While I think that the "FAQ" as outlined by swanoir was presented tongue in cheek ('the humus'), many of the subsequent comments and/or links to threads that could/should be included in a FAQ were presented in a more serious tone. And maybe they do make sense as a foundation to a real LD forum FAQ. But I've also sensed something else in these comments that may contribute to the apparent lack of communication between new posters seeking advice and those that regularly frequent this forum and offer it. And that is that the long checklist provided by Miss R must be (or should be) answered in detail before posting. Well, of course not! But it is definitely something worth reviewing and giving some thought to. This checklist, or something very similar, is what most designers utilize when first meeting with a prospective client. It gives them a feeling for what the client wants to do with the property, how they intend to use it, what they hope to get out of it and how much effort (time/$$) are they are intending to put into it. Hopefully, reviewing an outline or checklist such as this could help to refine and focus some of those blank slate questions and even educate those new posters totally unfamiliar with the process the degree of complexity, the number of variables and exactly what is involved in the formulation of a landscape design. Even DIY landscape texts intended for the homeowner with no previous design or landscaping experience offer similar checklists to get one started thinking about the process. Obviously, this is overkill for those questions that are more issue-specific, but I think very appropriate for those that are much broader and far less focused.

Super helpful! Thank you.

Hello cfuehrer, I am not Rick. He has not been on this forum for awhile. I have even emailed him just this past week to see if he would respond but not yet. He is the most knowledgeable person on mosses that I have ran across. I do know some and have and am growing several species of mosses and have some stuff up on my website and will be adding more journals (perhaps as early as later this week??). What I recommend is if you have a digital camera is to post up some images at Photobucket (it is free) to share. I am glad you are trying to grow but do not be disappointed if you have problems at first. Growing mosses that grow in your area is a good start but not necessarily an easy task as they may be very specific as to habitat (cultural) requirements. I have put a link up to my website journals on mosses below. Check it out. Also I recommend you copy to your notepad the list of links below and save it on your machine. There is alot of info in those links. But growing is often a matter of learning how to adapt the conditions you have so that the mosses you can get will grow well for you. Anyhow you now have alot of material to check out. Do let me know if you have any questions. My email link is on my website. Here are ALL THE LINKS I currently have on mosses: >MOSSES & LIVERWORTS >>IMAGES https://www.csun.edu/~hcbio028/ http://www.ualberta.ca/~mjs14/bryopics/index.htm http://www.milueth.de/Moose/ http://www.kuleuven-kortrijk.be/facult/wet/biologie/pb/kulakbiocampus/images/buiten-kulak/mossen/Atrichum%20undulatum%20-%20Groot%20rimpelmos/index.htm http://dereila.ca/woods/page1.html http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/4Moss%20Photographs.htm http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/articles/4/ http://www.ontariowildflower.com/moss.htm#top http://bryophytes.plant.siu.edu/mossimage.html http://www2.una.edu/pdavis/mosses_to_know_in_the_field.htm http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~fredr/Bryos.htm http://home.clara.net/adhale/bryos/phframe.htm http://www.na.fs.fed.us/stewardship/pubs/mosses_liverworts/mosses_liverworts.htm >>BOTANICAL INFORMATION http://www.musci.com/CAbryodatalinks.html http://159.189.176.5/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=703&&PageID=2130&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/tropicos/most/welcome.shtml http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/noframe/j091.htm http://herbarium.usu.edu/holdings_plants.htm >>GENERAL INFORMATION http://sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/yodeler/html/2006/11/feature7.htm http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/moss/index.html http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~fieldbot/ormoss.html http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/sinu/mal_moss/mal_moss_intro.html http://www.gardeningvoice.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201 http://www.friendsofsaguaro.org/mosses.html http://www.arableplants.fieldguide.co.uk/?P=moss_liver_horn&SHC=1&PSD=1 http://www.tulane.edu/~bfleury/diversity/labguide/mossfern.html http://www.perspective.com/nature/plantae/bryophytes.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marchantiophyta http://heritage.nv.gov/mosses/florstms.htm >>SEARCH ENGINES MOSSES http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=acer%20macrophyllum%20moss&btnG=Google+Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ws http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/tropicos/most/welcome.shtml http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Biology/Flora_and_Fauna/Plantae/Bryophyta/ http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=mosses&fr=ush-groups http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?invocationType=topsearchbox.search&query=mosses+of+arizona >>SCIENTIFIC INFO http://www.cnps.org/programs/Rare_Plant/inventory/bryophytes.htm http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/bryophytes/index.html http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/plants/bryophyta/bryophyta.html http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/images/130/Bryophytes/ http://bryophytes.plant.siu.edu/ http://www.geocities.com/zvezuk/Ch1/cryra.html http://www.botany.ubc.ca/bryophyte/mosses.html http://www.science.siu.edu/landplants/Bryophyta/bryophyta.html http://www.goshen.edu/bio/Musci/Alpha3.html http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/tropicos/most/welcome.shtml http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/bfna/bfnamenu.htm http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/tropicos/most/Glossary/glosefr.html http://www.cnps.org/publications/fremontia/Fremontia_Vol31-No3.pdf http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/bryolab/index.php >>GROWING MOSSES http://www.squidoo.com/mossfarming http://www.gnps.org/Massie.htm http://members.tripod.com/~NPK1/moss7.html http://bryophytes.science.oregonstate.edu/mosses.htm http://www.missico.com/personal/tidbits/plants/how_to_grow_moss.htm http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/crypto/msg1122595913396.html?34 http://www.dendroboard.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=24568 Here is a link that might be useful: My moss journals

From my experience, I would not recommend buying moss online. They tend to ship it sheered off above the soil, so it has to regrow its little grabbers (it has no true roots) and the birds, especially the cat birds, like to flip it over to look for bugs and worms. Even with netting stapled to the ground, the amount that survived was minimal. Transplanting from around the property, on the other hand, was close to 100% successful. Just slice out a rectangle with a little steak knife the size of your spatula and then slide the spatula under the moss so as to leave about 3/8 to 1/2 inch of soil. Remove any loose debris from your destination and build it up with clay soil if it's not high enough, pressing it in lightly, then simply place the moss and press it in with your foot. Removing only part of the moss from the source location and filling in the gaps with clay soil will encourage regrowth, and I have found that removing any grass growing in and around it with your fingers, especially on a damp day, will allow the moss to thrive. I now have what you might describe as a small moss "farm" in a couple of locations. I have so far filled up the spaces between square pavers, used as a walkway, and adjacent areas. I have also found that placing the moss between the pavers encourages the moss to grow on the pavers. Basically, the more moss you have, the more you will have. I have also tried placing small strips of moss in the spaces in a crude brick rosette I made from bricks I salvaged from the base of an old handrail. Again, just build up the spaces with clay soil and then press in small strips and clumps with your fingers. I appear to have at least two species, one light green and one dark green, which produces an interesting mottled pattern.