Alana, I love your photo.....well composed!! I am intrigued by this co-op group.....as usual with any Yahoo group there is zippo info on the page that describes how it actually works.....none I could find anyway.....I can be clueless though so maybe that explains it :o) can anyone tell us more about how it works? Are these rather standard plants or do they import from South Africa, South America and other more unique places to get plants that can not be had without a lot of work? For example, another Paramongaia or a Pamianthe from Peru would be awesome.....are these truly rare sorts of things on the list? They talk about Hosta and garden plants which are not what I would be interested in......any info from those of you who belong would be appreciated......although the silly 1 month without buying this is a real turn-off for me. Thanks for any input you guys can provide!! I did just get in some more Boophane, Ammocharis, Haemanthus and Brunsvigia from South Africa....so I guess that is my fall order a tad early :o) Dan

Anna Welcome Back!! I was pretty good this year (not counting Komoriya bulbs of course) I got about 15 this year, about half being Israeli bulbs which I seem to have good luck with. And of course my aulicum form Telos and 2 Pixies as well as a few from a nursery. Just one bad experience with a Double Dream I bought at the nursery. As carefully as I inspected it must have had a spot of rot and it was in the back when I set it down. Yesterday when I happened to turn the bulb around I was horrified! Surgery was performed but the bulb is a mess. Last year I had trouble with my Double Dream too and I really like it as it's the closest thing to Maguire's Indian Fairy out there. So I will keep trying; at least they are selling them more places these days. Of this year's bulbs an Evergreen will be the first to bloom... Donna I also meant to welcome Rob back to the forum too..so welcome back!!...and Fred!!

I'm very much a people person. I socialize with a few very close female friends - one of those I've been friends with for 30+ years. I also have a circle of friends from or through work that I enjoy getting together with. Just got together with a former co-worker yesterday. We are also active in our church and have made some great friends there - both personal friends for each of us and some "couple" friends. I see my dad often and am in contact with my brother and sister often too. However, my brother is about two hours away and my sister lives a completely different lifestyle - very busy - so I don't always see them often. We are close and talk at least every couple of days. I also have two older women I'm very attached to and see them at least monthly - talk to them more often. They are part of a group of my mom's friends who have been friends for over 50 years. These gals have a monthly lunch get-together (there's about 6 in the group now) and I go every few months. There are two I have gotten very close to. I've also gotten close to another of their friend's daughter - her mother passed away just days before mine. We've formed a pretty close bond through that. We have one set of "couple" friends that we are very close to - they and their sons are like family to us. In fact, we were named to take care of the boys if anything should happen to them (boys are grown now). This couple are the ones we most frequently go out with, see at least weekly, talk with often, are there for each other no matter what. My personal friends I most often see for lunch or daytime activities, etc. Hubby and I spend much of our free time together - it is especially nice that he works 4 10-hour days, giving us a 3-day weekend. Hubby has a few close male friends that he meets up with, perhaps goes fishing with, etc. things like that. One such friend in particular that I really like the wife and we occasionally get together. My family is getting smaller and seems like many of my cousins are in the same boat as I - caring for or responsible for elder parents/grandparents (in my case my grandmother), so we dont' see each other as much as I would like, but we try to keep in contact. Friends and family are very important to me. Spending time with hubby is top priority, but I could not do without my friends. I have learned in the last few years, in dealing with FIL's illness and death, my mom's illness and death, taking care of my grandmother, just how very important it is to have and maintain contact with friends. tina

In my experience you just have to live in an area that toads already live in and is not too far from a water source (within a mile i would think) and maybe isnt completley developed. Toads like lots of overgrowth where it is wet and cool in the summer. I've never had much luck with toad houses, but ive never tried much either. Toads in my area like when i have thick corn patches or thick watermelon or squash patches where it is dark and cool and lots of bugs. They occasionally will hop over 6" raised bed, but i dont think they like that either. Flat ground is best.