cjwatson--thank you for your reply with good information! I sent an email to Orquideas Rio Verde--thank you for the reference. As for Maduro, Woodstream's web page was last updated Aug 20 with a repeat of some obviously still current info: "NEXT SHIPMENT FROM PANAMA DELAYED INDEFINITELY!! We are sold down on species for the moment. Our next shipment from the Maduro's was scheduled to arrive in June, but is now delayed indefinitely due to issues in Panama. Sr. Maduro had to undergo treatment for a serious medical condition in June. Thankfully he is recovering well and we look forward to the return of the Maduro's and their wonderful Panamanian species and unique hybrids. We will post monthly updates on this page." So, we will simply wait until Sr. Maduro's situation is clarified further. I look forward to an addy for Orquideas Costa Brava, if you can locate one, please. Again, thank you for the info! --Stitz--

I ordered from her around August. Out of the twentyfive varities I ordered three had to be subs. The leaves arrived quickly some had no chance. In the end I lost around eight varities. She wanted to replace them but I told her not to worry about it. Next time I make an order she'll make it up to me! She sprikles this stuff called HighFresh on the stems to help hold the leaves. It may work for thick leaves but thin leaves don't stand a chance! Then again thick leaves could make it with nothing. I've recieved better looking leaves (fresher) from the deep south and Canada. That said, She truly wanted to make it right. Fay appears to be very honest and the price is right! I'll place an order in the spring.

Tough to tell exactly what it is without a closer photo, but it isn't a venomous species. It is a juvenile of one of the "racer-like" snakes. If I would have to guess, it is a juvenile of one of the following genera: Chironius - "Sipos" Dendrophidion - "Forest Racers" Drymoluber - "Woodlands Racer" Mastigodryas - "Tropical Racers" All of those genera are harmless and I strongly suspect it is one of the species in those genera. It is not one of the Colombian coralsnakes nor is it any species of viper.

Correction ... the Pink Palace where Evita lives is actually called the La Casa Rosada "Pink House". And Florida Street is actually Calle Florida (pronounced FloorEEda). We had so much fun walking around Florida and nearby streets. Calle Santa Fe is another popular shopping area across town. My travel partner had been to Buenos Aries four times before she and I went there and she had never had anyone tell her about the taxi ride safety issues. If your mom has a chance to take a city bus tour, encourage her to do so, BA is a big (but manageable) city for tourists. The city bus tour at the beginning of her visit will really help her figure out where she wants to go. Cafe Tortoni is the popular tango show a few doors down from our hotel on Ave de Mayo. Ask any cab driver, they will know. Reservations are a must for most tango places and the shows fill up quickly. Getting around BA is very easy. While there we took the subway, buses, taxis and even had a private driver when we invited to have dinner with a wealthy family that lives just outside the city. I am fascinated by Evita so had to visit the Evita museum which is snuggled in a residential area off the beaten track. Well worth the trouble to find it. You still see evidence of Evita's power over the country all around. Evita posters, souvenirs and Viva la Evita scrawled in graffiti. The Puerto Madero area which is right down by the water is a great place to eat. I hope your mom's not a vegetarian because Argentina is all about the beef! My daughter, an Argentine Tango dancer wouldn't last a day there because of her eating habits. I was going to post some photos I took around BA but Photobucket is down for maintenance right now. And yes, I went to Antarctica in 2006. An 8 day cruise with four expeditions on the continent and peninsula. The experience of a lifetime! You've been here at the KT a while, I'm surprised you haven't seen some of the many penguin and other Antarctic photos I posted. Jodi-