Dian, I agree that three ribs may be too few for a table top that is over 30". You may be wise to insert a piece that crosses from where one outer edge of the table top would be, across the opening in the tomato cage and to the other side of the outer edge. This would create "five ribs" overall, and strengthen the center of the table. You could even tie a piece of 1/2" pvc tubing as the 'wire' rib then enclose it with wire mesh as I did in the detail picture. About the wire the gauge is not as important as your ability to insert it through the mesh, bend it and then twist it tight to hold everything secure. With wire the smaller the number the larger the wire. 18-22 is a flexible enough size to use as twists for basteing and holding. Nothing really fancy here think bread twist ties. I would think put a twist in every 4+ inches or so Your final piece is dependent on having the armature strong. This is a great tomato cage project. Oh yes and one other thing, when you said about instructional photos, in defense of the person who did the mushrooms; she may have provided VERY detailed photos of how toos, but who decides what will make the final copy may have little interest in whether all the detail is there, only that it fits the format or page. I have had this happen to me. I do hope that if you do this project that you will take some digitals of the detail part where you have tied things together and show some rib action, it is an important step in all of this. Be creative, happy casting, Dena

"how then, do people make fountains, etc? they must drag them inside over winter?" I wouldn't even be tempted to invest the energy and materials to make a fountain out of tufa, a product with a finite lifespan. Yes, people do it, but I visualize a real mess when it starts to fall apart. WHEN, not IF. People who make concrete outdoor fountains drain them (and make sure they STAY drained) before the first freeze hits. And if the concrete wasn't made with care and attention to details, it may not last long, either. I have the feeling that local climate has a lot to do with the lifespan of hypertufa. Here in the PNW, we get a lot of rain, then sudden freezes. If some water has migrated into the concrete, and then expands when freezing temps hit, the concrete is going to deteriorate. But there are probably places that are dry when the cold temps hit, and there may not be much moisture within the concrete piece itself, and that may promote less cracking and less damage. But that's just my theory. Someone in CA once said: "You can argue with the laws of physics all you want, but you're going to lose." And that's really the bottom line. Sue

Yes,we have ,apparently,lots of chanterelles,and some boletes as well.It's my understanding,though,that I have to sell my soul to get access to other people's private picking areas.Yummy they are,though! As for pouring directly on the mushroom...I don't think it would work on most of what we're getting.Perhaps with portobello....the gills on the ones we get here are VERY fine.But,I like what you're thinking.Maybe we'll try it on an LBM(Little Brown Mushroom!).Those we get lots of in the forest.for those that like'm,we collect oyster mushrooms less than 100 meters from our door.Envious? Cheers from here

Hi, Marly! How've you been? Your Birdfeeder is wonderful! That's one of the best looking 'tufa mushrooms I've seen. Your 'birdbath' makes the perfect mushroom cap, and you've worked magic with those colors. I also really like the wet look you got using the epoxy/resin. Was the resin difficult to work with? Could you tell us more about how you made your stem, Marly? Did you form it on the outside of your mold, cast it solid, or do it more like a lantern light box? Curious about how you carved the entrance holes. It's so cool that the birds are already feeding in it! Eva