I have four Cleveland Select Pears and I like them and have had them for many years. Although one of the trees do have some saplings growing a few feet from the trunk. But there are only a few (not a lot) and I quickly cut them below the soil surface. I think it is because this one tree has a slope in front of it so then the main roots eventually reach the surface. The other three trees have not sprouted saplings ever that I have seen - those are more on a level ground which makes the roots stay further below the ground. (I am not a pro, but I have gardened a lot.) About any breakage, these are suppose to be the hardier of the pear trees. Only one tree had one larger branch broken off during one of the worse weather conditions we have seen in the northeast. We had snow or ice during Halloween one year!! Crazy. Leaves were on the trees then and so many of all kinds of trees fell and broke everywhere, not just pears. It was like a war zone where ever you went with broken trees and wires. I still have no problem with these Cleveland Select pears. They flower for a short time in May, which is pretty. The tiny make-pretend pears are cute to look at. The reason I picked these trees in the first place, after really researching many trees at the time, was that they also hold onto their leaves longer than other trees within my narrowed down selection of possible trees. That was important because they also serve a bit like privacy trees for most of the year when it matters the most when hanging out outdoors. And in the colder part of the year, the sun shines through their branches.

Gary, I should have realized you were talking about keas, the only species of parrot known to have nocturnal habits. I have seen infra-videos of them several times. Just never heard about the blood sucking bits. Here is what Wikipedia says, for those interested: "An omnivore, the Kea feeds on more than 40 plant species (Tab. 1), beetle larva, other birds (including shearwater chicks) and mammals (including sheep and rabbits).[17][3] The Kea has also taken advantage of human garbage and "gifts" of food.[21] In captivity, the bird is fond of butter, nuts, apples, carrots, grapes, mangoes, figs, bread, dairy products, ground meat and pasta" (This diet sounds about right for captive parrots of many species, actually, leaving out the butter.) Here is a bit more info: "There had been a long-running controversy about whether the Kea preys on sheep, with the earliest reports appearing in 1867. An article by naturalist G.R. Marriner in 1906, describing substantial anecdotal evidence of these attacks, became the accepted view of the bird's habits.[12] Several prominent members of the scientific community concluded that the rumours were true, although others were not convinced. However, in 1962 animal specialist J.R. Jackson concluded that the bird may attack sick or injured sheep, especially if it mistook them for dead, but that it was not a significant predator.[22] Finally, in 1993, its nocturnal assaults were captured on video,[3], proving that at least some Kea will attack and feed on healthy sheep. The video confirmed what many scientists had long suspected, that the Kea uses its powerful curved beak and claws to rip through the layer of wool and eat the fat from the back of the animal. Though the Kea does not directly kill the sheep, death can result from blood poisoning or accidents suffered by animals trying to escape." This would not seem to be aberrant behavior, but rather a learned one from a bird that is highly intelligent and very adaptable. Not being a true predator, but definitely being a carrion eater, it obviously discovered sheep were easy targets, and it didn't have to wait around until they died. It was also noted that they steal items from tourists backpacks and camping gear, being curious and liking to make off with bright objects. I guess I should be happy that I only have wintering red-shouldered hawks to contend with in my garden. Kea: Close up of Kea's formidable beak, which is quite different than most parrots'. And lastly...I can't believe you didn't comment on my picture above of the blood-sucking parrot that is currently visiting my birdfeeder, Gary??? Shucks. I thought maybe it would give you a smile. Marcia

Yes, it's true, "poison dart frogs" in captivity are not toxic. While scientists haven't yet pinpointed the exact chemical pathway by which it occurs, Dendrobatids (poison dart frogs) produce a toxin by converting alkyloids present in insects endemic to their environment. The insects get the alkyloids from the plants they eat, etc, etc. So, when you bring a frog into captivity and feed it the wingless fruit flies dusted in vitamin powder, there are no alkyloids to chemically alter to create a dendrotoxin. While it is true that they should not be handled for the sake of the frogs, I can attest to the fact that I have had no reaction whatsoever to holding or touching any of my frogs. As for the temperatures and heating elements mentioned somewhere around in one of these posts, it should be noted that poison dart frogs really don't need to have a heater. In fact, most do best in temps that range between 68-75 degrees F, and can actually be harmed by prolonged temps above 80 . . . so there are some dracs and masde's that can be kept with pdf's (from what I have been told by others). Restrepias seem like another natural choice, as well as other orchids from the pleurothallid alliance that are intermediate growers that love high humidity (80%+ at all times). Anyway, my point is that room temps are best for darts, and you will probably have to plan to ensure that your light setup doesn't overheat the terrarium and stress them. As for other frogs that do well in the 80 degree range, I have read that others find milk frogs (in my opinion, one of the cooler looking tree frogs) need temps in the 80's to thrive. Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling now, so I'll just stop.

Hi, I'm interested to hear about peoples vermicomposting experience in a condominium. I want to make my own indoor compost, found these how to set up Here and Here. Anyone find red wiggler worms in KL or PJ? Eisenia fetida, known under various common names such as redworm, brandling worm, panfish worm, trout worm, tiger worm, red wiggler worm, red californian earth worm, etc., is a species of earthworm adapted to decaying organic material. I found this online Worm shop in Pj. And starter kit. Has anyone else tried this ?