Indeed. I just pulled down a drb to be sent to MIT for formatting. That took maybe ten minutes. Big whoop. *tap* *tap* *tap* … now what?

As you say, I guess we'll be naughty and browse a bit … at least, until our minds dribble out our ears. After that I suppose we can just crouch on the floor and squeef.

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Why not set out to learn something new from the internet? I propose, um.... well start with "dwarf cavendish bananas" and see where you end up.

Report back at intervals, too.

K.

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While I like the banana as much as the next guy, the difficulty in growing a tropical plant in Minnesota left me, well, cold. So I started looking around and found http://www.ediblelandscaping.com. Many interesting plants there, some of which are suitable for this neighborhood. The blueberries look especially interesting. And for the greenhouse owner: coffee! Or, for one's holiday feasting: Lingonberry!

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Nice. Next you'll be describing all manner of cunning seed-starting equipment.

K.

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Initial investigation into this (directed toward my interest in native plant species) reveals that there's a big push for the propagation of native plants in Australia of all places. I imagine that general techniques will be useful in propogating native species locally, however, so this merits further investigation.

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I thought perhaps it would!

K.

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Well seed starting seems easy enough, if a bit fussy. I've sent email to the folks at Prairie Nursery to see if they have information about when to start germination. I'd like to propagate my Junegrass rather than simply purchase more plants. I hit upon Jiffy products, which I think I've seen in garden centers and which seem like a good way to start plants from seed and then transplant without as much shock. I wonder if the peat would be a good base for the natives, though. Hmm.

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And looking through http://www.ediblelandscaping.com got me looking at dogwood trees. Their varieties aren't hardy here, so a google for Minnesota dogwood revealed the Cardinal Dogwood cultivar, developed, it seems at the U. It also led me to the Minnesota Moose Mystery page, detailing research into why moose populations up north have undergone a recent severe decline. (There are some pretty disgusting discussions of parasites in there, so don't browse too deeply on an icky stomach.)

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Yes but how many moose are there on Isle Royale?

K.

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The latest figures (the 2002-2003 winter survey) puts the population at 900. (The population of wolves during that period was 19, down dramatically from the high of 29 in 1999-2000.)

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And... how many squirrels?

K. [OK, just kidding about the squirrels]

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But you could start from "mortar and pestle" and see where you go. If you wish.

K. [not going to be up any later]

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Two items of interest from that search: The best mortar and pestles are, apparently, made from agate. And then there's what looks like a bizarre movie spoof.

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Oh, yeah. I don't need those things on your you-know any more.

K.

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Excellent. I'll delete them when I get home in the morning.

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Thank you.

K.

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So the Evil Bad Naughty Candy machine refiller heeded your warning and put the M&M's back? Good good for you!

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Oh, no. Those fuckers are still on my list. Those were M&Ms I brought on my own from home. (Cheaper to boot!)

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