Ann, it can be confusing to know the best way to root Jade. The method that I recommend is to place the Jade in a shaded area outside and don't plant it. Last year, I had several cuttings that I forgot about and they had nice roots on them by the time I remembered them. I have found that as a newbee, I would put cuttings in dirt and feel the need to water them. Then, they would rot. Another good thing to keep in mind is that you need to be patient. It seems to me that the larger the cutting, the longer it takes to root. Part of this could be due to the cutting sending out roots to find water. It stands to reason that since a larger cutting has more water stored in it, it would not need to send roots out as soon as a smaller cutting. So, in a nutshell, let the cut piece callous over, put the cuttings in the shade. After you see roots forming,Wait a few more weeks before placing the Jade in soil. Once you place it in soil, don't water it. Those roots will only get larger and stronger if they continue to search out water. You can give the Jade some water, but not a lot. Remember that there really are not that many roots to take up water to the new cutting. So, excess water has no where to go and leads to rot. If you need more cuttings of regular Jade or have any questions, feel free to contact me. Good luck. Daniel in Ohio

Lisa...I still have juncos too. I had a yellow bellied sap sucker at the suet. Lifer for me :) I am glad a blue is here 2...just wish a male would show up. She was in the yard pulling grass and I watched her fly 2 the nest box with a mouth full :) Glad the tres showed up. Every year the tres and blues fight over boxes. The blues usually take the tres box from the previous year...(not nice) but the tres settle in to another box just fine. Here's hoping for a good tres/blues nesting season!!! Karen

20 PAIRS?! Count yourself lucky there Ray! I only have 6 boxes and two nestbox pairs and I am lucky to get more than 2 pairs. Plus, the Tree Swallow population seems to only be growing. They're as much of tyrants as House Sparrows! Without all the murder that is! I do enjoy their company and cooperation nesting aside my bluebirds. Ray, you must realize that that's A LOT of bluebirds! I know you have a large trail, and I'm only a backyard bluebirder, but you're truly fortunate! And to be able to work with these birds for 23 years? LUCKY!!!! I'm an extremely young bluebirder who might have to move to keep life going. Every day with these birds is precious. If I move away I have to adapt to the possibility of not having ANY bluebirds! This is only my 6th season and next year might be my last year with them for a while. I'm a young adult looking into college. If I do leave for that reason, I wouldn't keep my boxes up if someone doesn't manage them! That would be disastrous! To also mention one hell of a war I've put up against my local HOSP! Here in Ohio, any sunny drive during the day in the country finds a male or female bluebird perched atop the electric wires. Within a few miles is another pair. Also, realize that Bluebirds' nesting territory is HUGE!! Tree Swallows nest within 100 feet of each other! The swallow project website brings up a big fact...we will probably never get bluebirds back to their original population levels. There is simply too many HOSP, too much development, too many Starlings, etc. Be fortunate for what you have! How can one manage/afford all these nestboxes? It amazes me. Especially those with full time jobs!! Good luck as well. Enjoy the bluebirds you have. They're beautiful and amazing. But you simply can't have blues colonize like Martins, who, to me, seem to be even less of! They require much more specific requirements! Enjoy our amazing Bluebirds. They're one of a kind. ~Tim~

Thanks! I love them too, they are really sweet. Have had them for years, they're always dependable for a smile. I'll wait to see what happens before doing anything. This morning Mr.B did his rounds again, but this time he brought the Mrs. along. She went into the new house then sat on my clothesline for a long time looking around. I actually hope they choose that one because I am in that part of the house more and can watch them from my shop window. The dee was looking in the other house, so in theory it'd work out nicely, ha! I'm sure Mr. B will be the deciding factor. Yes, I wondered if maybe the dees had a failed nest, usually by now they would have been bringing the little ones around and I haven't seen or heard any young ones. I can't wait to see what happens next. How soon do the blues start to make a new nest? They are just at the hatching stage on their present nest, it's day 14 as best as I can figure. Always before they have used the same house for all their nests, I clean it out and they start a new one. But with them looking in this new house I have no idea.