I would like to go back to the VFT discussion, because sometimes I get too caught up in science discussions, and I do not have time for so much writing. Has any one ever seen a B52 with traps of more than 2" in size??? Because this plant is selling for $25.00 each with only one inch size traps. And until now, I have not found one pic on the net that shows me this is a true giant. I have Dingley Giants, Big Mouths, Dutch, Big Vigorous, and the Royal Red. Well, I have more cultivars than this, but these are the giants. In all my fifteen years growing these plants, I find that the trap sizes are as follows in smallest to largest: Dutch, Big Mouth, Dingley Giant, Royal Red, and the largest of them all.. The Big Vigorous. This plant without seen the label I can spot it in my CP garden because it always deploys large traps. So I am wondering if the B52 might trully be bigger than the Big Vigorous, or would the Big Vigorous win in size. The greatest thing about the Big Vigorous is that the traps are not only larger than any other cultivar I know, but the traps teeth are thick making the plant look stronger which is why it is call Vigorous. In my garden I actually have others that are bigger than even the Big Vigorous, but they are plants that I grew from seeds and have not registered them as cultivars. I am looking for the largest traps in the world and they might be right in my garden..... that is if the B52 is not as large as they claim. I guess the best thing to do would be to buy one, and grow it big myself. So my next question woould be....Does any one knows a good reputable place to buyt this plant?

Hi Suzanne. I am in Southern NH and had 3 bluebird nestings this year from the same parents - 11 babies total. Please don't feel too bad about your babies. Its ok to be sad for a while, but don't blame yourself. Hopefully the mom and dad will be back next spring to make more! I keep my boxes up because I have a lot of woodpeckers that roost in the boxes at night; also I had 7 blues winter here (in Bedford) last season and I wouldn't be surprised if they used a box to roost, too! I was new to all this last year and I know so much more from this site and the sialis.org site. I have 3 babies about to fledge in less than a week and you are right, the rains have been awful. I have saved a couple of the previous nests just in case this one gets wet (or gets too many blowflies)... I have read here you can do a nest change and this will help the babies survive. There is so much to learn; stick around. Even when you think you did all you can do to make things safe, you can still have things go wrong. I had a bad thing happen last week. My papa blue got caught up in blueberry netting and didn't make it. I cried almost all last week about it, it was devastating for me to think that mom lost her mate and now has 3 babies to raise by herself, and how could I be using that net... I tearfully buried him in one of my gardens in blueberry fabric and a box... it was so sad. I learned that this awful plastic net is a killer and I am buying tobacco net for next year. I am hoping mom finds a new mate, now, and that my yard will be safer than ever so there can be more blues born. I am also careful not to use pesticides on my lawn and all organic everything... I read here that is bad for all birds... not to mention groundwater. Birds are mostly instinctual and probably don't dwell on bad stuff that happens to them, like we humans do. I thought I was doing all the right things Nabs box, baffle, 50' away from trees, feeding mealworms but not too many so they get lazy, feeding suet, no pesticides on lawn, feeding waxworms occasionally, providing vitamin supplements, birdbath, etc. Sometimes crap happens and we learn from it and improve their conditions because of it. You are doing more to help the blues and learn about their needs, than most people, so that, you can be proud of. Jenn

Some day I'll remember I can't answer twice without losing my reply. I have not used ribbon for tie-ups in any of mine yet. I have used cording like you may have seen in the DR silk ones. Other than that I have used either the same fabric or a coordinating one to make ties. The width of my ties depends on what I use for fabric. If it's the same, I tend to make them about 1.5" finished width. On these, the first and only inside mount ones I've made, (and which are coming out of my office now to be replaced by the panels) I made them wider. The stripe fabric I used had red, ivory and olive green in it, and I made them each a bit wider to get the stripes the way I wanted them. It's all subjective, sort of a visual decision made on the width of your window and what you're looking for. If I used ribbon, I'd probably use grosgrain, as it's stiffer than some and won't be too droopy.

Hi fly, yes, isn't that a great site - too bad the prices are so high. I love the bed linens. Thanks for sharing. Sky