Christina, the difference is significant. They are different Genus, entirely...different Family...and different Order, too. So there's some wide taxonomic differentiation. More importantly, however, they have different leaf tissue and slightly different watering needs. The Port. afra has more delicate leaves that are susceptible to drying out, and so the plant looks its best when it receives more consistent moisture - even during the Winter (this, of course, requires a fast-draining mix to avoid rot). Port. afras are also more "woody" and fibrous, and take longer to callus after pruning. Crassula ovata is a tougher plant that can tolerate longer periods of dryness...and still look somewhat decent. The leaves are much thicker. You might want to contact Glen (gmaculata here at GardenWeb) and ask him about Port. afra and Sunset Jades. Josh

Dawn there are several in the TX Panhandle I don't see on that list. The one between Sunray and Dumas is a big one. Not only in numbers but the size of the windmills also. They have their pros and cons. I wouldn't want one close. There are several wind farms in this area of SW KS. There are more proposed but without gov't support they are like the ethanol plants non profitable. So many of them are on hold the same as the ethanol plants. Yes Scott there are many birds killed by them. I also feel for the small landowners that the transmission lines cross. I know of one small produce farmer what had 42 acres and they have built two of the large lines across his property and trying to condemn right of ways to build two more. They have to space them so far a part and if they succeed he won't be able to use it as a farm market anymore. They won't buy his ground as they claim they don't have too. It is a sad story. So yes they are nice to look at driving down the road. But sit on the porch of someone who lives close and listen to the constant swish and tell me how you like them. Jay

Hi Miz, Nice to see a new face around here! Digit's the expert since he lives up thataway, and I way agree with him! I don't think there'd be much similarity at all to the wet, warm, lowland gardening near the coast. Wherever exactly you are, I'm guessin' you have Digit's short growing season, low precip, low humidity, wide day/nite temp swings--and "unfortunate" soil! That would put you with the rest of us, "I can do this! I KNOW I can really, really do this" gardeners! And, yeah, you/I/all of us, really, really CAN do it! We prove it every day and every year! Are you really sure you're in a 4b microclimate? Check out the (fairly recent) USDA map below. It's showing everything up in the panhandle, all the way down to south of Coeur d'Alene, to be zone 6, and going all the way down to a 4 seems like a big swing. You must be in some sort of a little rock basin or the bottom of a valley where the cold air settles or something. The linked map is interactive and you can zoom in as far as you want to and then click on the "zones" around the edges to highlight whichever zones you want to. There hasn't been much action around here on RMG lately, but hopefully it'll pick up again soon. Hope you'll be around to join in our conversations. Welcome to RMG, Skybird P.S. Digit, Woodle is doing great--Rainey's not so much! Haven't had time to post lately--getting ready for my vacation---up your direction this year, but not that far! But I WILL be staying in Idaho for 4 nites--at Island Park! (Yellowstone!) My tomatoes got put in WAY late this year, but are doing pretty well, and I'll be back with a complete report sometime after I get home--assuming my hard drive with all my notes doesn't crash again this year! Here is a link that might be useful: USDA Interactive Zone Map

Wonderful ending to a stressful day...Peacefulness....Wishing a speedy recovery for DH, you and family! Juanita