The species foundation was started by people from Vancouver and Victoria, BC, all the way down to San Francisco, CA. They even had input from Great Windsor Park, in England, and other "foreign" gardens. It started as the American Rhododendron Society "species project". This project was aimed a cataloging all species in cultivation, but led to the next logical step, a permanent collection for the ARS. Dr. Milton Walker of Eugene, OR, turned the "species project" into the "Species Acquisition List". In 1964, articles of incorporation were filed in Salem, OR, for the Rhododendron Species Foundation, completely independent of the ARS. At this time it was a group of directors and the "Species Acquisition List". Immediately cuttings were solicited. The primary sources of the material were the gardens in the UK which had been the sponsors and, hence, the recipients of the collections of many plant explorers. Since the material was coming from the UK, it was much easier to send it to Canada and the University of British Columbia became the recipient of most of the material and the location of the first plantings. Additional plantings were on Dr. Walker's property near Eugene, OR. These were moved to Jock Brydon's property near Salem, OR. These were both temporary locations to establish the collection. In 1972, there was extensive freeze damage at the Brydon garden. Due to the cold and also the rapid growth of the garden in size and labor, it was necessary to accelerate the search for a permanent location. In 1973 talks with Mr. George Weyerhaeuser were conducted quite successfully. Weyerhaeuser offered 23 acres on the Weyerhaeuser Corporation's headquarters campus in Federal Way, WA. The Weyerhaeuser committment was so great that they accepted complete responsibility of building all facilities and completely preparing the site. In return, they just required that if the Rhododendron Species Foundation ever terminated the agreement, Weyerhaeuser could buy the entire collection. Sufficient facilities were in place by the fall of 1974 that a head gardener, Ken Gambrill, was hired and the plants were moved from Salem to Federal Way, WA. Ken Gambrill's title became curator. In 1975, all of the facilities were completed and the planting areas had been prepared. In 1976, membership in the Foundation was opened to the public. In 1980, a master plan was finalized and formal plantings were started for the garden as a whole. In 1983, an admission fee to the garden was in place. In 1984, the Executive Director position was created and essentially the present structure was beginning to take place. Richard Piacentini was the first Executive Director. 1988-9 was a severe winter, but planning had kept losses to a minimum. Tender plants were kept in hoop houses, preventing loss. In 1989, the Pacific Rim Bonsai collection was opened. [excerpted from "History of the Rhododendron Species Foundation" by Clarence Barrett in 1994.]

This is an email I sent to a neighbor who was asking the same questions: A good book to get is A Gardener's Companion for the San Joaquin Valley; it is published by the Master Gardens of Fresno County. They say to plant in August from seed: Basil Beans Beets Bok Choy Broccoli Cabbage carrot Cauliflower Chives Dill Endive Fennel Green Onions Kohlrabi Leeks Lettuce Mustard Peas Potatoes Rutabagas Spinach Squash Swiss Chard Turnips To plant in Sept. from plants and * from seed: Broccoli Cabbage Carrots* Cauliflower Chinese Cabbage Garlic Lettuce* Parsley* Peas* Potatoes Radish* Spinach* Sugar Snap Peas* In October: Beets* Broccoli Carrots* Cauliflower Garlic Lettuce* Onion sets Snow Peas* Spinach* Swiss Chard* Turnips*

Well, I called my vet when this started, and he suggested that I show Hershey that the cat is no longer in the basement. Beyond that, he didn't really have any suggestions :( I hope Hershey is getting enough exercise - he is very tired after we run, but that's only once a day. He likes the walks around the block, but they're just for training and fun, not really for exercise. He seems pretty calm outside the basement, more calm than I expected for a young dog. I think you could be right about him being bored, except that I still think it's odd that sometimes when we are outside, he heads to the door and wants to go inside, then runs straight to the basement. I don't think there are critters down there (except for spiders) - haven't seen/heard any evidence of that. I think the obedience training is a good idea - he really does not seem himself in the basement; won't come when I call, or stop barking (elsewhere he is getting good at both things). He does not seem to have much retrieving instinct (I know, odd for a lab) but more interaction/playtime couldn't hurt! My son was hoping to teach him to play frisbee, but so far we have mostly been concentrating on teaching him to come, walk nicely on a leash, not jump up, etc. I am missing our old dog, who was 5 when we got her and SO easy!

Somehow in the switchover to the new format I lost my old username, so I am now Cottage Cheese (fka Urban Suburban). Many thanks to the above posters. In addition to the above I've also sown the below, bringing me to about forty (actually, probably a lot more, as a spread packets over a couple containers) containers with some leftover for direct sowing or spring container sowing. One great resource - the local coffee shop that saves me grounds also uses a ton of gallon milk jugs each day, so I've taken to (with their permission) raiding their recycling bin. Made the accumulation of materials very easy. Might be worth pursuing for some others on here. The snow is melting and spring is on the way! Planning on some new garden beds and turning a steep front lawn into sort of a rock garden situation. Lots of great ideas on these forums and I've done a lot of reading. I'll try to take photos and keep things updated and share as I go along. Thanks again! Looking forward to: Anemone, pink saucer Baby's breath, pink creeping Balloon flower, astra blue Balloon flower, astra white Balloon flower, hakone double blue Candytuft, snowflake Dianthus, arctic fire Forget-me-not, bluesylva Forget-me-not, victoria indigo blue Primrose, danova growers select mix Rose, angel wings miniature Russian sage, taiga Salvia, blue queen Salvia, merleau blue Salvia, rose queen Stokesia, blue star Thyme, magic carpet Wall rockcress, little treasure deep rose Wall rockcress, snowfix