Just sign up for photobucket.com, it's free. Once you signed up you can upload any photo's there. Then there will be a box under the photo for the URL. Click on the box and copy the URL. Insert the URL wherever you want in your post on GardenWeb. Keep in mind if in the future you delete your photo from Photobucket, it will no longer appear when somebody reads your post. There are other free photo hosting sites out there (just Google)but I find this one to be easy.

I never had any of the common hybrids make more than 2 spikes at a time. If you leave the old spikes, that's different. My impression from the OP was, how many spikes would form at one time? I'm not counting old spikes. I don't think the OP was asking about species. Jane

In Central Illinois- usually only see a few towhees the whole summer and have never seen them in the winter. There must have been a small flock of them that spent their days under the feeders in the yard this past weekend. Really enjoying all the photos.

Your kempas has much the same coloration as your fir, which I bet is long leaf heart pine and not fir. How are your stairs constructed and from what wood? Wood usually looks good with other wood, unless it is colored to look unnatural. What wood you choose and what color you go for is your decorating decision. Good luck.