@Bob... You're VERY knowledgeable, sir. I was going to correct you about always needing a tripod for >10x zoom, but then you realized that Panasonics have image stabilization (which has been a god-send for me, believe me, because tripods/monopods are not always convenient). Question for you: would you agree that as often as not, it's the photographer more than the camera? As in, knowing how to frame a shot, knowing your camera, knowing your subject, etc. matters as much or more as having bigger zoom/higher megapixels? It's a trick question, because it's a pet peeve of mine. My first digital camera was a 2.1mp Olympus that most folks would have written off due to its lack of megapixels. But it had a Canon lens, 10x optical zoom with image stabilization, and I got fantastic pics with it, many of which I printed at 8x10 or higher. For instance, this was taken with that old Olympus (Callaway Gardens, 9/12/02): This one is from my front yard in Aug 09 using my FZ20 (replaced the Olympus in 2005)- the swallowtails loved my Buddleias. Is it spring yet? Mary

Last year, after losing a lovely small grove of hemlock (which shaded our deck and screened it from neighbors' view) to woolly adelgids, I wrestled with my conscience over managing the remaining hemlocks on our 1-acre property. They are tall, mature trees, and spraying dormant oil just didn't seem practical on a DIY basis. I finally decided that I would apply imidicloprid as a drench to the soil around TWO trees, the closest to our house. It seemed to me that as this would apply to a conifer which just releases its pollen (vs depending on insects), the effect on honeybees would be mitigated. There are other hemlocks a bit further away, which I opted not to treat--close to water, and had to draw the line somewhere. Not an easy decision to make either way. I am a lymphoma survivor and don't regard chemicals lightly--Monsanto studies notwithstanding, the incidence of NHL is much higher in farmers and foresters, who are exposed to herbicides and the like... Massive applications of insecticide or chemicals are not going to wipe out the Asian longhorned beetle--it didn't work with the American chestnut or the American elm--at best it would only delay the inevitable. And I'm not sure I want to be consuming maple syrup from a tree that's been treated with a systemic insecticide. But the thought of our beautiful sugar maples disappearing is almost unbearable. Do I sound conflicted enough, LOL?

Wow, 5"+ in diameter! Dinnerplate Camellias, scrumptious! I can't wait to see those Camelias for Jim. It will keep him very un-bored, LOL! It will be like unwrapping a Thanksgiving present (lol!) It's almost November after all. I just love camelias. I don't remember ever seeing a camelia growing in Kansas City. I have read that Camelias prefer acidic soil and our soil is the exact opposite. Very heavy alkaline clay soil. Plus no way camelias can survive our unpredictable fluctuating weather--mild winters and sudden unexpected freezes. Paper whites--when you have your family photos in another thread I will be able to see what you mean by this. You mention bulbs? red marbles? I'm sure I'll understand soon when Christmas rolls around. Ahhh, Christmas what a wonderful time. I am also looking forward to the next cozy family Christmas photos with Grandma Sally. I love Christmas decorations. My Christmas decoration themes are always golds, copper, sage, and very pale-silver greens. Copper is actually my favorite color. Isn't that so strange? Most people say that their favorite color is blue or green or purple even. James snorts at my taste in colors and says that I like "sap" colors, LOL!

Thanks to everyone- We have an old Kodak Easyshare that still makes good pictures indoors but there is a problem with too much light on the right side of the pictures outdoors. Oklamoni, I looked back at some of your pictures and they are all so sharp- this camera is just not doing that. Karen, this picture is an example. Of course it had to be resized but the original looks pretty much the same. I had DH take a picture, too, to see if his was as fuzzy as mine and it was. I may have changed a setting before making this picture but those made with just the automatic settings are really bad. But shouldn't the picture be sharper than this? I think we will return this camera and try another brand. Make = Canon Model = Canon PowerShot A720 IS Orientation = top/left X Resolution = 180 Y Resolution = 180 Resolution Unit = inch Date Time = 2008-04-23 11:31:54 YCbCr Positioning = centered 1001 = 3264 1002 = 2448 Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 280 A401 = 0 A402 = 0 A403 = 0 A404 = 3264/3264 A406 = 0 [Camera] Exposure Time = 1/125" F Number = F4 ISO Speed Ratings = 80 Exif Version = Version 2.2 Date Time Original = 2008-04-23 11:31:54 Date Time Digitized = 2008-04-23 11:31:54 Components Configuration = YCbcr Compressed Bits Per Pixel = 3 Shutter Speed Value = 6.97 TV Aperture Value = 4 AV Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV Max Aperture Value = F3.51 Metering Mode = Pattern Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode Focal Length = 13.16mm User Comment = Flashpix Version = Version 1.0 Color Space = sRGB Exif Image Width = 640 Exif Image Height = 480 Focal Plane X Resolution = 14506.667 Focal Plane Y Resolution = 14485.207 Focal Plane Resolution Unit = inch Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor File Source = DSC [Thumbnail Info] Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail) X Resolution = 180 Y Resolution = 180 Resolution Unit = inch JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 1064 JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 7345 [Thumbnail] Thumbnail = 160 x 120