Oh he is so cute!!!!!! I am probably in the minority but I love possums. We went to a wildlife rehab place once in Oregon while we were visiting friends years ago and they had litters of babies that they were having to raise and release because the mamas got killed by a car when they were too little to be separated from her. They would raise them very naturally by making 'dens' for them in the holes of stumps and trees. They looked like little kittens. Sweet faces. They don;t get all snaggly toothed until they get older

plantladylin said:Gina, I too like an unobstructed view but I'd hate to go to le the dogs out in the morning and find "other" critters in the pool, especially a snake or gator!!

The unfortunate thing is a pool screen enclosure will not stop a Gator if it so desires. My neighbor can varify as he had it happen a few years ago.

LOL years ago we had some friends who were among the very first buyers in a new subdivision that was at that time still located 'in the woods'. There was only one neighbor house by them then (now its solid built up and one of many sub-d's on a heavily traveled traffic artery). They put in their pool with an enclosure and not long after they went on vacation. While they were gone a herd of wild boar ran through the area and tore up the pool screening, rooted up all their landscaping and basically just trashed their place. The neighbor saw it happen it scared her to death.

Screened enclosures do not stop snakes either. My son, who kept an eye out for any breach in the screen or any opening where a critter could get in, had snakes in his pool all the time. They must have burrowed through tunnels made by moles or other small critters.

Here is a recent pup addition to my ever growing Bromeliad collection.
Ladies and gentlemen I introduce you to Neoregelia 'Pop Rocks'. This is another outstanding hybrid from Chester Skotak and is a albo maginated cultivar of 'Skotak's Tiger'. This hybrid will come in around 24" across when mature.

Lin, your pool bromeliads are beautiful, love the color combo.

Scott, 'Pop Rocks' is very nice, I like the name too. I've skipped the last two local bromeliad sales, I'm proud of myself, there may be hope for my bromeliad addiction yet, of course you're not helping posting such cool looking bromeliads.

That was a cute little possum. Sadly I've had 2 dead possums (years apart) end up in my yard. Had to call Trapper Tom (yes, that's his name) to take them to their final resting places.

On a brighter note, I think I'm having a baby! No, I'm not having a baby but I think my oft photographed Guzmania is. I noticed this little pup during a Brom for the Holidays photo shoot. It was hard for me to get a picture of it, but here's the new little pup.

First spied it rather skeptically on Nov. 20.




Poked around again to be sure it really was a pup and here it is on Nov. 22.




Wonder if it has any siblings yet.

Upside down or downside up? Doesn't matter, here is one of my favourites. Mother and four. (I think)

Congratulations on your blessed event tfc.

Des, your neos almost seem to glow. Fabuulous color.

Tfc, thanks for inviting us to the big reveal party!

My guzmania has large offshoot.
The issue with guzmania is blooms.

Tell us if u get grandbaby (bloom)!

Sherri, I am trying to break my sale habit. I am having withdrawals!
Maybe I will go for walk!

My mom had 3 in rain in N E TX.
It will probably be here in 1-2 days.
The worst of it may be N of here.

Beautiful Broms Des. Thanks for sharing! Looks like sunny summer there.
My friend will be coming to visit her daughter in Australia!

First day of summer. Some parts of the country are doing it tough. Hundreds of severe bushfires and many hundreds more firefighters trying to get control. Need rain and lots of it all over. We are on water restrictions here in Sydney and they will be extended as of the 10th of December to watering our gardens with a watering can during restricted hours only. It is going to be a struggle to keep extensive gardens alive. I am moving as many of my plants in to the fernery as I can manage and moving special ones in to pots or covering with shade cloth. The real problems are in rural areas, some towns and many farmers are relying on water that is trucked in. Very bad time for Australia.

Des, I am sorry to hear about the fires and dry weather. I'm not trying to be political because I don't know why climate change is political.
When you see pictures and hear stories like you shared, it seems climate change is serious! affects us all! we need to change it!

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/natur...

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/natur...


Hi Yall! I thought I would close out the November bromeliad thread with videos!

Des comments about Australia's eco-struggles made me think about tv show.

One night I did what I did last night and fell asleep with tv on. I hate it because I don't like waking up with tv and lites on.

When I woke up, this tv show about bears was on Nature on PBS, public TV.

The segment about Paddington, or spectacled bear, in the Andes Mtns, eating bromeliads for sugar and calories, is interesting! You probably won't like to see it tear the bromeliads apart! The clip is 2 minutes.

I also included a link to the full episode, about 1 hr long. It is very informative with picture perfect photography! It shows bears and struggles they have in their natural environment. Ties in well with information Des shared about climate challenges

Scrolled through the thread again. Gina's comments about baby possums had me looking in the compost bin to make sure there were no babies in there. I didn't see any and I have the lid tied tighter!

Des, the pictures we see of the fires in Australia on the TV are heartbreaking. It is hard to even imagine the difficulties you are facing.

Oh, how I would love to expand on the matter of climate change. Needless to say, that as a group of gardeners we are deeply involved, and, as a consequence, have a responsibility to voice our concerns, either as a group or as individuals. A landslide starts with just one small?

Moderator Jon... I won't be offended if this post is removed

Des, it's nice having your pictures and your voice here. I don't know if you are on other forums or threads.

In the Sandbox forum, there's a thread for environment and one for climate change is posted online.

I have read some on climate change and posted on environment issue where they say same thing u said.
We should be concerned, and take action! Your view from the other side of the world is welcome!

Des, I have been following the fires on the news and internet. Horrible to see and can not imagine having to live through such conditions.

Des, Scott, and others, thanks for your generosity in sharing acorns here and on the Brom for Holidays site!

I also like the slogans attached at bottom of comment

Hope all have a wonderful week without weather woes

I've also been hearing the news about the fires. Not good. Great coral reef. Also not good.

The good news is that my 'grand baby' has a sibling! It's so hard to see them let alone take pictures. Will try to take a look later.