Hi Paul, I think that it's a combination of several things: many folks currently on here seem not to know about the Exchange Forum. I rarely look for several reasons. Partly because I tend to already have the most common stuff offered for trade (esepecially at the Hoya Forum); partly that I belong to active Plant Societies where I can often buy specials in person off a plant sale table. Example: last month we had a speaker specializing in Succulent Bonsai. She showed slides, gave a presentation & also sold some plants she'd brought w/ her to sell. Some of her stuff is unusual like a Sedum multiceps I bought (have seen that twice in maybe 20 yrs) & a crested variegated Aeonium. These aren't plants that most vendors would have around. Lastly, it's winter in NY now; too cold to even think about swaps & shipping (unless w/ a heat pack). I too have had some very nice swaps from here, especially at the Hoya Forum. Bottom line Paul, I don't think it's that they don't want what you offer, it's that few folks come around here anymore (IMO).

Mercer is held twice a year, spring and fall at Mercer Arboreteum in Houston, Tx. Jennifer does all the leg work and posts it on the Texas exchange forum. Galveston County master gardeners have a spring swap, it used to be twice a year, at Jack Brooks park in Dickinson, or is it League City?. Yadda usually organizes a swap in Ft. Bend in late Spring, there are only a few of us that show up there. All of these will be posted on the Texas exchange page. With our climate things grow very well, sometimes too well, so always trying to find homes for things. It is easier to just load up someones car for sure. Josh, I don't grow any jades. They really don't like the humidity here on the island. I've got tons of other stuff though I'll work on a list next week when I'm off. Aloes, oputania, agaves, tropicals... PG, there are tons of plant societies in Houston, which meet about 80 miles from my house, usually on weekday nights so I haven't joined any. Just can't do the long drive through Houston traffic. Here on the island, nothing. We don't even have a really active garden club. Of course, our population is really down, around 45,000 of us left. Jim of Jimbos in Santa Fe raises bromeliads and other tropicals. He is a member of several societies and I may start car pooling to meetings with him. He's very active in the bromeliad community so I've gleaned tons of information from him, and like me he likes weird stuff, including cacti/succulents. I still trade on line, especially when the banana canna gets out of hand, $20 a rhizome!! And it's the fastet growing canna in the yard. Anyone want any let me know LOL! Tally HO!

Glad this has turned into a more general thread. Fantastic pics and all very interesting and informative. By the way would anyone comment on, or point to a link detailing, the relative ease of care for the many cylindrical types out there? Here are SOME names noticed (mostly) in the forum archives here associated with "cylindrical" Sans comments (apologies for the probable errors, duplicates, aliases, varieties, and hybrids - and haven't seen pics for many to be sure of form - said I was a newbie). cylindrica cylindrica cylindrica desertii cylindrica ehrenbergii cylindrica patula cylindrica rorida cylindrica skyline ballyi canaliculata caulescens fernwood fischeri midnight star phillipsiae rhodesiana schweinfurthii singularis stuckyi(i) suffruticosa sulcata (bacularis, mikado) Thanks.

Well, there she is!! Miss Betsy Blue Eys! I could just eat that dog UP! I have to confess to being a dog lover, too. She is just adorable, and a little spit-fire, I bet. She has the sweetest face, and she is so tiny. Just a doll of a dog. And probably one of the most pampered pooches on the planet. And congrats to everyone who has a child graduating this year, be it high school or college. The parents deserve a big pat on the back as they watch their children take the early steps to fledging! Our daughter made it out of college in 4 years, but that SON ... we thought he was going to be a lifer. SIX YEARS for a four year degree. We had someone in college for over ELEVEN straight years. I am sure there are many of us out there who did the same or more. It was definitely worth it.....until they say something monumentally stupid ..... and then you want a REFUND on that tuition money! LOL! Malinda