Whenever a population is closed inbreeding increases with each passing generation. The rate at which it does depends on the number of effective parents in the population. Whether inbreeding produces inbreeding depression and the size of its effect depends on the natural reproductive system of each species. Even though a species may be able to be self-pollinated the important factor is whether it preferentially self-pollinates in natural populations. Lilium superbum is noted by Fryxell as being self-incompatible (FRYXELL, P., A. 1957. Mode of reproduction of higher plants. Bot. Rev. 23: 135-233.) Pontederia cordata has a tristylous system. These are specifically designed to prevent self-pollination and foster cross-pollinations (ANDERSON, J. M., and S. C. H. BARRETT. 1986. Pollen tube growth in tristylous Pontederia cordata (Pontederiaceae). Can. J. Bot. 64: 2602- 2607.) Sagittaria latifolia has monoecious and dioecious populations. Dioecious plants have separate sexes and thus require cross-pollinating. Monoecious plants have both sexes on the same plant (often in the same flower). There is strong inbreeding depression and strong selection against inbred individuals even in monoecious populations (The evolution and maintenance of monoecy and dioecy in Sagittaria latifolia (Alismataceae), Evolution, 56(1), 2002, pp. 31-41). These are not species that have evolved to be healthy/fit when inbreeding. Having said that neither mice nor corn are inbreeders yet there are relatively healthy inbred lines of mice and corn. The catch is that there has been very strong selection to get those inbred lines. The danger when inbreeding occurs is that the inbred population dies out. Strong selection has to be applied by the breeder or the person managing the population to maintain the fittest individuals. When producing inbred lines that means starting out many different lines knowing that many will die out but a few will remain. In a managed population that may mean hand-pollinations to produce replacement seed from parents of known and lowest inbreeding values. Or introducing new unrelated individuals from other compatible sources as in species survival plans.

Well I took y'all's advice on board, discussed colours with the builder and painters, and decided to use several different colours through the house. I chickened out a little on using Honeymoon in the kitchen (and backed it off to the lighter Safari), but saved it for the living room. I checked in yesterday afternoon to see how the painting was coming along. I walked in the front door, and ... wow. Just ... wow. Honeymoon is FABULOUS. Mind you, easter egg lemon yellow is being painted over, so this is quite a departure. The mantel is Barrista in satin finish. This was only one coat, they will do the second coat today. Here is Safari in the kitchen ... Ceilings are Mascarpone. Bear in mind that all these pics were taken in the early evening, they are more lively in person. Hard to capture in a photo :-( Any ideas for trim colour in the living room ? I am a little stumped ...

I speak from experience when I say, the 8x10 bedroom is going to be narrow. If you could make it just 1 foot wider (at the expense of the other bedroom's length), it would be better. 10x would be even better/optimal, imo/ime. If you turn the hall bathroom 90* so you can move the wall between the 2 extra bedrooms to get a 10x wide bedroom, I think it would be better. You can rob the space from the master to be able to turn the hall bath. You could also move your laundry and take some of that space to better allocate space to the bathroom so you get 2 decent sized extra bedrooms. Currently, there is too much unused space in the master, for my liking, with such a limitation in that other bedroom. (though, something is off, now that I have typed all that and look again). You have a 10' marking on the master bedroom side that cannot be 10 feet if it is drawn to scale. Please verify.

plllog - what a wonderful thread! Have been a collector of kitchen tools and gadgets for the past 50 years and was a caterer for 10 of those years. My drawers and cupboards have many of the tools that have been mentioned here. Living on an island most of the year assures that shellfish and fish are staples. The single use gadgets we use the most are lobster crackers and picks, a fish poacher and a fish grilling basket. (I will confess that I have used a lobster cracker to open a tight bottle of club soda!) My grandmother gave me her apple corer and slicer. It is round with a circle in the middle to core the apple and perfectly spaced blades to slice it. Very handy here in New England during the apple season. I agree with the others about the microplanes. They are my newest toys - have several. The cheese grater has replaced my antique Mouli grater. My oldest toy is a wooden mushroom that is used to peel and crush garlic. It is also good looking. My DH enjoys a well made gin and tonic. The essential gadget is the lime/citrus squeezer that I think was mentioned earlier. Again OXO makes a good one. The best one is no longer made....Cannot even find it at the Vermont Country Store which has many oldies but goodies. Have enjoyed reading all of the above and am inspired to "weed" out the drawers and cupboards to make room for some of those lovely new goodies at Joseph Joseph. After all - acquiring new tools is in a TKO's DNA!!!