Dear Jeanne- I just joined GardenWeb because I happened across this posting the other day and I wanted to comment about your birdhouse. I hope there is some sort of notification system that lets you know there was some activity on this old post from last year. Maybe someone can help me learn how this forum works. I know my comments are late coming. I'm curious how the birdhouse worked out this summer. My comment is a combination of congratulations and criticism and I hope you will find it helpful in planning any winter projects for next spring's birds and garden. I am active with The Purple Martin Conservation Association and am signed up as a "mentor" for folks in my area who are interested in learning more about martins and attracting them to their home. In this case- I'm sticking my neck out with some "outreach" that's unsolicited. And I must be clear- I am not a representative of the PMCA- I'm just a lover of native cavity nesting birds. If you are interested, you can find a mentor close to you at the PMCA website. The birdhouse that you and your husband made is a commendable beauty of craftsmanship but sadly it's a disaster for native bird conservation. I will include a link to some information about martin biology and at the PMCA website you can download file explaining ideal housing specs- and even buy plans to build state of the art perfect housing (which is quite an undertaking) There are really only three kind of birds who will nest in close proximity to eachother, English House Sparrows, European Starlings and Purple Martins. The first two are introduced non-native birds who compete aggressively with our native cavity nesting birds for nest sites... including wrens, blue birds and tree swallows as well as most of the woodpeckers. (starlings have been known to kill woodpecker nestlings in order to take over the wild nest site that the woodpecker excavated- so this isn't just about man-made birdhouses) The non-native birds have behaviors that our native birds did not evolve competing with. This is not a matter of "good vs. bad" it's a simple matter of biology and the problems that introducing non-natives can cause for the local ecology. It would be better to provide no nest sites at all- than to provide nest sites which are only hospitable to these invasive non-native birds as you will only be increasing the burden on the local cavity nesting birds. Every breed of bird has specific needs- and it is quite amazing how - if you provide the perfect nest site (the right size hole, the right depth cavity, the right height off the ground, perch or no perch, in the right location in your yard) AND you provide an environment free from aggressive competition with the non-natives... you can cultivate a bird family of a specific variety with almost the same assurance as planting a specific seed in the ground. You should never put up a house with the idea that "some bird" will make a nest there- every bird house you place should be so specific that you know exactly which bird you are targeting- as if you sent them a unmistakable written invitation...and when you see your efforts rewarded- it is oh so satisfying!! Bird houses should never be placed on climbable poles as they just become "egg shops" for snakes, and raccoons. (The auger could not be a more perfectly designed snake ladder.) Also bird houses should not have plantings at the base of the poles as these hide predators from view. I hope this has been helpful- best wishes- Sarah Here is a link that might be useful: About Purple Martins

Neysa, thank you. There are many more plants still bloom this week. Do you want to see them before the winter takes over. But they are not as many bloom as in May. Happy to say many seedlings that I grafted are also in bloom, or ready to. Houston weather in mid 50 at night, so many buds rot before they have a chance. But that is normal. And the leaves dropping after before yellow. Marie

You're only suppose to use the print postage for the day it is being mailed. If you print postage for the box you are sending and then print postage for the same amount to include for your return the PO can and probably will refuse it. I had someone send me preprinted postage sticker dated for the day they purchased it and I asked the Postmaster if I could use the stamp to send it package back, they told me no and the reason is: if you purchase the postage preprinted their way of thinking is that it is THEN used because it is supposed to only be good the day of purchase. It is best to send stamps in the amount you need, the have all different ones: 3.95, 4.95, up to I THINK they told me 16.95. OR you could just get 1.00 ones then add the smaller amounts to get the total you need. Tammy, Carmen, Amy....I am sorry but I am such a ditzoid. You know how when you tell yourself NOT to forget something over and over and over, and THEN you usually forget anyway? Well when I was packing plants Monday all day I kept telling myself NOT to forget the Thalia, well I was out watering today and I realized I forgot the Thalia. SOOOOOO if we are in another swap together I will remember I owe you all some and include it then, even if we get partnered in a swap or something I will remember to include it. I am sorry, I haven't been feeling well and I wanted to make sure I got that package shipped Monday and I busted my hinny off to do it and my SO even helped me this time which just does NOT happen. It just slipped my mind by the time I had the box what I thought was ready to ship, UPS closes at 6:30 and I got there about 6:10 so I was pushing it. I KNOW I had till Wednesday to ship but I needed to do it Monday. OK, don't hurt me, I really do try so hard sometimes. :/ Fran

@mothorchid I have read several of your posts with interest. You have one orchid which you have owned for three days; is this correct? You say that bark damages roots because it is too sharp but you have your phal resting on lava rock which is quite a bit sharper. Also you keep repeating the idea that nutrients must be airborne for the orchids to absorb them. Are you trying to mount the orchid on the stump? Mounting orchids is one way to grow them, but they must be watered frequently and given fertilizer in solution on the roots to thrive; they do not extract nutrients from the air. This post was edited by Louise_9954 on Wed, Dec 31, 14 at 14:48