Bucky you haven't burned up yet? How is the orchard? Good to see you on the forums still! We have been making dogwood wreaths for about 1 month, dogwood stars for 3 weeks, rosehip wreaths for 3 weeks, boxwood/rosehip squares for about 2 weeks, christmas wreaths were started about 2 weeks ago. Next up this next week is curly willow. 1985 when we first started making wreaths seems so long ago. We used a wrap form to wrap them. REF machines and rings: I have used Kelco it is nice, but very expense. Mitchell's machine is the cheapest, but it only has the clamper and wreath material comes lose often. The best machine in my opnion is the the wreath master from maple ridge supply, it has a clamper and arm that comes over and makes the wreath very tight. I have 3, a guy making wreaths about 35 miles from me has 4 and a guy that we trade with in CA has 2. They really are the best. Now to rings... Maple used to buy and resell Mitchell's rings. Here are the 4 that I have used: Maple ridge good but resells, Mitchell's usually the best price unless you are buying a pallet of 4,800 on a 10 clamp pallet. Cherokee the best price in the US that I know of, BUT you need to buy a pallet! Oregon wire is nice if you like them painted already or vinyl, but they are expensive. For christmas wreaths we are using douglas and sub alpine fir, juniper, rosehips, incease cedar, port orford cedar and pine cones. Wholesale prices have dropped to around $1 a clamp the lowest in years. Stars are more money of course we are charging $15 for a 10 clamp 4' star made of dogwood. Those of you only making a few may I suggest going to your nearest green waste facility or dumps. We by a forest service bough permit. It is .10 a pound and we cut boughs off the lower branches of the trees. The biggest problem we have is cutting or getting enough material for 3 wreath makers it takes 2 to 3 truck loads a day. Our bundles usually make 5 to 7 wreaths a bundle. Right now a 10 clamp wreath is selling for $10 to $11 wholesale and $15 to $18 retail. Good luck to all. With the economy we have seen wreath sells drop and wholesalers wanting 60 to 90 days to pay. With $10,000 of wreaths it gets difficult to pay labor, gas, and rings upfront. Bryan

I have a Nodosa Mas Mejor cross, B. Nodosa 'Remar'. It has been blooming continually for over 4 months. Great plant. I had Susan Fuchs cross years ago. I remember it had very fragrant flowers and was larger. Nick, did you check 'my list?' Would appreciate any thoughts you have on it. Jane

Jerry - Very nice looking peppers. Keep us posted on what you make with them. Hope you'll be able to save seeds for seed swapping. Take Care, Sandy

Hi Ladies Just a quick note to Let you all know that so far today we have raised over $ 2000 . We are all On a very exciting High :)) as to how our 1st day of sales has gone :)) I'm so tired tonight but the day was so filled with so many good people :)) we had the trucker's on their CB's telling others of the food we had :)) . what a day & I can tell it is going to get better :)) To All Our June Bloomin Friends Birthday Gals I was happy to do it they were just small tokens & glad they arrived ok :)) Well I have to go lay back & unwind . will be back I hope tomorrow evening . My xmas box will be going out after the 4th . :))) Have a great night all . susie