rhodyman, since my pond is made from a large stock tank I just used a rake to pull it out. Now I don't use anything since I don't have any. Last year I also got the type that floated on the surface. The pond was crystal clear at that time. But I really have no idea why the string algae went away. Maybe it will show up again later in the summer?

Like the other Texas members, I do NOT feel your pain. Large areas of Texas have been declared eligible for disaster relief because the extended heat and drought have wiped out farm crops and cattle forage. Those big round bales of hay sell for around $80 dollars apiece, and they feed about ten cows for about two days. I feel a little guilty about the water usage (from our well) that it takes to keep our large yard alive...there is a vivid line around the yard that shows where the sprinklers stop---green on one side, brown and crunchy on the other. We have a large pond, and I often think it would be very interesting to have a motion-activated camera out there at night, to see the parade of desperate wildlife. There is a deer that brings her twin fawns out to drink and search for a little grass on the far side of the pond from the house, in broad daylight now. Guess she can't wait for dark in these temperatures. I don't much like hummingbirds (I know, you bird-huggers are horrified) but I finally put out feeders for them after I saw a hummer trying frantically to get his beak into a collapsed morning glory bloom. Nothing is blooming outside the yard. It'll be interesting to see whether the winter brings opposite extremes. Laura

Thanks for the info and offers, everyone-- I used to see this green arboricola for sale everywhere, but this season it seems that only the variegated stuff is out there. Maybe the colorful stuff was found to be more popular here in Naples. I wonder if philodendron selloum would be a nice substitute-- still tropical looking, a similar green color... I might try this if I don't find the arboricola around.

Well, as i sit here, peering out at the snow melting away, i am getting back to thoughts of camping, or a reasonable facsimile of it. Ruth is feeling much better, after her throat opening operation (A gift of many years of smoking.) But, her lungs aren't getting much better. (Another gift of smoking) This summer, i'll probably be going in my little pick-up. I'll make up a cap for it, and sleep in the back, near the terlets! There are 4-5 Bluegrass happenings i'd like to attend, but the price of gasoline will be the factor in that. But, today, here in W. PA., the sun is out, the snow is gasping its last, i have several things to do now, to get ready for summer. Most of the folks from our camping club have gone on, but i do see a few once in a while. They don't go any more. Too tough on the old body to sleep out in a tent, they say. Me? I'm 86 this summer (well, last September) but i still like to sleep out in a tent or camper cap or a motor home. The skeeters take one bite, spit it out, and go on to younger victims! We've had all kinds of campers, from a world war one army tent, to our motor home, with a bunch of tent campers tossed into the mix, and one truck cap. I'd see a cheap panel truck on a car lot, buy it for cheap, drive it a week, then stuff some sleeping bags, a 50 year old gasoline stove, a jug of clean water, a box of food, an old ice chest, and dishes, and go off for a weekend of fishing! Yeah, i looked like a Gypsy, but i had fun. Ruth always said it gave her a rest from housework. I took her fishing once, but she got her hook caught in her jeans more than in a fish! Thats when she decided it'd be much better for me to go with my buddies, and leave her at home! We got into camping way back around 1965. I had the old Army tent stuffed away in storage, so we took that, my ancient gasoline stove, a styrofoam ice chest,plenty of blankets, food, and cash. I had taken a ratty old '53 Mercury station wagon on trade for a car i sold, so we loaded it up with the camping stuff, tied the tent, ridge pole and others on the roof rack, loaded the 2 kids and Ruth in it, and went off to Shawnee State Park, in PA. Before going any further, i must say this: Who ever owned the wagon before me, had taken off the wooden side rails from the doors, etc., plugged the holes with masking tape, and painted it all with a brush. So, there we go---looking like Tobacco Roaders, and happy! (A pause, while i laugh at the thought!) WE got to the park, and they finally let us come in to camp. They put us right beside some smarmy old geezer, who towed his AIRSTREAM with an INTERNATIONAL STATION WAGON!!! Those were the De Rigeur for towing, at that point in time. Well, he looked at us with a "Jaundiced eye", and refused to talk to us. I'm not the kind to be harmed by smarmy old stuck up gents that drive trucks. Nor International station wagons. We got the tent set up, the camp stove working, made coffee, draped some plastic sheeting, ate supper, got a little camp fire going, toasted marsh-mallows, and were happy----went to bed----and----BOOM, came the lightening, and the RAIN--lots of it--tank cars full of it-- and the WIND--much. It flowed into the tent, and it flowed out! It came in thru the canvas, and flowed out, after giving all of us a cold bath! Thank heaven the windows rolled up on the car. We finished the night out, inside of it. Next day, we went back home. Ruth went to Sears and Roebuck's the next week and bought a new tent, sleeping bags, blankets, and a plethora of camping gear, including a new gasoline stove and an ice chest and water jug! And, we also bought a much better looking car, too! And, went camping in style!