Thanks for sharing that Fledgling...fascinating reading! I don't put up feeders for the hummers here, most seem content enough to feed on all the flowering plants I provide. One particular fellow has come back (at least I believe it is the same one) for about 3 years to the ivy geranium/scavaeola planted hanging baskets I have on the garage. Frankly, I'm ready for a new planting scheme for those baskets. Every winter I dream up a new scheme for them, but when spring finally arrives, I feel so guilty about changing the planting on my little hummer friend that I end up putting the same old planting back in anyway...just can't disappoint the fellow...LOL! Re the topr...I remember reading something about that. Isn't topr what also allows birds to survive in cold, wintery climates such as mine? Resin...I enjoyed your link too! I have never heard of a Godwit (cute little fellow) and honestly I thought you were making that name up...LOL! I'm going to have to do a websearch and see if I can't find pics of sunbirds...I've never heard of them either. Nature is truly amazing! Thanks guys for sharing. I hope Coniferfreak gets to see what's been posted. I'm sure she would enjoy it. P.S. Thanks Tcharles about the hibiscus. I did plan to make cuttings. Was wondering if you knew which technique would work better; dipped in rootone and the struck into the soil or rooted in water? I've always had amazing success with rooting coleus in water and it's a great way to carry them over since a juice glass of water is much smaller than a pot and allows me to grow many more cuttings in my garden window. Was wondering if I could grow hibisucs cuttings in water? Eileen

I'm just now seeing this post. Seeing pics of your many birds and hearing about their antics has been enjoyable, although I feel for poor little Scout. I hope that you'll continue to keep us posted on them all, as I'm a huge lover of birds of all kinds. I'm loving the landscape progress, too. Regarding Xeriscaping with rocks, gravel, etc. It gained great popularity here in New Mexico, as it did in many other arid and semi-arid locals across the Southwest, back in the early-Eighties. This was when I was studying to become a Master Gardener. I still recall many of my instructors telling us that people would soon see "the dark side" of using rock as mulch in their xeriscaped yards. And we did. On one hand, it's very practical, but even with the best weed barrier put down underneath, you'll end up with weeds within a year. That's because the wind will always blow dirt in, which settles down between your rocks, gravel, etc., thus creating a good environment for many weeds. The heat from our intense southwest sun is absorbed by the rocks, gravel, etc. It can easily create an environment too hot/ harsh for many flowers to do well, but our feisty, tough SW weeds seem to thrive on it. Yes, the accumulated dirt may be shallow, but those tricky weed roots can easily grow sideways to take hold. So then you're stuck with what to do with the accumulating dirt between the gravel, etc. You can, of course, pull out the weeds as they sprout, but you'll eventually need to shovel up the rocks -especially if you're using gravel or the crusher fines- get rid of the accumulated dirt around them and start over again. Gardening here in the Southwest can be trying, to say the least! I've used the crusher fines. I've used larger rock. I've left the dirt exposed. There are pros and cons to them all, but you end up with weeds, regardless (LOL). What works for me here is to forego the weed barrier and just use several inches of treated bark mulch around my plants. The blown in dirt just drops down to the dirt below. I add more bark on top every couple of years. It works for me, But regardless of what you go with, invest in a good narrow headed, long-handled weeding pronged rake for working around your cacti. The breezes and winds also blow in trash that is much easier to pull out with the right tool. Those cactus spines are vicious!

I only went to Seville for a day, so I probably missed as much as i saw. Hit the usual sights -- Plaza de Espana (where Lawrence of arabia was filmed), Plaza d'Toros, the Alcazar and the Cathedral of Seville (as opposed to the Barber) to visit the grave of Christopher Columbus. We ate Spanish tortillas while sitting on a wall. Lots of cute winding streets and shops to explore. Madrid is gorgeous. I loved the area called Bario des las Letres. Lots of good casual restaurants. We ate tapas at one called Lateral and the food was great. Order Summer Wine if the others don't want to share a pitcher of sangria. Everyone -- all ages -- were out and about until well into the evening. Hard to find a restaurant that opens before 8:30. Go visit the turtles in the train station. The Metro is easy to use and clean. The Prado is overwhelming. I enjoyed the Sofia Reina which has Guernica and other modern art. Best of all were the small towns. Ronda was beyond gorgeous and so interesting. Now -- back to product recommendations! I recommend packing cubes ! They are the best for keeping your clothes organized when traveling.

Thanks, JMCK, good to know. I read that CT and RI are the only two states with a 2 week record of declining cases. 1929, It's so hard to guess. If we hadn't un-flattened the curve, id say they'd be opening up to the US at the same as the EU/Schengen. The holiday itinerary I am looking at is 100% cancellable and refundable in re hotels if i cancel before 11/26 for the Kitzbuhel hotel and 12/7 for the Vienna Air BnB. That's pretty worry free. The flight with BA would be exchangeable for a voucher good thru April 2021; pretty darn sure we'd use that. And if you can't go because *they* cancel the flight, by law you get a cash refund. What are the cancellation policies if you use miles? From what I've read they keep changing and vary quite a bit from airline to airline. Since it is so unpredictable, id only book if I could cancel and be satisfied with those terms. Texanjana, bummer about your trips. And totally jelly in re Egypt! My one DD wants to go there in the worst way and DH thinks its unsafe. Fingers crossed you get to go, and do tell us all about it!