One thing about a generator, Jackie, is that if you have it, you need to maintain it. That means that, during the months and years when you're not using it, you need to "exercise" it periodically, and do regular mainenance on it. If you get one, it'd likely be smart to talk to the sales people about those issues. We have a generator -- in our motorhome. We do "exercise" it at regular intervals, so we know it will run well when it's needed. If we had any sort of disaster resulting in a long power-outage, we could use the generator to minimally run the refrigerator, and the freezer. It could also be used to power up rechargeable devices. Light inside at night is a different thing. We have several antique oil lamps, but nowadays, we don't have most of them filled. We would use, instead, several of those nifty battery-powered Coleman camping lamps. They're very safe, and very effective. IF the chimney were to remain sound, we could use that for heating. Fortunately for us, we are far enough away from the San Andreas that it shouldn't be really bad for us. That said, we have a couple of very local faultlines, which could possibly be affected by the San Andreas. Jeri

PM2: There are eagles and vultures in MA, too. I've seen both of them here (turkey vultures and bald eagles). The turkeys definitely connect me with food - if I look closely, I often see a turkey scout in the driveway next door, or across the street, or in a tree. Soon after I put food out they'll come sauntering over to grab a snack. Sometimes I try to outlast them so the smaller ground-feeding birds can eat in peace, but just when I think they've gone to roost and put food out, they come right back. Yet every once in a while they'll disappear for a week or two, which I think is their normal routine in the wild. Feed for a few days or a week in one area then move on to another. I also don't see them much during the breeding season when the big flocks split up and there's food available in the woods. I put mixed seed out so I'm not sure what they prefer, except that they really like nyjer. I had a low-hanging nyjer sock for a while and the turkeys discovered they could peck a hole in the sock and the seed would spill out onto the ground where they could easily slurp it all up. That sock is now encased in a metal feeder. The best thing I've read that they eat is ticks! In fact, I haven't seen any ticks here for a few years, although the other birds could be eating them too. I don't know if everybody is willing to keep a flock of turkeys in their yard for tick control (sort of like keeping goats to eat the poison ivy) but it's an added benefit. I've been thinking about that Ilex "Honey Maid" for a while - do you know if the Ilex "Blue Stallion" will pollinate it? Claire

Thanks Chris! I wish I had a greenhouse, but I dont really have a place where it would look good and get the benifits of the sun. I usually just put the plants around the house with the tallest palms going by the tallest ceiling . Last year all the plants barely had a place to go and this year I have a LOT more so Im starting to get a little worried. I think Im going to partially convert a room into a greenhouse since it has nice south facing windows and is rarely used. But one day I would really love to put all these plants in a greenhouse! Until then my house becomes a jungle with all the plants are fighting for their lives until spring finally comes! I think I am going to look up about greenhouses and maybe see where one can go. I can dream :) And thanks for the tip about the Fireball bromeliad. Originally when I took them out in late march, they were in full sun, but when the tree grew leaves for the summer, It got a lot more shade. I think next year Im going to look for a place with more sun and maybe if I get enough pups, I will have a few more plants too! And you got my ending signature just right! Sometimes I dont even notice Im writing it, lol.... Good luck! -Alex

Hello Harry, You bought that nutmeg from that nursery in Hawaii right? The grower that claims that the original Nutmeg was hermaphroditic? I was just wondering. Do you think it has a chance at recovering? You had mentioned in a previous post that you had two diffrent june plums, one with a large spiny seed and one that had more pulp. The one with more pulp sounds interesting. These trees fruit at a small size right? I am wondering if you grow them from seed if you can get a plant that is true to type. I am just thinking of some new tropicals(besides mango) thatI can add. I really don't have anything unusual except the Caimito. I would like to add something a lil diffrent. Something that wouldn't be to difficult to grow but something that would be rewarding with fruit harvest. I am still thinking of the carambola bell but not quite sure yet. Maybe you can help me more when I get down there to your house. I have 2 nice seed grown quenepa now. I am praying that I end up with a male and female. My S.A. and soursop are growing nicely now. Both are still relatively small but they will make it. I have tons of seedlings of S.A. and not sure what I will do with them all. I will have to throw most out unless someone here wants them. I just hope they are worth the wait. I know grafted trees are much better. If you can think of a fruit that I could grow let me know. Andrew