Rafed, I think they are leaves but its been about a week now and no more growth. I placed the cuttings back in my greenhouse since it was a cool night, 49 degrees and a high of 69. Heat is what will make the buds swell and pop into leaves. My Dark Green Greek and White Marseilles have "popped" and leafed out. They don't like the cool weather either so I placed them back in my greenhouse for a few days. Temperatures a getting back up to 80 on Tuesday and will stay there till Summer. How bout those figs!!!! cheers, Dennis

Felix, my parents were given a large clump of giant liriope that turned out to have florida betony in it. The stuff is just about indestructable! Until we were able to identify the plant we referred to it as "the mutant weed from h***!". It was quick to migrate out of the liriope and into the surrounding flower beds and the lawn. Don't bother trying to dig all of it up because the plants can go deep! I tried to clear any area of it and ended up digging a 2 foot deep trench and was still finding more of it. When I got to the 2x6 pressure treated board that edged the flower bed and discovered a betony tuber growing THRU the board I gave up diggin and we started experimenting with different poisons! I found that the Bayer Advanced southern weed killer for St.Augustine grass worked the best for killing betony after 2 or 3 rounds of spraying it on the plants. Round up was nearly useless against the stuff.

Wow, Wayne. I love those pictures. I think I like pictures of the action better than the posed pictures that are frequently on message boards. I dunno, maybe its because it seems more like I'm there or something. Anyways, very cool series and congrats on a great day!

I'm not sure I'd want to use buckshot of any kind because of ricochet concirns, but there are rounds made for a .22 cal pistol called snake rounds. They have 150-175 very small pellets that do a pretty good job of dispatching snakes, scorpions and the like. Although I haven't had the opportunity to try it on a snake, I've known other that have and they supposedly work well. I have used them on scorpions with wonderfully interisting results. Because the pellets are small it's very effective at close range, but is no threat at longer range (such as the unintended stray shot) or from ricochet. Just google "snake round ammunition" to find a place to get them. Obviously, check your local laws on their use and possession and discharge of a firearm of any kind. BTW winged mammal, all animals protect their selves, most protect their family and territory (home). Often times one animal will intrude on another animals space and conflict ensues. I, and I suspect most of us don't go out of our way to kill anything we don't intend on eating, but like all animals, we may move into an area and stake our claim to our homes, protect it and our family. That's natures way. We are a part of nature. Republican? Well, we all have to choose between two evils. I tossed my coin and it came up heads. I took that to mean that I was not supposed to choose the party represented by an ass. :) .........Sorry, I just couldn't resist. :)