"...I couldn't pass up a chance to riff with fatplant..." That was why I asked what I was missing. Although I've heard a lot of info that I've disagreed with over the years from others, I was baffled at what you were saying. It didn't sound at all like you! ;~) "...my whole family is saddened by the very visible effects logging has on our community." ' I, too, have been horrified at the logging going on around me! :~( It was all but shut down, until 'shrub' campained his "Healthy Forests" scam up here. I can be arrested if I collect Cyps, Darlingtonias, etc, but it's acceptable to run over them with a Caterpillar! Virtually all of the fishing streams are protect from fishing, but it's fine to fill them with silt from the logging runoff. It's all being sent to Japan anyway and doing the locals no good, especially in the long run. It's like trying to protect the "Golden Goose" and being out voted by the other geese!:~( "I collect natives for my personal collection and for conservation." Good for you!! :~) I have no problems with responsible stewardship! Someone has to do it. Most of the horror seems to come from those that are just professional protesters and don't actually do much. You do know that 'shrub' has added mining, officially, to the list of forest activities. I'd rather have logging any day!;~) If you're interested, I added a link to a set of photos of my local SW Oregon natives that I've found. Here is a link that might be useful: Native Orchids/Plants

Are you kidding me? There's TONS to do!! St. Paul Conservatory is awesome for WARMTH and plants! Attached Como Zoo is FREE and very fun if the weather is warm enough. Learn about how maple syrup is made: MN Landscape Arboretum Sugarbush Pancake Brunch & Tours March 27-28 9am-1pm, $9/adults Spring on the Farm: Gale Woods Farm April 2 9:30-3:00pm Lambwatch starts in late March - google for more info Go indoor ice skating downtown Mpls at the Depot http://www.thedepotminneapolis.com/icerink/ The Dead Sea Scrolls, Science Museum of MN Opens March 12 - reservations recommended My kids love going to the Mill City Museum http://www.millcitymuseum.org/ Visit the St. Paul Farmer's Market (Mpls opens in April - unsure of date) www.stpaulfarmersmarket.com Check out a show: Wizard of Oz at the Orpheum Theatre March 26-28 If the weather's good, take a brisk walk around Lake Harriet. Even better if you can borrow someone's dog! Take a magical mystery Tour on a Segway! http://www.tcsegway.com/magical.htm Spend an afternoon playing video/arcade games at Gameworks and then walk around downtown/Block E /Warehouse district www.gameworks.com Macy's Flower Show, downtown Mpls April 5 ttp://www1.macys.com/campaign/flowershow/minneapolis.jsp Check out an indie film at the Lagoon Theatre www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Minneapolis/LagoonCinema.htm Hang at the Bryant Lake Bowl for bowling, local food, local theatre and tons of other cool goings-on! Show X (Improv Comedy!) is on Mar. 29 at 8:00 pm bryantlakebowl.com Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Mar. 28 and Sacramento Mar. 31 nba.com/timberwolves/schedule/ Visit the always FREE Minneapolis Institute of Arts If this isn't enough to think about, here are 150 different ideas, sorted by season: http://www.minneapolis.org/page/150-things-to-do.jsp Have fun! kat

There are a few good sources for native orchids, one is Vermont Ladyslipper Co (www.vtladyslipper.com). It is virtually impossible for the average gardener to grow these plants from seeds, since there must be a certain fungus in the soil that helps them geminate and grow. Your best chances are with a company like this one that RESPONSIBLY propagates and grows native orchids. Please beware that some plants offered for sale have been dug from the wild, a practice that is often illegal, jeopadizes their long-term survival in the wild, and provides you with plants that will most likely die in your garden, since they cannot adjust to being uprooted and transplanted. Good luck! Bruce

Oh, gdogni. I tried to make this short, but it can't be said in a few sound bites. Who was doing the jobs before the illegals came? They were being done. Have we been quick to buy the idea that Americans don't want to do these jobs because we, ourselves, wouldn't want to do them? Americans have done jobs for many years I wouldn't want to have to do. I would do anything I could do, if necessary, but I do have my 'druthers. I wish you could have talked with the young woman I just spent time with the other day. She was almost in tears because she was pretty sure she was going to loose her jobs because the company had just brought in a new group of illegals. She commuted 60 miles - one way - to work on the assembly line of a chicken processing plant. I've been just in the office of a processing plant and my stomach lurched from the smell. It's a job I don't want to have to do - but others have for many years. She said, in a shakey voice, 'I've just got to have this job.' The shocking thing she told me is, if this company lays someone off, not fired for reason, but laid off because of slowdowns, etc., they will only rehire you one time. That means you can be rehired, but if laid off again (because a batch of illegals come in) you are no longer 'qualified' to work for that company. By way of their hiring practices, they are creating 'unqualified' workers in the area. People know to not apply for the job again. So when the news media goes to the spokesman for that company he/she can say things like 'we just can't find qualified workers', or 'we just haven't had any applicants' or the old stand by 'no one wants to do these kinds of jobs'. Neither they nor the media are going to tell you they fixed the situation. When you see jobs being filled by illegals - the only thing that means is they have the job. It means absolutely nothing else. We don't know how many others applied for the job, and didn't get it. One thing you have to realize is that in many areas, people are aware that only illegals will be hired, and they don't even apply. I saw illegals building the houses that got built in the frenzy of the last few years. Can we assume that Americans no longer wanted to do carpentry, dry walling, electrical,plumbing, bricklaying?? I don't think so. I know a lot who wanted the jobs. They are a bargain to employers because the employers have no responsibility. They don't have to comply with overtime laws, collect and match taxes, worry about OSHA regulations, workman's comp. If one gets hurt, they are taken to the hospital and the taxpayers pay for it. The media and the politicians are not giving out the true story on this. Now the reason I mentioned illegals was the fact they are working here. Americans already are competing with them for jobs, and if things get bad, it will be even more so. There is nothing wrong with mowing lawns and bussing tables, but that is not the only jobs they are doing. We will be hampered by the fact employers will have to work within the labor laws when hiring Americans, so given the choice, they will take illegals. The illegals are also getting benefits that are going to be needed for American families who loose their jobs. Again, just because Americans aren't doing the jobs, don't assume they won't or don't want to - now - but especially in the future.