Here's a CNN link discussing the fee increases. Specifically noted in the story: "The greatest fee increase will come for goods selling for less than $25. EBay's fee for those transactions will rise 67 percent, to 8.75 percent of the final sale price." Eesh - that would DEFINATELY hit plants. "Incoming CEO John Donahoe, president of eBay Marketplaces, which encompasses its shopping sites and classifieds, has said he will aggressively change eBay's product, customer approach and business model." Eesh - if he did this - he needs to go take a macro economics class. Econ 101 - if you want to increase an activity - you try to cut fees - cut some costs on admin side - increase the activity. Not hike your fees in the face of stagnating usage. Jeeez, duh! We're hurting - people are complaining! Increase the fees to make up for them not using the site! Wow, some people don't get it. Here is a link that might be useful: Cnn link to ebay story

Jen, There are a lot of threads about growing gardenias scattered among the various forums. Do a search on all forums for "gardenias" and you'll be busy for awhile with the results. My all time favorite GW thread is "The Suicidal Gardenia" which is beyond hilarious as folks describe how tempermental their gardenias are. However, gardenias are almost native plants here along the coast near Wilmington because they thrive in our very light (sandy) soil and high humidity with no attention at all. They are the very opposite of tempermental here! I've seen 8x6 foot gardenia bushes covered in blooms beside long-abandoned farm houses. But they HATE clay, so if you have heavy soil, so you'll have problems -- put your gardenia in a pot. Allie

I retured from running errands to discover Dr. Forbes had raised the TorCon Index for two locations in our state. For North Central Oklahoma through South Central Kansas: TorCon raised from 8 to 9. For comparison's sake, the only other '9's I personally remember (and there may be some I don't remember) were for Tuscaloosa last month, and for Yazoo, MS, last year. Both had major tornadoes. For South Central Oklahoma: Torcon raised from 6 to 7. For comparison's sake, I believe Joplin had a 6 on Sunday. For North East Oklahoma: raised from a 6 to a 7 For South East Oklahoma: assigned a 6 TorCon index numbes for other areas are available at the link below. Now, a couple of other tidbits: DS says the OU Sooner Facebook page is providing weather updates today. That's another great source for everyone. DS just drove up from Dallas. On I-35 with him he saw quite a few storm chasers. There were some vehicles he suspected were chasers but couldn't be sure, and others he knew from their appearance absolutely were storm chasers. So, if y'all are near any major highways, keep your eyes peeled because we don't know where they will stop and spend the day. If you see them hanging around your area, that's a clue! Please take today's severe weather threat as seriously as you possibly can. With large, strong, long-track tornadoes in the forecast, remember the safest place by far is in a below-ground tornado shelter or in a safe room. Above all else, don't wait until it is 'too late' to seek shelter. Watch your local media, the NWS webpage, radar, etc. for updates. Expect storms to start firing up at mid-afternoon. Be aware. Stay informed. Stay safe. I am not trying to scare anybody. I just want everyone to be aware, prepared and safe. Tomorrow or late tonight when we have a 'storm check-in thread' set up on this forum, we want for each and every member of this forum to be able to check in and say "We're safe. We made it." Later today, I'll link our back up radar. Remember too you can see radar at the NWS webpages and at the OK Mesonet webpage. Most of them have phone Apps for smart phones too. The best radar is the one closest to you, I believe, but if that one gets knocked out of service, always have a back-up plan for the radar you'll consult. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Updated TorCon Index Numbers Are Here

Hi Thom I think you should contact the Seed Savers Network at Byron Bay They travel all over the world doing what you are interested in (and they train the Indigenous people to search for and identify and catalogue local vars) The take internees and also have a huge bank of not only vegetable species (and vars) but also fruit such as bananas etc The SSN at Byron is foremost in the world in the direction they have taken in promoting (etc) seed saving cheers Peter Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Savers network