When I was hiking, the first one I saw I stopped to take a picture of it because of its stunning form. Only when I went up close to see what it was did I recognize it as the rough-barked Arizona Cypress of the Chisos. I have never seen any other examples of rough-barked Arizona Cypress so I cannot compare the Chisos Cypress to them. I noted every Chisos Cypress from the cabin on the Boot Canyon trail up the creek til there were no more Cypress, only Pinyon Pine. They were consistently the same, no exfoliating bark but light-colored ridged bark that clung tight to the tree. Will try to post the pictures I have this weekend. Will petition the National Park Service to make the seeds of these trees available for limited harvest and the Texas Forestry Service to add them to their list of seedlings they raise. They must be planted in other places to avoid a one forest fire wipe-out of their genetics.

I live in North Texas and have only one feeder at present. I have been able to identify at least six individual birds on each of several days. We have both ruby throat & black chinned. The number varies and is partly dependent on whether your neighbors are also feeding hummers. The more feeders, the more birds. A few years ago we visited Cloudcroft, New Mexico. On a ridge, just south of the village is a campground. The campground hosts had about fifty feeders about one foot apart, strung out on a pipe Hummingbirds were everywhere (more than 300 of them). There were usually several at each feeder. They flew back and forth to the nearby trees. There were almost always over one hundred in the air at any given time. The hosts said that they fed about 150 pounds of sugar each season, some of it donated. WOW! What an experience!

just catching up to this..limited computer time if we are in a motel. I am sorry I missed the questions and thoughtful responses. jbrig: we will be in Poplarville MA tomorrow night. We are in Ocean Springs today and last night. Took our first day off. We will be in Baton Rouge soon after that and then on West of there. my email address is : carolinedonnelly(at)bellsouth(dot)net. I can get emails if you want to send me one. THAK YOU Mitch...the rain has not materialized but we are enjoying a day off. Wind at our backs ! I do feel strong . Thak you so much. graywings we all have cell phones. But we are never very far apart. We decide to stop usually ever 1 to 1 1/2 hrs. We usually wait till we see a likely Mom and Pop restaurant or gas station. Also whoever is in front pulls over and the others look for the bike that is parked outside. It always works out so far. imsocunfused. No we are using all back roads. We rode on Hwy 90 as it has a wide shoulder but we usually stay to back roads. We will pass through Baton Rouge and St Francisville LA and then Austin TX too...a straight line west. 880 miles in TX !!! Oh Marlene...how you touch my heart. What a fantastic tribute to the human spirit...I hope you don't mind if I share your comment with the Food Bank Face book page...I am so pleased that we can all work together to make a difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. jbrig : I sure try :)

Hey guys..I am getting no time in towns when there is a library open or else I have no time. We spent 2 days in Austin and had a wonderful time but I never got to a library and also it was too fun to be inside :) I really appreciate the cheers from everyone. We are in Wimberly TX tonight at an EMS station that lets cyclists stay with them. I can only have these few minutes. Maybe in Del Rio I will get more time LOVE YOU GUYS ! c