MsJay, Thank you very much! Ok, so the blue bottles. I got 2-3 froma garage sale, another 2-3 from teh antique store and another 1-2 from the thrift store.. I pay anywhere between 50 cents to $4 a bottle. I have more but they are bigger and do not fit on that particular stand. I just happened on that stand at a thrift store. I'm not sure exactly what it was in its former life--maybe a coffee mug holder??? I had been wanting a real dead tree to display them on...It takes time to collect the right peices so be patient. Also, if I remember correct my BB took about $3-6 worth of pennies (I double covered mine) if that helps any. I guess if you have more pennies than needed they can always be used in oyur spare change. :-) Hope this all helps you. Love, Jules

@Moonie: I am sorry your Turk up and left. I had my Mister Big Froggie overwinter with me for two years when I didn't see him for a week. When I asked my neighbor if they saw a frog they said no, but then said they saw this HUGE green frog on their deck and they even took pictures of him! They had no idea where such a huge frog would come from. But I knew... we just get to be wildlife keepers for some of our friends, and they get to wander when they want to. I have another frog in my pond this year but he's not as pretty and for the most part hides. I started my pond on my wife's whim. We had two hard liners, small (80 gallons?) and large (180 gallons?) we got from a friend and one day she told me that "we" were going to dig ponds. No planning, just started digging in the corner. Once we got water in there then we went for a pump. I added some feeder goldfish and still have some around. Added a pair of Koi too, but lost one last year to some strange disease when his tail turned up sharply and he stopped eating. I had always wanted a pond so I kept at it and found this place to help me over the initial humps. Not bad for no planning, the ponds are the bright spot of our yard now.

I'm waiting for a ride somewhere so I'll resurrect this thread! In 1993/94 I was working at this plant nursery in Vista, CA called Exotica. It had rare plants from everywhere all over the place (fruits mainly but some kinda unusual ornamentals). At the time I was double majoring in botany and music and I was very interested in ethnobotany. I knew that daturas were complex and used by people around the world so I was kinda intersted in these tree forms (at that time I think we were calling them tree daturas but I dunno if we were just behind the times or what). Anyway, thinking back it is kinda funny because the nursery manager who I was coming in to replace was training me and they had a few kinds -just marked "white", "orange" and this double white "Double White" that no one really thinks is all that these days. Well, back them this was super super rare I guess and she tells me "don't sell the Double Whites for anything less than $60 IF it's a small plant" And I'm all WHAT?! No one has that kinda money to drop on plants. Which is funny cause now I hear of people dropping a couple hundred bucks on rare plants but that was outrageous to me then. I didn't have a place of my own right then (and couldnt afford them even at the super reduced wholesale price of $60) so I'd go to the dessert and check out the jimson weed. I finally got my mom a double white which is still at her house and is quite old now. When they started appearing in home depot it was pretty weird. And when the double white did, it was like the fourth sign of the apocalypse or something. I can't say I am addicted to them per se. Although I do have as many as I can get onto my yard and still be able to walk out there. A lot of people have been pretty helpful. I think Monika Gottschalk the hybridizer from Germany is really helpful with all her info online and her willingness to correspond, post and publish. I've met a few botanists in Germany and the Netherlands who have been helpful as well. And Strybing Arboretum and UC Berk have been helpful with maintaining the species Brugs and making them available. I sitll think I'm sorta a newby though cause everyone else seems to know so much more about the Brugs in particular. I still really suck at virus ID. Well my ride is still not here but I better go!

Hi, Everybody! WOW, what a great group of folks that are planning to come, Melissa! Some old friends, plus a lot of new folks I haven't met yet. I'm so looking forward to that! And I can't wait to give all the "usual suspects" a hug around the neck!! I really wish I had more to share, but I know you all understand what has happened to my yard, and I know I'm not the only one. This still gives us a chance to share what we DO have left unscathed, and just to hang out and enjoy each other, and be inspired by each other. What a great way to spend the day. I'm not the world's best cook (I'm the Designated Eater), but since Kate isn't able to come to this one, how about I bring a trifle? She taught me how to make her favorite version, and it makes a tasty dessert, for those who want more than one. I'll do the lemon/blueberry one, if Publix cooperates. Anything else I can bring, Melissa? Kara, I am taking fresh lion's mane cuttings for you today...hopefully, they will be starting to root by Saturday. This is the first day I've had to think about finding something to share. Looking SO forward to seeing/meeting you all! Marcia