gently used gardening item. We usually include things like fertilizer, gloves, tools, outdoor decorations, books, etc. Garden Junk and Garden Art is also welcome for trading. Hoses, trellises, rusty buckets, signs, you name it ! We've had people bring homemade soap, mosaic pots, and other great items. We welcome donations to help pay for the rental of the pavilion. Although it is voluntary, please consider that you're leaving the swap with plants that would have cost so much more at a nursery. A few dollars in the jar will go far to help us rent this nice pavilion in the fall. You may consider bringing cardboard boxes to haul home your booty. You may end up taking home more than you bring, and it's not always easy to get it all back in your car. Packing in boxes will allow you to stack them and keep your plants safe. Bring something to use for labeling the plants you receive. Old window blinds are excellent for this purpose ! They last forever and they're kept out of landfills. On that note, please label your plants for others. It saves a lot of time at the swap. You don't have to tell everyone what each plant is, since they already have names on them. Another helpful hint, which takes more time, but is great to have: consider putting a notebook together of your plants. Add pictures and descriptions of each plant you bring. Over time, you can add to it as you accumulate different types of plants. This also saves time at the swap. Others can view your notebook to see what a certain plant will look like. While swapping, please don't take plants off other's tables without asking. They may be across the room promising that same plant to someone else. Please find the owner and ask permission. Everyone's different, of course, and may bid you take whatever you like. But it's good to err on the side of caution, and ask anyway. Plants under the tables are not for swapping. This is where we place the plants we're taking home. Some plants are special and rare and the swapper may want something special in return. This is understandable. On the other hand, some of us don't always need something in return. Please consider everyone's feelings while swapping. Last but not least, have a good time. Make new friends ! I've met really great folks at the swaps and we're still swapping 10 years later !! If you can't make the San Antonio swap, consider the swap just up the road in Buda in April. I'll be there, too. patty

Hi swap friends! I found some of the info Teri posted from our spring swap which still applies this time around: San Marcos, Rio Vista Park, Pavilion B. It's near the restrooms. Here are some directions, and below that is a website for San Marcos, where you may find more information on the park. Rio Vista Park is just west of I-35 bordered by Riverside Dr. on the north and CM Allen Parkway on the south. The park address is 555 Cheatham Street, which connects Riverside and CM Allen Parkway. Reynolds Street is a spur street off of Cheatham going west into the park. Pavilion B is across Reynolds Street from the pool area. www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us We will again have a potluck lunch if you can bring something you make or get from the store. We will also have door prizes if anyone would like to make or donate an item for the drawings. If I've left anything out don't hesitate to post your questions! LS