I too am crying and smiling at the same time. You have helped create a miracle. I wish the politicians would step aside and let great teachers like you teach ( and sometimes even save) kids. Just think what a loving/caring teacher did for a troubled child and how simple things like caterpillars, butterflies, rue, and eventually a pop-up can mean so much. You have my vote for teacher-of-the-year! I'm thankful that you didn't take retirement when DH did. mike

Thanks Sylvia and Sally, This is a large organization that I know does do a lot of good. Apparently, they do more in the area they accustomed to working in. I can understand if they don't have members in our area and the volunteers are reluctant (or whiney) about the drive. We won't be requesting a refund or publicizing this because we don't want to harm the good they are doing elsewhere. The lady (Judy, a volunteer from the organization) who came when we rounded up the kittens a month or so ago came today and picked up Cookies. He will be tested for leukemia and feline aids then vaccinated and, a little later, neutered. During this time he will be living with a foster mom. Then he will go with the rest of the kittens to a PetSmart in Richardson. Adopters must agree that the cats will be indoor cats and that if for some reason, at any time things are not working out, the cat must be returned to the organization and not just given away or "thrown" out. I understand that the adoption fee at PS is around 125.00. Hopefully if someone is going to pay that much for a cat, they will give it a wonderful home (considering the number of free kitten ads they could have chosen from). I told myself I wouldn't do it, but I cried. Just couldn't help it and can't help it now. Barb, Candy and I discussed this morning with Judy the possibilities of us doing it all on our own. She volunteered her help and traps and we will be contacting the organization to get their approval which we will need in order to work with the local veterinarian (free spaying and neutering) and our local PetSmart who won't accept animals from individuals. Anyhow, thanks all for your advice and help. I know Cookies will be fine and find a great home, but I need a tissue right now. Take care, Kristi

Congratulations! You got a great plant! Glad it rebloomed for you! I also have had a really large Burana for 7 or 8 years now - it was a rescue plant that has turned out to be a vigorous grower and a profuse bloomer. Mine is pretty sturdy and undemanding. It is taken out onto the balcony as soon as temps at night stay above 5C and stays there as long as they don't drop below same mark, that is, roughly till mid November. Then I take it in, allow it to bloom - often its second time - and then either move it to the winter quarters where it rests till early spring or keep it on a warmer window sill and allow it to grow new p.bulbs - depending on the weather and the frame of mind it's in. I'm not claiming to provide best growing conditions for mine, just showing it can be pretty tough. I have a lot of Epiphyllums, Selenicereus, and tons of other plants that need lower temps over the winter, so my Burana doesn't have much choice but to live by the universal rules. Lena

Excellent, Beng. Really quite a species. In N. Wisconsin, a characteristic site is that of a large YB seeming to stand on "stilts", it having gotten its start on a rotting stump, which later rots away completely, leaving the tree up on its roots in that fashion. Anyone confirm or deny the notion that YB can hybridize with B. papyrifera? I have on my land numerous of the latter, but down in an area full of springs, there are some birch seeming to show intermediate characteristics between the two species. And both are generally found in the area, to account for the possibility,from that standpoint at least, of this being able to happen. +oM