A few comments: 1. All posts by "joehansen" contain a link to the same website, which I would guess he/she is associated with. 2. The website continually linked by joehansen is actually pretty poor. I went and read several articles and there are many generalizations and too much misinformation. All written in a happy go lucky, the world is wonderful, simply plant vines and your life will change type of tone. This is not the case... In most cases grapes (like most other fruiting plants) require real work to protect from fungal diseases and insects. I read nothing about anything like that on the linked site. 3. The main objectives of the linked website seems to be to get your name and email address and sell you their book. Kind of ironic that they claim that if you give them your email address it will be 100% spam free, yet they have no problem spamming public forums. 4. Moderators should take a careful look at joehansen's posts and possibly ban or delete the links.

Marcia & Sharon - you girls are too funny! You give me too much credit to have purposely been alphabetical. I do agree that it would be just like Marcia to notice and sow them that way... :) Thanks again to you guys and all the other traders here on GW. I sowed a lot of seeds today from trades and I am as excited this year as I was last year as a first timer to see what interesting plants I can grow. Here is what I sowed: Columbine, Woodside Variegated (Aquilegia vulgaris) 100. Prairie Clover, White (Petalostemum candidum) 101. Prairie Clover, Purple (Petalostemum purpureum) 102. Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) 103. Rudbeckia hirta 'Sputnik' 104. Columbine - Unknown Blue Tall 105. Lily, Asiatic 'Angels Touch' x 'Fire Mountain' 106. Lily, Asiatic 'Connecticut King' x 'Fire Mountain' 107. Lily, Asiatic 'Fire Mountain' x ? 108. Scabiosa 'Blue Bonnet' 109. Phlox paniculata 110. Northern Catalpa 111. Coreopsis 'Tequila Sunrise' 112. Echinacea pallida? 113. Dendranthemum rubrum 114. Dragon's Head (Dracocephalum moldavicum) 115. Mistflower (Eupatorium dahurica) 116. Shepherds Scabiosa (Jasione Laevis) 117. Clematis ligustifolia 118. Gentiana andrewsii 119. Bird's Eye (Gilia tricolor) 120. Poppy 'Danish Flag' (Papaver somniferum) 121. Poppy, Deep Purple (double) 122. Quaking Grass (Briza maxima) I am trying to cut back on indoor sowing because I just don't have the space so I am anxious to get sowing more annuals soon. Susan

Just came up on all the postings about Hardy Chicago fig not being true to name. I purchased a Hardy Chicago fig from a nursry about 4 to 5 years back. No longer remember the name of the nursery. I planted the fig on the south side of our house in the V where the chimnney is. So it should have more then enough heat. But every year 90% of the figs never ripen. Around the first week of November we get maybe two or three ripe figs. All the rest are then killed by the frost. It's a shame that some wholesalers out there do not care whether or not they are selling a true item or not. I had been wondering what was wrong with the tree. Then when it did not ripen all the crop this last summer, I stated to think it had been labeled wrong. To make matters worst I ahve been giving out cutings to other fig lovers, who now also are thinking they have a Hardy Chicago. I'm going to dig the whole thing up, and replace it with soemthing like Violetta, as soon as I can find a true source of Violetta. Or a fig that is hardy as Violeta and ripens like Violetta in July. I have read that Violetta is hardy to minus 5 degrees and ripens in July. From all the research I have done in the last two years on hardy figs, Violetta appears to be the most cold hardy fig and the earliest to ripen, that I have been able to identify. I'm in a zone 6 in Connecticut. So from what I have read about the real Hardy Chicago, I do not have the true Hardy Chicago. Does any one have any information on a fig called Northland. Such as how hardy it is and when it's main crop ripens? Bob Harper

This blog reminded me of an encounter with a unique bird I had here last June. It was early AM and I was walking back from my garden in back yard to my mobile home. Was walking alongside the 4 ' tall metal fence of my neighbor to the left. Almost immediately noticed a large form walking along in step to my left, just on the other side of the fence. I stopped and looked over, saw the largest bird I had ever seen, ( before or since ), must have been close to 4 ft tall and had a huge, grayish beak drooping down. He also stopped and turned his head to the right, looking right at me. Now I have lived in South Florida since 1992, and have seen tons of birds of all sizes, but none came close to the size of this guy. Also had never seen this species, - was stumped. Have found out these birds are on the endangered species list, however have met more than a few folks lately who say they've seen them many times, usually in herds !!! This big guy wasn't afraid of me one bit ! So I continued my walk to my homes back door, again walking close to and parallel with the fence. The " big bird " also starts walking, in step with me it seemed ! I looked over my shoulder at the flock of small Ibises that were fluttering around towards the rear, but no, no way this guy was one of them,..no way ! Finally I am at my homes rear door to my right. I stop again and look left. He stops also and this time, perhaps realizing my walk was at an end, he actually turns his whole body to the right and stares directly at me. This is unreal I am thinking, " this bird acts like he wants to be buddies ! " Now becoming a bit nervous, I turn slightly to walk up the 3 steps to my door keeping one eye on my new pal and one on the door. The huge Wood Stork ( later found what type bird he was by googling ) actually spreads his huge wings out, gives 'em one strong flap, - WHOOSH - AND HE IS OVER THE FENCE AND TROTTING, NOT WALKING, TOWARDS ME, FULLY INTENDING TO COME INSIDE WITH ME,..maybe hang out for awhile, snack on some sardines or anchovies ? I finally freaked out, dashed for the door, opened and slammed it shut fast ! I looked back out, he was standing on the 1st step looking sad, eventually strolled off somewhere. That was it, never saw him or any other Wood Stork ever since. Just love living in South Florida,..the wild birds being one of my favorite treats. Watching the cormorants, ospreys & eagles diving for their food,..strolling with a Wood Stork. Will try to add a pic above.