On your way out to Living Desert take, Bee Caves Rd and stop of at Barton Springs Nursery in West lake. Also in Oak Hill on Old Bee Caves rd is The Natural Gardener. Both of these places have a better collection of cold hardy cactus than Living Desert. ALL are good. If You are out west of town on 71 at the Living Desert, go past the big mall about 2 miles and take a left at the light where you can only take a left and drive about 10 miles on Hamilton Pool Rd to hamilton Pool (on the right) and go for a swim in a sunken grotto with a water fall and a walk down to the Pedernales river. There is also a biological preserve just as you cross the river that has all sorts of central Texas cactus growing ( lace cactus, O. englemani, O leptocaulis, claret cup , and another gorgeous smaller grotto with stalactites and a travertine dam. Tours are on the weekend on the even hour. You can continue down this rd and hit 281, hang a left and drive to SAN Antonio not on the dreaded IH 35 (awful highway). You will have a gorgeous drive in the hill country. This area has some amazing jewels hidden away. Great cajun truck stop just as you get out onto 281 in Round Mountain. Refugees from Katrina that are part of the "Smoking for Jesus Ministries". Don't worry, they do not wear their religion on their sleeves or push it in your face. Good people. Man, I am just a latent travel agent at heart and Just a tad off topic.

Mr. Rabbit - I had read that article and thought it strange, too. I hadn't waded through all the scientific naming or I would have seen the difference. There seems to be more than one ambrosia beetle. One does seem to prefer the laurel family while the other(s) are less picky about their home. I agree with you about planting anyway. We wouldn't have much of a garden if we avoided everything that might die. I have given up on an avocado for now because I wasn't getting very far with finding a local tree. I got a beautiful olive tree instead. I also think the olive will give me a lot more interesting preservation projects to play with. Well now, I just saw an add in the shopper over in Bushnel at the mexican restaurant. It is for 'Paul's Nursery and Fruit Trees'. Its a 5th generation outfit that sells to the public at the same price as their commercial accounts. Its in Groveland. I haven't gotten over there yet, but it sounds promising. Larry

I think I'll be making a trip down that way tomorrow

Anyone else at Blanchette's today? It was absolutely mobbed. Everything was 25% off. I was buying Hostas for the NEHS summer Auction. Believe me it is hard to find plants that collectors don't already have, but Blanchette's has some older culitivars that are not being sold in many places today. In any case I had to park on the street and wait in line for about an hour, that's how crowded it was. No wagons or carts available, I just had to drag flats full of plants to the register. The line was as long as the one at Space Mountain. Still it was a good time as we all talked plants while standing in line. It seemed like everyone had at least one plant that they were "expert" with. It was common to see someone leave the line, to get another plant while someone held their place. I think I'll go back, but I'll wait until the crowds calm down. They are holding regular hours this year. The inventory will likely draw down, but the plants are great and the prices can't be beat. Steve