There are three parking places around the preserve, with three seperate trailheads. One enetrance is in the parking area of simmons middle school. You can look it up in mapquest--adress is 1575 patton chapel road. The trail here takes about 3/4 of a mile i would guess to get to some of the more interesting places. There are maps of the place in hoover public library. The entrance closest to the boulderfields and sandstone glade is on preserve parkway. you can probably see that road area if you use mapquest and look up the middle school.

Eklein -- First off GOOD LUCK! Secondly, It seems I read somewhere that we will likely see the moss grow (assuming it does) in three week cycles. The first change being at week three. There should be some up-shoots starting as the moss changes modes and begins growing and replicating again I cannot remember the name of the life stage for the life of me... It may look like tiny hairs on some species to small stems on others as best I remember. Then in another three weeks (total six), you should notice the moss beginning to "look" like moss as the structure is being redeveloped. After the final three weeks (total nine) you should have a recognizable moss established. (This is assuming all things go well). Also, you may find that not all of the moss will go into the same stages, and some may even begin growing immediately, so by week three you could have some patches of recognizable moss. So, I am looking at 9 weeks as my timetable to determine if I have a chance at success. I will try to track down where I found that at, and post the URL, as well as correct/ammend any incorrect info. Again, that is based off memory, but I feel fairly confident about the three week cycles. And interestingly enough, I read on here that feeding should occur in three week cycles as well if you choose to feed. (I've read between 1/10th strength to 1/4 strength Miracid is all you need to use.) I believe the latter number came from Terrestral_Man (I apologize for botching the spelling) here at Gardenweb.

Hostahaveum - you're right, I am truly blessed to have a sister that is also my best friend. I'm about to vist her for a long weekend at the begining of the month. We are about 6-7 drive apart which is too long but at least possible. Carol, I'm not sure how many years we've been working on her yard. I think it started 8-10 years ago after they lost the dog Copper. We did the backyard that year. The year after that we did the front yard - eliminating the grass, creating planting beds, building the fieldstone patio you see in some of the pictures. Back then we were able to go to the quarie, get the stones, place them all on the gravel bed. I remember her starting in the center and singing 'follow the yellow brick road' as she did it. I'm not sure if either of us could do quite as much now. There's a big difference between 50 and 60 I'm finding. In the last few years it's been a matter of trying to find places for all these wildly growing hostas. Her husband built the two raised brick planters (plus a couple in the back yard). Every step is an improvement but there is always more to do. This spring was the first time I'd been down there for 5 years. It was because of my old falling apart car, lack of a passport etc. We did get lots of work done because I stayed 6 weeks. Janice you're right. She would fit right in. See my comment about our conversation last night on the 'now I know' thread.

Items resting in hanging globes can be removed for soaking. Items attached to wood... heavy misting may be all that's possible. Somehow plants do survive that way -- I saw a picture once of Caput Medusa plants hanging from the underside of a branch, out in the wilds. I imagine they had enough rainwater and humidity to be happy in that situation. Since we often don't have that humidity (especially me here in New Mexico), soaking is one way to remedy that situation for plants that like it. And I, too, have most of my smaller plants sitting in shot glasses, small cups, dishes, things I find at thrift stores. I sit those plants under grow lights. The big ones I hang using safe wire (steel, aluminum, pipe cleaners, etc.), and they are currently hanging outside in a north-facing porch.