On a topic like this, newbie posters sure would benefit by using latin names. Following is from Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States, Forest Svce Handbook #450 Metasequoia glyptostroboides - "seed of M.s. does not require stratification. Seed sown directly on soil begins germinating within 5 days." M.s. is a deciduous, Chinese native. On East Coast it grows as far north as Massachusetts. Does fine in ordinary, well-drained soil, readily available, sometimes used for windbreaks. Wholesale plugs run about @ $1.50 Sequoia sempervirens - "seed requires no pretreatment to induce germination. ....seed sown in April may start germinating in 20 days". I have lived in the mid-Atlantic all my life and have never seen the tree. Further quoting from Handbook 450 "Redwood thrives in cool, moist places". It is native from SW Oregon to Monterey Co., California. Perhaps it could exist from Williamsburg/Richmond south on the East Coast? The evergreen needles similar to hemlock. Sequoiadendron giganteum - "optimal constant temperature for germination was between 60 & 70 degrees F. Stratification in vermiculite at 35 degrees F for 28 days improved germination". 'Hazel Smith' is a popular blue form, I've seen the original tree in Northern NJ, where it overwinters fine. S.g. is somewhat of a novelty on the East Coast. It is found in Botanic Gardens and conifer collectors who have plenty of room. Squirrels peel off the thick, spongey bark to use for bedding, that is a problem. For me, the only value of green seedlings would be to use as understock to graft the blue form onto. Evergreen, remotely similar to Cryptomeria. It is native to the western slopes of California's Sierra Nevada. So you see, three distinct species with variable traits and cultural requirements. They should not be lumped together into one query. BTW, citing an old thread from the Conifer Forum hardly qualifies as research. It is nothing more than a series of anectdotal observations, just like all GardenWeb forums. Sam

I recently ordered from them, not knowing my order would come from China. The only tracking number they could provide was the one from China Post. I knew for a fact that these deliveries get transferred to USPS. Never got one from USPS. Tracked the shipment via Track17. Until one day, it said it was delivered, but I did not receive anything. Communicated the problem and they insisted that it was delivered to the right address, that neighbors might have received it. My neighbors know me and they'd surely give me the misdelivered item, which has happened in the past. We went back and forth on the refund. Finally settled on 50% refund. The first and the last order from them. Be warned. Sounds more like a scam now to me.

I just saw these posts! I am so scatterbrained, it's often embarrassing. jerzee, there's GOOD news, actually, and it's held for two days now so I guess I can post it: I've gotten 119/79ish (yesterday was something like 119/83, so same area) in the am!! PM it goes to 145/93, but there's definitely a change in the mornings. I called my doc yesterday to deliver the news and of course she never got back to me. I think I could die of something she should have noticed and she'd shrug and laugh. NOT a good feeling about a doctor. Off to a better practice, even if it costs more. The atenolol is slowing down my heartbeat too, but not as slow as yours! Mine is now in the 70s, whereas it used to be in the 80s/90s. I'm getting the *slightest* feeling of what life must be like for my DH, who has a heartbeat in the 50s, usually. VERY different, in a good way, yes? :) sjerin, I'm glad your mom's heart surgery went well--I was thinking about her the other day when I read an article about how older folks are having surgery more often now. I hope she recovers fast and uneventfully and goes back to marathoning :) (we live in hope :)) May I ask how much atenolol your family members took? I'm on 50 now, at bedtime, but am wondering if 100 at bedtime might be better to keep the bp down all day. I sure do get good sleep at night, though. I might be tired like your family during the day if I up the dose. I read something interesting--that walking on cobblestones was found to be better for lowering blood pressure than prescription medications! It's been confirmed and published, even...and you can buy cobblestone mats to walk on!

I just remembered back in the 80's I use to wear Estee Lauder's Youth Dew, Giorgio, Opium and Obsession. Later I switched to Magie Noire, Casesars Woman and Cinnabar. I think the reason I stopped wearing perfumes because I burned out my sinuses with such heavy fragances. LOL I hated Poison because my MIL bathed in it. The guest room would reek for weeks afterwards. Maybe that is another reason I started hating strong perfumes. I wonder? I loved Estee Lauder's White Linen but it stunk on me. I haven't bought or wore a new fragrance in over 8 or 9 years. Clare