Josh--before we get started, I'm curious as to the source of your information about their being hard to collect, because I think they're easier than pines in some respect. Seek out the solitary ones that are growing in association with a solid rock substrate--no cracks. You might spend a long time searching for this particular situation but it will be worth it in the end. You will find those growing on solid granite to have entirely captive root systems. Sometimes you may find a thick anchor root trailing off but you will know it when you have found one. Inspect the edge of the root pad to see if there are feeder roots present. They can be transluscent white, pink or yellow ochre in color. Mature roots are the same color as the bark. Only collect after there has been significant rain and allow about a week after the rain has ceased to collect; this gives the feeder roots time to grow and become active. You will need a flat pry bar to slip under the rootpad and gently pry it up and off the rock. Be sure to have an old pair of concave cutters to cut any anchor roots that may keep the tree from coming loose easily. I like to use burlap to tie the rootball up with and place this in a trash bag to keep the roots moist. When you get it home, build a box for the rootball that is only slightly larger than the rootball itself. I use 1/4" pumice to pot the tree in and make sure that it is tied in securely while it's making new roots. This just a general condensed version of the proper way to do this sort of thing. If you get GSBF's Golden Statements, you can contact the editor, Carl Morimoto, and he will be happy to send you an interview of my work with collected manzanita that appeared in the Sept./Oct. issue. I believe it will cost you all of $5...WHAT A DEAL!!!

Hi Steve, Sorry I missed you but stop by some time and I will give you a tour of the tiny yard. It is amazing how many plants I have managed to squeeze into it. I have even crammed in a number of trees although I have to keep them cut back in the spring or I would have no room for any of the other guys. Speaking of echinacea, I have never had a whole lot of it but it is because I NEVER saw a butterfly on the ones that I had and I didn't want to waste space which I have so little of. But last weekend I went to visit family in Belmont and they had a next-door neighbor who had several hundred of the purple ones all planted together and there were lots of skippers and lady butterflies on them so I guess number counts. Anyway, at the moment what I see most of all is skippers, hairstreaks, ladies, painted and west coast and a monarch or two along with an occasional pipe vine swallowtail. I am a little concerned about not seeing more monarchs by now but I am hoping that will improve. I have a variety of milkweed plants which have tons of seeds you are welcome to and I have started some pipe vine seedlings you can have also though they are not the CA variety. I have not had success getting the native vine seeds to germinate. The ones I have are Aristolochia durior which are native to the east but they grow much more rapidly so I have planted them as well out there. Some of the butterfly species mentioned in other posts aren't native here which is sad because many of them are really beautiful but we do have some great ones that are very rewarding to see in the yard. Murray

My thanks to fuchsiabonzailady and the others who responded to my questions about fuchsia gall mite. You have been a big help. What a disgusting pest! I just thought I'd add that the fuchsia that got sick first (last spring) had been stressed, because it had to be dug out of the ground when our fence was rebuilt. I've decided that I don't want to use the serious pesticides, so I cut back all the sick wood, and I'm watching....Meanwhile, I used the pruners (with a little chlorox bath between snips) on all the deformed growth on my other fuchsias. So far, the new growth looks normal, and I'm spraying with insecticidal soap as a preventative (hope,hope). It may only be a stopgap measure. I'm looking for a new blooming plant to cover that fence on the east side of my house. Since I live in CA, the new home of the fuchsia gall mite, and the pest is spread by hummingbirds, of which I have an abundance in my yard, I don't think there is any truely happy fuchsia answer for me. Happy gardening to all. Toni

Holly, do you know what type of area you are in eco-system wise? It might be fun to try and replicate what is near you. Me, I'm in SD right about where the coastal sage scrub and chaparral areas meet. I'm starting on a plan to rip out my front yard and replace with plants local to the area. As some mentioned, manzanitas, lemonade berry, toyon or California lilac from the chaparral zone and maybe some California sagebrush from the coastal sage scrub zone. Benefits are that they attract local birds (to include hummingbirds!) and butterflies. A lot of local nurseries carry these. As a bonus, I have a couple of toyons that have sprouted in my back yard. One is too big to transplant, but I'll move the other when I start this project. Jason