Hey Mc, I'm a Rockhound too! DH & I belong to the Lapidary Club in Evansville, IN. I polish stones and DH does silverwork. I love those crystals!! Penny

You must have waited until I was out of camera shots! I didn't look to see if there was anyone I knew but I'm not sure we would remember each other after the brief visit at one of Annie's swaps. I came home with 4 new shrubs: Fragrant Abelia, Early Amethyst Beautyberry, Cool Splash Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle, and Summer Wine Common Ninebark. Absolutely loved the white heath aster ground cover in their display gardens shown in your 4th photo. Yankee Magazine said Uncanoonuc is best place for roses but I think perennials in general. It's a good idea to get on their email list. When I saw all shrubs $20 each, I made sure to get there on Friday. There wasn't much left even then. I was also happy to visit in late September to see what's in bloom. There's some beautiful asters which they don't have for sale yet since they are still working on propagating them.

Yes, the Butterfly Festival is there. According to the website below, Monarch butterfly migration peaks at the end of September... There's also a brand-new State Park lodge facility that is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to visit it! Here is a link that might be useful: Mt. Magazine State Park website

Wild bears, coyotes, wolves, all kinds of nasty beasts, like dogs raised in homes! They think they are rather tasty, and will try anything to get to yer fine dogs! Here, where i live, near Pittsburgh, Pa., coyotes have come here to live, and to feast mainly on the large deer herds that have taken up residence in suburbia, what with all of the nice shrubs and plants we grow just for them! And, the stray cat population, which at times was getting out of hand, has fallen off to almost nothing, along with stray dogs, and even a few dogs chained out back! I suppose nothing will persuade you to leave the dogs at home, though! But, please, don't go away for the day, from yer camper, and leave the dogs tied outside of it! there's nothing worse than having to sit all day and listen to 2 dogs ("our babies") barking their fool heads off! Ask me how i know! And, there must be some other reason why they don't want dogs in the forests, and its not because they "water" the trees! I think its more because of thoughtless dog owners who don't carry a poop bag, or some other method of cleaning up after the dog does what dogs do in the woods! Also, i haven't seen any dog sitters advertised in camping magazines, but, you might find one out there someplace! Probably some terbaccy chewing, bib over-all, straw-hatted individual,who hasn't had a good meal in weeks, and will enjoy some tasty ribs, etc.! Have fun: Rusty Jones