Not to shed a negative light on our state, but I'm curious if you've heard about all the uproar down here this week? Hope you've been informed that, even though you may not be a college football fan right now, after you're here a couple of years you MUST pledge your allegiance to either Auburn University (war eagle! or the University of Alabama (roll tide!). It's mandatory (no, not really). But seriously, you'll be amazed how college football dominates in this state. The vast majority of folks down here can be passionate fans of their favorite school, enjoy kidding around & joking with their rivals, but yet keep it all in perspective. Unfortunately though, like what happened this week, somebody occasionally forgets its just a game & takes it way over the line. Here is a link that might be useful: Auburn University oaks poisoned

Joyce, what a cool database! And I guess it answers a question I was going to ask about gentiana catesbaei. Thanks for sharing-- Sherry

Hi, all, It's a rainy morning in South Alabama, and I am dreary from the rain, too. Looking at the pictures of the beautiful rocks (we always called them West Milford stone) makes me homesick all over again for my old home grounds. I miss the terrain.. hard to explain how all this flat and tropical combined with farm fields and huge live oaks and pecan trees still just doesnt feel quite like home some days. I guess this is one of those days. On a positive note, our garden is blooming and producing like crazy here. We ate our first sweet corn 2 days before Memorial Day, and harvested just a mess of green beans, yellow squash and zucchini. Tomatoes just covered in blossoms and green tomatoes. My cosmos daylilies, petunias, mandevilla, bachelors buttons, sunflowers and zinnias are blooming like mad. I hear a rain frog outside croaking ( little funny green ones with webby feet) and my tiny pots of herbs which I started from seed are loving the rain. For once it isnt a frog-strangler. Seems that is all the kind of rain we get down here.. tropical downpours that pool on the flat ground and run into the shallow ditches and finally make their way to Mobile Bay and the Gulf. I ramble. I am homesick today. Thanks for the pictures.. keep them coming.. anyone here from Sussex or Northwestern Morris county? Happy gardening, Windyone

ct: I am trying to get up that way. I was going to do a long bike ride with 3 others around the whole area for a month but they are going in August and I won't be able to go. I am thinking that next year for sure. It was a beautiful site and believe it or not the last snow melted today !! Jane my DD was here but Atlanta was a mess for sure. she was glad she was here instead of there LOL. She said it is all ok now. She is headed to Las Vegas tomorrow for the weekend. Kids !!