Sherry, If you go to see the giant redwood/sequoia trees, please realize that there are dozens of places worth seeing them along the coast from the CA/OR border to central California and in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the CA/NV border that each have their own unique appeal. It would take a week just to explore all of the big tree NP's, SP's, SRA's, SNR's and Monuments in CA alone. When I lived in San Francisco, Russian Gulch, Big Basin SP and Mount Madonna were favorites, but after I moved to Carmel it was all about Polo Colorada Canyon and the many spots around Pfeiffer Big Sur. I'll have to tell you about my very rare and unique coffee table made from a Polo Colorado Cyn giant and Bixby Creek driftwood sometime. Yes, "mesa" is a term loosly applied to any landform in the arid west with a flat top and verticle cliff sides, and they are quite common. They are also referred to as table mountains, buttes, potrero or tuya depending on how they were formed and their characteristics and can vary from small ones like those in the BDW to the Grand Mesa in CO which is the largest in the world at around 500 square miles on top. Sometimes plateau is also used wrongly. They don't always have the verticle sides and are much bigger covering huge areas up to millions of square miles. Yes I could move back to St.George I guess, although in many ways the cost of living is higher there than Vegas. I'm sure some of my old friends are still there and kicking. But since my Dad lives there now I wouldn't even consider it.

Thanks for all your hard work Karen! Can't wait to read it in its entirety. Jodi-

I've lost the lttle copy utility I had on my computer If anyone wants o update t he list go ahead

Sammers; I'd suggest looking at the website plumeria101.com. It's always best to have plumeria outside May- Sept. My climate doesn't permit that so I grow indoors under lights year round. Some forum posters do well with Portland summers but the rains can play havoc with fungus. So a lot of mixed results trying to grow outside there. I bought my very first one as a cutting in Maui- and following instructions carefully I got it to start leafing in after a couple of months in a sunny window. Then the addiction took over as it does for most. Remember that unless you buy a plant, a cutting only, you won't get blooms most likely for a couple of years. I like growing cuttings as you get involved with the plant from the start. But some like blooms sooner and Jungle Jack's in SD is the premier outfit for that- plants only no cuttings. Amazing selection- shipping pretty pricey though. Divine is a good one to start with. If you are interested in cuttings, Maui Plumeria Gardens is wonderful. Celadine is a good starter there. Stay away from Ebay. I've had no success growing cuttings from growers there. Post on the plumeria forum right here too! You can message me if you like. Nancy