There are of course forums in existence for some genera/families that have many members that are cool growing tropicals. However, in each case the true cool growers can be grown only by a minority of people. Moreover, people who grow one type of cool-growing plant are likely to grow others. To put it all in one forum makes sense. There are a lot of practical considerations, for example, trading. Say, for example, one has seedlings/rooted cuttings of a plant that can only grow in Coastal California or a cool greenhouse. Post on any of the forums. Most of the people (in my experience) who will be interested in trading have conditions that are impossible for growing the plant. Here are the options: 1) Let them worry about it and send the plant to a sure death. 2) Caution them that it won't survive, but send it anyway. 3) Refuse to send the plant to those without appropriate conditions. Since this thread is a little boring with no pictures, I'll add one, to include two concrete examples: '' The Passiflora is P. 'Mission Dolores', P. parritae x antioquiensis. It's a strong grower when happy and really easy to propagate. Two node cuttings root in a couple weeks. The Bomarea on the top is Bomarea caldasii (the yellow flower on the right is also a Bomarea, if I remember possibly a variety of B. caldasii as well). Each flower produces about 100 seeds and each umbel can have dozens of flowers. So there are potentially thousands of seeds per umbel. The flowers above are "samples" brought by one of the propagators (who created the Passiflora hybrid) to help sell plants at Strybing (SF Botanical Garden). The Passilflora is 7 inches in diameter with 18-24 inch peduncles, which makes the Bomarea umbels look strangely small. Although I cannot claim credit for the flowers, I do grow both of these vines. I'll have to hack back my Passiflora starting later in the year. I hate to toss material for interesting plants. So I'll hopefully have a large number of cuttings rooted. My Bomarea was bought in bloom/bud earlier this year, but aborted seeds when we had a couple days in the 90s (June-Aug. average: 74/55). So if I end up with extra cuttings and seeds and want to distribute them for postage, which forum(s) do I post on? I likely will put the Passiflora on the Passiflora forum, although I know I will run into the problem described above. I've already decided to go for option (3). There is no appropriate forum for the Bomarea. Vines? California? If I end up with a zillion seeds I might go for option (2). Or perhaps suggest that people sprout the seeds then trade them for something suited to their climate. I don't like either scenario, and I would prefer to at least have the forum enriched for those who can potentially succeed with a plant. I tried posting a set of seeds for postage on the California Gardening exchange section earlier in the year. Of seven, three were highland tropicals, one a cool-growing Chilean annual, one S. African, and one lowland tropical. I didn't get a single response. See link below Here is a link that might be useful: Highland tropical seeds ignored on the California forum

I went to a couple of others and found the typical internet "expert-sycophant" relationships, so I didn't stay. I do think there is information to be had in those other sites, but you have to put up with a lot of crap to get to it. Just like you do over most of the internet these days. chuckiebtoo's comments - in general - express my personal perspective on 'wandering'. (I don't have the same level of "appreciation" of worms that he does. :) ) I have only so much time to spend on the internet, and I have become much more judicious about where I spend that time. I spend my time where I "like" to "be". I also "second" betsy's comments. I keep an eye on the "hot topics" and if one piques my interest, I'll have a look. Paul

Thanks My sister is a SM. She has such a good relationship with Bm and BMs family that when BMs mom was visiting (from out of town) she complained that we dont get to see [my sister) enough. I dont think my sister is a saint, but I do think that her SS would never have finished college wihout her help (and I think BMs family realizes that too). My sister would be the first to say she wasnt a mom, never tried to be a mom, etc. to the boy. He lived with them occassionnally. Bm and BF live close to each other. BM remarried before BF. SS now works in SDs business, in a job he could not qualify for without college degree. I think as someone said on another thread, it is OK for BM to acknowledge faults in child, but it is very difficult for BM to hear others (except BF), including SM, discuss same faults. I think a large part of my sisters success is she only exchanged pleasentries and said good things with BM and had the tough discussions with her DH. I think a lot of step problems result from DHs shirking parental responsiblies. I think a lot of them stems from typical family where wives take on more child care responsibilties, but it may not work so well with step children. I do understand that SMs dont want to hear about first wife, but on that point, I think they just have to tough it up (if it is coming from kids). They knew there were children involved from the getgo. I am bothered more by my DD telling me that X reminices about the good old days when we were first married, and that everything went downhill when DD was born. It bothers me becuase I dont like the message it sends DD. But there is nothing I can do. Other than buy a voodoo doll and stick pins in it.

As I was cleaning the drum, I realized I should be wiping it dry. There is rust on the inside of the lid. It doesn't touch the clothes but it could have possibly been avoided if I had wiped it dry when done using. I'll start now just to keep it from getting worse but will definitely be prepared next time around. I will also start leaving the lid up. My set is probably 10 yrs. old. I was having problems with washer not going from fill to agitate and had to bang on the lid to get it go into the cycle. JUST as I was setting up an appt. to have it looked at I realized it was just a loose scre w on the hinge of the door...tighten that up and haven't had a problem since. And I know some of you can secretly relate...I was sorta hoping I needed a new washer & dryer :-) I'll be patient though.