This is not exactly the solution you're looking for, but it works for us. We have a raised duck pen (torso level) that someone gave us for our East Indies that we keep outside. We also have a pair of Khakis that are making a mess in the barn. We've tried letting them out in the barnyard this fall and they cannot figure out how to head for the barn when it starts getting dark, but go under the chicken coop where they'd make good racoon food... So we're going to make a raised pen for them, too. We keep them in the pens all winter and don't start letting them out again until nice weather. I don't know if you're very handy, but I'll try to post pictures later.

To reply to the question in the initial post in this thread... I start my pumpkins just before a stretch of forecast sunny warm weather in late May. I sprout the seeds indoors kind of like bean sprouts... put them in a plastic tub like an old sour cream container, cover with a j-cloth held on with a rubber band, then wet and drain the seeds several times per day. At a constant indoor temp of 20 or 22 degrees they usually start to sprout in 2-4 days (might take longer if your seeds are old and some varieties take longer than others). So I set up my jars about 3 days before a forecast stretch of warm weather, then the just-sprouted seeds are ready to plant when the warm weather hits. For the first month or so I grow them under mini-greenhouse tents (about 6' long by 3' wide, almost like rowcovers but different, they were sold by Vesey's some years ago). I keep them under the mini-greenhouses until they fill them up, usually by late June, then I remove the cover and let them grow in the open. When they start to bloom, I hand-pollinate until I'm good and sure the bees have found the flowers. Sounds like an effort I guess, but I quite enjoy fussing over them, so it's more fun than anything else.

Hey NC, Your plant looks fine, just do not start fertilizing her too much. As for my plants yes, the reds are turning darker, the yellows that are suppose to have red veining or red colors like Ruby Gold from Oz, Sherbert Town, Firestorm from JJs, Penang Peach, Lava Flow start to develop their reds. Up until the heat wave Sherbert town was solid Yelow, Jackie was solid Yellow, Kimo was more yellow now pink and orange, and Musk rainbow is loking more purple around the edges. So your plumies fine. As for Sheer Beauty that is another one I had 2 of, one from the source Anucha and another one from a friend who I think got it from BBB. Brad does have Sheer Beauty from time to time so you need to check out his site as it sells out quickly. I ended up getting rid of both of my SB as they did not perform well, did not look like its pic, save your money NC. JL Dane is another one that does not peform well.... So save your money. Get a purple Jack or a JL Golden Pagoda before Dane or SB. Golden Ray from JJ's is also nice and will perform to a degree in cooler temps and if you get in to the mid 80s plus GR is a stunner. Ok hoped that helped.

If you're referring to Marineland as the aquarium on the Canadian side, it's closed until May 21. However, there is the Aquarium on Whirlpool Street on the American side (http://www.aquariumofniagara.org/) which is open year round. I haven't been there since I was five, so I can't offer feedback (I'm sure things have changed in 30 years.) The Buffalo Zoo recently changed its hours due to county budget cutbacks, so be sure to double-check its hours if you go. It's one of the oldest zoos in North America. Work is (was?) being done to add new, modern exhibits. Some of that work is done, some of it just got put on the back burner (see budget problem.) They have a new river otter exhibit. The zoo is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Some of the older exhibits do, however, have a more, um, victorian feel to them. The Convention and Visitors Bureau has a nice list of things to do, broken down by type. See http://www.buffalocvb.org/Attractions_0.html for details. Nurseries... on Niagara Falls Boulevard (but not near Niagara Falls) at Robinson Road in North Tonawanda is Menne Nursery, which, in season, has a nice collection of more unusual perennials and a nice spread of annuals. Seeing how it's March, and it's snowing out, I'm not sure what they'll have other than house plants and nursery items like pots, and of course seeds. The Botanical Gardens would be a nice breath of spring air. Their page is linked from the CVB page cited above. I think their spring flower show goes through that weekend. If your kids are budding history buffs, take them to Fort Niagara in Youngstown (north of Niagara Falls) for a tour of an actual fort that predates the War of 1812 (which was fought in the area.) If not, there's a carousel museum in North Tonawanda, Museum of Science in Buffalo, Historical Society in Buffalo, a children's museum in East Aurora, toy town museum (also East Aurora), and a host of other things of that ilk. See CVB page for links and info. (I have nothing but great things to say about the CVB, who helped us out getting area info for a conference we hosted at the university some years ago. They are very helpful and have a well-organized site. They even link to things on the Canadian side.) If you go to Canada, be sure to bring ID for you and the children. Good luck.