Hi everyone! I have a large lacecap hydrangea that I am sure is Bluebird. I posted once before for trade as a pick-up only plant but I am pretty sure I can send it if I cut it back quite a bit. I would like something or things that would be of equal trade since this is such a large plant. I can also trade the cuttings I take from it as well but am new to cuttings so you would have to specify how you would want that done. Since this is such a large trade I would also ask that you send your end first because I would hate to go through the extensive time and effort of digging and sending this only to have nothing or very little in return. I am looking for named hosta and named iris at this time. I would especially like hosta "Tylers Treasure" because my son's name is Tyler, Iris "Starship Enterprise", or Iris "Jurassic Park". Take a look at my list and make me an offer. I would also like to set up a trade or two for some "Sadie Rae" hydrangea cuttings that I will be doing as well. I wanted to get rid of that hydrangea too but that one is in a spot that can wait for the time being unless someone has something they would like to offer of equal trade for that one as well....it is quite a large bush but I am certain I could send it too but it would not be easy or cheap, lol. But the cuttings are a certainty if you would like to trade. Remember I will be trading cuttings and also the large bush itself but I would like to make this trade this week as this bush has to go! Thanks so much and God bless!

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

Being how rare you say they are in your area, I am sure you want to make sure the Bluebirds stay and successfully raise their young in your yard. To do this you need to remove that box from that tree immediately and get it at least 15 ft away from the tree mounted on a slick metal pole (electrical conduit works best) and preferrably with a predator baffle. Raccoons and squirrels can and will get into the nestbox where it is mounted now. A Raccoon will even eat the mother bird if she is in the nest when they make their raid. Check out sialis.org for lots of useful information on Bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. For the bluebirds sake I hope you take this advice. If they want this box, moving it will not interrupt their nesting. You can wait a few days until she is done making the nest but do move it before they eggs are laid if possible. Bluebirds will give you hours of enjoyment however if the nest fails they will leave your yard in search of a new nesting site. Good luck! Donna