50/50 sphagnum peat/perlite or silica sand. You can also use LFS (long fiber sphagnum) by itself but IMO the roots will intertwine in it and make it harder to separate them if you ever do a complete media change which is recommended every 2-3 years due to mineral buildup. Yes you're going to have to use distilled or RO water if you don't save rain water. I now save water via a 55 gallon drum. It is possible to distill your tap water but hardly worth it. It will cost more in gas/electricity than just buying the water.

Babka, so glad you don't have a cooktop activated by voice commands. Or maybe I am glad WE do not have one, because my DH cusses at the burners, no telling what would be cooked. Les, I bet you'll be glad to get out in the fresh air away from strange tales of nerdy flies. While you are recovering, why don't you read the Steven King book, MISERY? Or watch the movie? Hmmm? Didn't Kathy Bates take a sledge hammer and whop the man on his broken leg? You'd feel all kinds of empathy with him, ---take your mind off of strange topics. Might get you up and out of therapy in no time.

I don't have many problems but I follow the standard audubon guidelines regarding bug screen, drapes, and feeder placement which is probably why I don't have many issues. From audubon.com How can this help? Many birds strike windows after being startled off a feeder. Bird feeders placed within three feet of windows can reduce fatal collisions because birds do not have an adequate distance to reach high flight velocity. Placing the feeders more than 30 feet from a window will also reduce window collision risk because, at that distance, birds are more likely to recognize that the reflected image is part of a house and are less likely to fly toward it for safety. Practicality HIGH: For homes with feeders, this is an easy and surefire way to reduce deadly window strikes. Window Shades, Drapes, etc. How can this help? White or light-colored window shades, blinds, or drapes, when drawn, eliminate much of the mirror effect or transparency of windows. Practicality  HIGH: Interior window treatments (such as drapery) already exist in many homes. The downside is that they block the view to the outside. Drawing curtains or blinds when leaving for work or vacation is good practice. Before: Drapes open, window reflects habitat After: Drapes closed, reflection greatly reduced Window Decals or Items Hung Outside the Window How can this help? Decals or objects placed on or in front of windows create an interference pattern that reduces the mirror effect of reflective windows and make transparent windows more visible. (For example, see "Wing Chimes" on the Fatal Light Awareness Program link below.) Practicality  MED: Although decals are easily affixed to windows and are available in a range of styles (it is not necessary to use a hawk silhouette), they must be spaced close to each other to be effective  at most 2 inches apart horizontally, and 4 inches apart vertically. Objects, such as ribbon draped on the exterior side of a window must also be spaced strategically to create density. This density causes too much visual obstruction for many people. Covering just a portion of a window is better than no coverage at all. Bird Netting How can this help? Fine mesh netting stretched tightly over an entire window causes birds to "bounce" away before crashing into window glass and does not obstruct the view. Practicality  MED: Works well but requires some do-it-yourself agility; poses entanglement risk if not properly installed. Netting must be taut and at the appropriate distance from the window. Adhere to instructions available with product or on the internet. Window tilted - ground is reflected Tilted Glass How can this help? Tilting the glass in a window causes the ground to be reflected rather than possible shelter and escape routes for fleeing birds. Practicality  MED: Not a foolproof solution but an easy way to address the problem during the construction or remodeling phase of a building. With supporting research, this practice might be commonplace in the future. Fritted Glass How can this help? Fritted glass has granules fused onto it to create a frost-like pattern that reduces its reflectivity and transparency. Practicality  LOW: Currently being tested on a college campus, it holds some promise for widespread use in commercial and residential applications. May be perceived as esthetically unappealing by the general public and obstructs open view to the outside. Window Films How can this help? An opaque sheet of plastic attached to windows gives them a solid appearance. Practicality  LOW: Films currently available to the general public severely limit visibility. Bug Screen How can this help? Bug screens or summer screens on the outside of exterior glass kept in place year-round will cut down on reflectivity and transparency while acting as barrier to birds and insect during warmer months. Practicality  HIGH: In newer construction, double paned windows can be shielded by screens. In older homes with storm windows, screens would need to be switched with exterior glass.

reno, I completely missed this post, sorry. And thanks for finding the Jere :) That's a bit younger in style and years than the Jeres I crave...I actually am looking for anything 1973 or so or earlier, in an earlier, more detailed style. Just google-image "Curtis Jere" and you'll see what I'm looking for. Here's an example of one thing from the first page of results that is dreamy to me (below). Re the bio information: there is such mystery surrounding the person, if he existed. One website says he definitely did and the person who posted so claims to be his nephew (or some next-generation close descendant). I didn't follow up to make contact with the person but it feels sometimes like the Anastasia story...who's conning, did he really exist, etc. So if something like the thing below comes up on your c's list, please RED ALERT me! This one was much appreciated, though :) Here is a link that might be useful: interesting bio information below