Although it hasn't been seen on camera before, there have long been hints that plants detect chemical signals from nearby plants and respond to them like this. But the article doesn't really provide enough information to support its implication that there is an "intent" by the damaged plant to communicate. To put it in human terms: Say you're walking down a sidewalk and see fresh bloodstains. You would determine that someone was recently hurt there, and consider that you might be in danger as well. You can't assume that the bloodstains were left by the injured person as a warning or call for help. They might have been - but they may just be the unavoidable result of the injury. On the other hand, if you hear someone scream "Help!" you know that's an attempt to communicate. We can't determine from the information in this article if the release of the methyl jasmonate is more like a bloodstain (direct or instinctive response to the injury) or a cry for help (attempt at communication). Still, it's fun to speculate that plants "talk" to each other, and wonder how extensive the communication is. :-) Straying OT: Bacteria and other single-celled organisms have been observed to respond to chemicals released by nearby members of their species, and some bacterial colonies may chemically coordinate activities. Science fiction writers have been speculating about plant, bacterial, and cellular communication for decades. Some of them depict plants as evolving a sort of group mind, with each plant acting somewhat like individual neurons do in our brain. Communication between each plant "neuron" occurs chemically, either through soil/roots, airborne chemical releases, or more rarely, pollen. Interestingly enough, the plant colonies are usually depicted as benign, but the bacterial or cellular intelligences are often depicted as the end of humanity. (Look up the "grey goo" hypothesis if you're interested. Be prepared to be creeped out!)

Can't wait to see Annie's headboards too! Grouting will probably be DAYS, not day! NICE, I wish I had that kind of energy when it comes to grouting time! TooMuch, anytime goes! My hope is to stop STARTING without finishing! Gypsy, it's a GOOD sickness that we all share! SLOW, it's more white plate middles on a lazy susan. Thanks for all your nice comments. It is a fun passion!

Thanks so much...Debra, these temps are only for 2 or 3 days, then 80s againMantis, I have decided there is no typical beginning. We are actually a week or so later with beginning than last year, and I have never gotten a bad bloom on Marseilles Watercolor which consistently reblooms here. Julia, as much as I love Betty Ford, it always gives me bad blooms before the good. one begin, but it has a lot of scapes so that is good....and I always wonder, whe we have a cool snap and the blooms won't open well, just how you in cooler climes manage to get beautiful opening blooms.

Thank you. You are right, Debra, but the color was lovely. Every bloom on Crystalline Butterfly has been perfect and I really like that so far, all of the spider or unusual forms that I have gotten from the Ridders are nice and tall. David, I have probably worn everyone out posting Pink Tarantula, but you will understand when it starts blooming in your garden. I am so glad I got that one as it was my first Ridde and I knew I wanted more . I have Pink Flamingo Leggins which is a child of Pink Flaming and also Flamingo Heartstrings which I just received a few days ago. It is also from Pink Tarantula. Kate there were so many FFOs THAT I didn't even post most of them. Your Black Mingo has beautiful contrast; The dark is a very dark wine color, and the light is actually a very nice very white color. And you are very welcome. Thanks you, Brad. Those are all favorites. kay