Kevin, I grow the Lepanthopsis astrophora in a 1" plastic pot in sphag (I change the sphag every 6 months). Medium shade, warmish temps, high humidity. I don't grow any of the others, but I do grow a Dryadella edwallii, a warm grower. It's mounted on cork with a small bit of sphag and hung in a clear plastic highball glass with a 1/2" of water in the bottom. I believe the zebrina will grow the same way. Also grow four Barbosella species -- australis, dussenii, handroi and an unidentified species from Peru -- which are mostly bareroot mounted and hung up in medium shade the GH. The Restrepia sounds interesting. I am growing three different ones, including a hybrid, bareroot mounted. Restrepias don't mind going completely dry for a couple days at a time; they are not as picky as most Pleurothallids. I killed a Trisetella triglochin once so I guess any advice wouldn't count.

OOOH!!! You must be having a ball ! Couple of tips before they drywall. Over every main floor cold air return see if they can install built-in cabinetry. I found a huge space in the master bedrm foyer over the cold air return which ducted down to the unit under the house. That space would have been covered and wasted but is now two cabinets (one on top of the other) for blankets or spare quilt on the bottom and our carry on luggage in the top cabinet. Opened another shelving unit in the master bath that would have been blank wall. Now it is a hamper area below and nice open shelving on top. If bldr hasn't put in cabinetry yet to master vanities, have him put an outlet back there in the wall that will line up with your drawers or your open area below. That way, your hairdryer is always plugged in and ready. It's also helpful in any other bathrooms. Rather than plug in your hairdryer or curling iron etc. in the wall outlet and have the cord dragging all your stuff off the counter..this way works great! It is cheaper to add outlets now during the build. Put them everywhere. Fergit code.. think about use or you'll only have one every 6' or so. You'll want extras on the porch so you can keep foods warm, make a pot of coffee outdoors. They'll probably be the covered exterior type outlets. I had a cable outlet and two phone jacks out there on the porch too. Is your main gathering room (den/greatroom) set in your mind as far as furniture placement? If so, you might want to consider having floor outlets..you know the kind with the brass round covers flush with the floor. (if you're going with hw floors) That way you can be more creative with furniture placement and tables for lamps. Are you having it pre-plumbed for central vacuum? If so, be sure there's an outlet within 5' of the vac tube opening. And, look into the sweep-to pans. I had mine put in after construction when I was sure where drafts pushed the dog hair/dust to collect. They can't be installed on just any wall because of the anchor 2x4 but they work great in the base of cabinets. A hose tap on every side of the house and one close to the driveway (washing the car of pine and oak pollen). Wow..you do have some pines. Have you taken soil samples all around the yard yet? While they're moving soil still you could have them build you a rise or a slight berm if you like Mediterranean type plants that like less water on their roots. Will you have lighting up the driveway or reflectors on the pines? Can't you just envision that long treelined driveway bounded by flowering shrubs? Thanks for the link to your photos.

Sounds like you're doing great with him. As Cesar would say: "Dogs live in the moment." So what matters is now, not a slip when you were surprised and spoke louder than you meant to. "Dogs respond to a confident leader." When you walk him, stand tall, shoulders back, loose lead, in charge, ready to conquer anything that comes your way. "Don't encourage fearful behavior - ignore it." Go about your business as if there is nothing scary going on, just like balanced dogs would. If a dog acts scared and you scoop it up and comfort it, the message the dog gets is that there is a reason to be afraid and it is rewarded. So the next time that stimulus comes, she reacts the same way because you taught her she was right to be afraid of it. A rescue dog I got reacted slightly when there was thunder. I ignored it and then thought of a game that would make her happy. We played her favorite game, a game of her own I called growly bump. There it was thundering and I'm on my hands and knees, doing the let's play position and jumping around with her, bumping her hip, immitating her play growl. We made much happy noise and drowned out the storm. I did this a few other times with particularly bad storms, and she quickly forgot that storms were once scary to her. Hope that helps you.

Yes, there is my chinquapin oak and there are other trees all over. I'm hoping they leave the magnolia tree because that would be a great home for him, since it doesn't lose all its leaves in the fall. I just love seeing him around here, which is why I'm thinking of building him a house. I haven't seen him for days. No doubt the noise of the chain saws has scared him away.