"biocontrol" is one method that one can try for blackspot. The following may be useful in putting the concept of biocontrol into layman terms: "Disease-suppressive soil microorganisms have been found in many places. In monoculture wheat the severity of "take all" disease often decreases within three to five years. This phenomenon is known as "take all decline," and is considered an effective natural control. Although the mechanisms are not completely understood, the decline is associated with changes in soil microorganisms that compete with and prey on the fungus. Melon plants grown in the Chateaurenard region of France do not show Fusarium wilt symptoms even though the fungus is present in the soil. Soils with suppressive characteristics tend to develop slowly and are usually found in fields where perennial crops or monocultures have been grown for many years. Suppressiveness may be lost if the monoculture is interrupted even for one year, or if pesticides are applied. For example, researchers first recognized soils suppressive to cereal-cyst nematode when nematode numbers increased after application of a broad-spectrum biocide. Many species of fungi and bacteria in the genera Trichoderma, Streptomyces, Bacillus and Pseudomonas suppress diseases, but at this time only a few strains are commercially available. Additional commercial products may be available soon, however, as this is currently an active research area." The quote was taken from: Http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/sustainable/peet/IPM/diseases/org_cert.html ---------------------------------------------- The following article from the Maine Rose Society web page ( http://www.mainerosesociety.com/articles/control.html ) was written by by DR. LAKSHMI SRIDHARAN, who should be familar with those of you that are members of the American Rose Society. ----------------------------------- Examples that friendly fungi do exist: Http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?wasp=59ghxnlylp03feg2dr2p&referrer=parent&backto=issue,1,10;journal,2,54;linkingpublicationresults,1:100635,1 Http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?wasp=4g1ltlxhtr3ya223recn&referrer=parent&backto=issue,8,10;journal,4,54;linkingpublicationresults,1:100635,1; Http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?wasp=8000375kwm5qnk5e7y47&referrer=parent&backto=issue,1,10;journal,6,54;linkingpublicationresults,1:100635,1; Http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?wasp=07wckmqrxr3jqg6kducy&referrer=parent&backto=issue,9,10;journal,7,54;linkingpublicationresults,1:100635,1; ------------------------------------------------ Blackspot on roses is scientifically called "diplocarpon rosae". The link below reports that trichoderma harzianum is a promising control - see their exact wording (the document is a PDF document. The applicable section is easily found by typing diplocarpon into the PDF find command - the binoculars). Http://www.gtz.de/ecosan/download/Bangalore03-Ramanujam.PDF ------------------------------------------------------ Title: The Abundance and Structure of the Root-Associated Microbial Complexes of Two Greenhouse Rose Cultivars. Authors: Polyanskaya, L. M.; Ozerskaya, S. M.; Kochkina, G. A.; Ivanushkina, N. E.; Golovchenko, A. V.; Zvyagintsev, D. G. Authors affiliation: Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow State University, Vorob'evy gory, Moscow, Russia. Published in: Microbiology (Moscow, Russian Federation)(Translation of Mikrobiologiya), volumn 72, pages 496-502, (2003). Abstract: "The study of the root-assocd. microbial complexes of affected and healthy rose plants of two cultivars (Grand gala and Royal velvet) grown in a greenhouse showed that the biomass of eukaryotic microorganisms in the rhizoplane and rhizosphere of healthy rose plants and in the surrounding soil was considerably lower than in the same loci of affected plants. In contrast, the biomass of root-assocd. prokaryotic microorganisms was higher in the case of healthy than in the case of affected rose plants. The root-assocd. bacterial complexes of both affected and healthy rose plants were dominated by the genera Arthrobacter, Rhodococcus, and Myxobacterium and did not contain phytopathogenic bacteria. The root-assocd. fungal complex of healthy roses was dominated by fungi of the genus Trichoderma, whereas that of the affected rose plants was dominated by the species Aureobasidium microstictum. The affected cane cuttings and cankers occurring on affected canes were found to contain Coniothyrium fu-ckelii (the causal fungus of rose stem canker) and sclerotia of Botrytis cinerea (the causal fungus of gray rot). The micromycete complex of healthy rose plants was not so diverse as was the micromycete complex of affected rose plants." ---------------------------------------------- Title: Biological control of black spot of rose caused by Dipocarpon rosae . Authors: Prasad, R. D.; Rangeshwaran, R.; Sunanda, C. R.; Vinita, J. Authors affiliation: Project Directorate of Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491, H.A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, India. Published in: Annals of Plant Protection Sciences,volumn 10, pages 256-259, (2002). Abstract: "Fungal biological control agents (Trichoderma harzianum , T. viride and Chaetomium globosum ) were used either alone or in combination with fungicides (chlorothalonil and mancozeb) to manage black spot of rose caused by D. rosae under greenhouse conditions. Black spot incidence in biological control agent and/or fungicide treatments was significantly low (disease ratings from 0.33 to 3.33) compared to the control at all observation dates. After 100 days of spraying, defoliation was lowest with chiorothalonil, Trichoderma harzianum +chlorothalonil, C. globosum +chlorothalonil and T. harzianum +mancozeb treatments. The highest mean vigour index was recorded in T. harzianum treatment. The highest flower production was recorded in C. globosum +chlorothalonil treatment (4.33) followed by T. harzianum alone and T. harzianum +chlorothalonil treatment (4.00)." -------------------------------------------------- Cornmeal is considered to be a good food for the friendly fungus "trichoderma harzianum". The fungus is available commercially, see: http://www.ipmofalaska.com/files/trichoderma.html There may be another benefit to this fungus as there is a report that it helps root growth: Title: Effect of Trichoderma Colonization on Auxin-Mediated Regulation of Root Elongation. Author: Bjoerkman, Thomas. Department of Horticultural Sciences, Cornell University, Geneva, NY, USA. Published in: Plant Growth Regulation, volumn 43, pages 89-92, (2004). Abstract: "The biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum 1295-22 increases root growth in addn. to roles in suppressing disease. Its agricultural use could be expanded if the mechanism of growth enhancement were known. Among the proposed mechanisms of growth enhancement is that the fungus counteracts auxin inhibition of root-cell elongation. We tested whether there was evidence for a secreted auxin inhibitor, for enhanced auxin degrdn., or for altered auxin sensitivity. Our results provide no support for any of these mechanisms. Trichoderma secretions inhibited growth, whereas an auxin inhibitor would increase growth. Auxin inhibited growth to the same extent in colonized and uncolonized roots, indicating no change in auxin sensitivity. Endogenous auxin levels maintained growth closer to the max. in uncolonized roots, indicating stronger auxin limitation of growth in colonized roots. These tests indicated that Trichoderma-colonized roots had a faster max. growth rate, but an unchanged response to auxin." -------------------------------------------- Even if naturally occurring trichoderma harzianum only reduces the amount of blackspot fungus by 10 to 20 % (the numbers are just a guess), there are probably going to be a number of different "friendly" fungi in an organic garden. For example, the following paper reports that 2 fungi that are now recognized as biocontrol potential have increased levels on blackspot infected leaves: ------------------------------------ Title: PHYLLOPLANE MICROORGANISMS OF ROSA CULTIVAR PICADILLY FOLLOWING INFECTION BY DIPLOCARPON-ROSAE Author: HAYES A J Author Affiliation: DEP OF FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, UNIV OF EDINBURGH, UK. Published in: Transactions of the British Mycological Society, volumn 79, pages 311-320, (1982). Abstract: "The phylloplane microflora of the hybrid tea rose cultivar Picadilly was studied for 2 growing seasons on healthy leaves and on leaves infected by D. rosae. Large increases in numbers of yeasts and bacteria on healthy leaves were noted from the end of July until the beginning of Oct. Late in the growing season numbers of all types of microbes increased dramatically. Following infection by D. rosae numbers of microbes generally showed a marked increase, but this was not always sustained. Cryptococcus laurentii and Micrococcus sp. populations on infected leaves were 3-4 times those on correspondingly healthy leaves. The species composition and changes in numbers of phylloplane microbes are compared with descriptions of microflora isolated from leaves of other plants and possible reasons for the observed differences are discussed." -------------------------------------- The following two links are Google searches for the two fungi listed and the word biocontrol. --------------------------------------- Http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22cryptococcus+laurentii%22+biocontrol&btnG=Search ----------------------------------------------- Http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=micrococcus+biocontrol&btnG=Search ------------------------------------------- The science of biocontrol is still in its infancy. The use of Chitosan is one of the early results of this area of research. The following is the EPA summary: ( Http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_128930.htm ) "SUMMARY Chitosan is used primarily as a plant growth enhancer, and as a substance that boosts the ability of plants to defend against fungal infections. It is approved for use outdoors and indoors on many plants grown commercially and by consumers. The active ingredient is found in the shells of crustaceans, such as lobsters, crabs, and shrimp, and in certain other organisms. Given its low potential for toxicity and its abundance in the natural environment, chitosan is not expected to harm people, pets, wildlife, or the environment when used according to label directions." -------------------------------------------- There is a scientific literature report of 10 - 20 % effectiveness against blackspot. Title: Chitosan as the biocontrol agent of fungal pathogens; activity and mode of action. Authors: Wojdyla, Adam T. Authors affiliation: Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, Skierniewice, Pol. Published in: Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Biological Sciences, volumn 51, pages 159-165, (2003). Abstract: "In in vivo expts. showed that chitosan added to potato dextrose agar at 3 mg/cm3 in 50% suppressed radial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Phytophthora cryptogea. Another tested fungi were less sensitive to chitosan. ED50 for Cylindrocladium scoparium and Myrothecium roridum was more than 5 mg/cm3. In vivo expts. showed that only 10-20% effectiveness of the compds. against Diplocarpon rosae was found, when chitosan at 0.2-0.4 mg/cm3 was used for rose spraying. Also spraying of willow 2 times at weekly intervals against Melampsora epitea decreased the mean no. of rust pustules per leaf. Spraying of dieffenbachia 24 h before inoculation with M. roridum resulted in significant decrease of necrosis spread on leaves. Five days after inoculation the compds. inhibited the development of leaf spot about 94%. Chitosan applied preventively before inoculation of leaves gave significantly better results in the control of M. roridum than used 24 h after inoculation. Spraying of chrysanthemum, naturally infected with Puccinia horiana decreased the mean no. of pustules per leaf about 95%."

I got this cutting at the beginning of August, I love it. Hoya Benguetensis - Whole plant Hoya Benguetensis - First new leaf I also got this imperalis cutting in a trade and I really really like it, it seems like a fast rooter/grower, got it a couple months ago at the most. I have another imperalis from the hawaii grower and it hasn't done a thing and got it as a small plant, got it in the spring. I have both in southern light. I frequently have to turn this one b/c of leaning toward the light.... shanna

Exactly, Lowspark. And you have to be honest, I think. If the man in that Carolyn Hax article had said, "We care about our grandparents, but we care more about having what we consider the 'perfect' wedding," I wouldn't have cared much for his values, but I would have valued his honesty. Though I'm with Gellchom and Tally Sue - his going on about being creative and special don't sit well with me. What I hear more often from people planning destination weddings are justifications. "It's a vacation for everybody," even though, as others have written, it's not much of a vacation if someone else chooses the date, time, destination, and companions. "I know that everyone we're going to invite can afford it," even though the people who say this are simply judging from the size/quality of the guests' house, car, boat, clothes, whatever. "Everyone would have to travel, anyway," even though hotel accommodations in one's hometown are likely to be less expensive than in the romantic resort destinations that are generally chosen for such weddings. (Plus, many families and groups of friends will provide accommodations in their own homes if the wedding is held in the home town of the bride or groom or in the town where they currently live. I know my own circle of friends did this for one another's weddings, and now does it for their kids' weddings.) And when you travel for a wedding, you're likely to stay over just one or two nights, not the longer period that most destination weddings seem to anticipate. I can understand a destination wedding like Scarlett's. If these few friends are the only ones that would have been invited to the wedding anyway, no matter where it was held, and if they could all manage to plan a vacation together and Scarlett and her husband got married in the process, that sounds great. The people who were hurt by not being invited would have been hurt no matter where she held the wedding, because they wouldn't have been invited anyway. Lowspark, I think what people having a reception in the groom's hometown have on their side is tradition. Even if they all lived in the same town, the groom's side sometimes holds a reception for the new couple if the bride's family doesn't choose to invite as many guests as the groom's family would like. Maybe a reception following the destination wedding will become tradition, as well, though (at least to me) it would feel like dividing your family and friends by income (the people who have money go to the destination wedding, the poorer people must content themselves with the home-town reception) rather than by closeness to the bride and groom.

DON'T DO IT! I grew up in a house for the first nearly 20 years of my life that had a see-through fireplace with glass only on one side and a chain screen on the other. The reason they don't build these is because they cannot draw properly, at least based on what I understand. Your house will be filled with smoke if you ever want to actually use the fireplace. We had to use our fireplace for school art project displays because otherwise we never could use it for anything but display. A professional fireplace consultant that my parents hired came out to see if anything could be done, and it really couldn't. They're just not great ideas unless maybe you put gas logs, but I'd be concerned about proper drafting even with that.