Update since I started this thread. I spent a couple hours perusing a copy. It exceeded my expectations. The books are physically huge, and heavy. It's not just the pictorial encyclopedia implied by the long extent website...there are over 100 introductory pages and at least a couple hundred more than are like a textbook on the ecology of temperate conifers. With somewhat small text - they were clearly trying to stuff as much in there as possible without resorting to a third volume! Yes, it does skip entries on tropical conifers, but their families are discussed in relation to all other conifers, so its still a valid overview of the entire phylum. To my concern about the quality of the photography...well in some cases it could be a little better, but it doesn't detract from the book at all. Each species is represented by multiple photographs including close-ups and those closeups are probably more important for the work's intended audience. I think the price is quite in-line with what you are buying. It must rank up there with T. Everitt's New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture as one of the epic horticultural titles of all time. If a large format, full-color separation gardening book goes for about $50 retail, you are easily getting 5X the book, if not 10X the book. I have no doubt I will buy a copy, someday, I'm not sure if it will be soon or not. I could spend hours and hours looking at a book like that, and my garden needs hours and hours of attention! I worry if it will find much of a market at it's current price but I suppose that any serious university library should have it and there are hundreds of those just in the US. Would especially appreciate Resin's thoughts if he's seen the work, or anybody else's. (I guess I'm not alone in assuming Resin is something of a big deal in the world of conifers who posts here under a pseudonym...a professor at a UK university perhaps? Since he always has herbarium images of the most obscure species!)

Lars, what a great and unique package and theme! I have no doubt that Diane will be enjoying all of it for some time!! MQ sent me some homemade spice blends a few years back and I loved them. I love the card that you can plant for wild flowers. Very cool!! David

I went to the photographer's web site and found more info about the book(s) these photos are taken from; I think they're from Hungry Planet, but some may be from What I Eat. The photos are definitely intended to be provocative. The books include much more info on the families' daily lives, calorie intake, community, etc., as well as essays and interpretations, and they're highly acclaimed by reviewers. I couldn't find out how the families were selected or how "typical" they're claimed to be, but several countries in the series, including the U.S., were represented by more than one family. Sue Here is a link that might be useful: Hungry Planet

Thanks, everyone. It was fun to watch the design come together and so easy to do. I think keeping the colors in the same order when sewing the strips together is helpful to make it look better. Marsha, Bonnie liked the red and white checkerboard, too. :-) Calliope, There are a few military personnel in Haiti from various countries. I think Abbi said there were 9 from the U.S. and they are stationed at the Embassy compound and is for goodwill. She plans to visit every orphanage/school that she can while there. Someone has already sponsored getting 50 indestructible basketballs delivered to her and the first set is on the way to her. Donna, I didn't start with squares but with six 2 1/2" X 18" (FQ) strips which ended up as a 12 1/2" unfinished block. Four across, five down. But, you can use squares if you want to. *grin* SharonG/FL