longtime reader, firsttime poster

[Jman]

once you uncloak you will be an addict

 

[SCOTTYNC]

Yup, once your out in the open and you can get this. Tom was down last week and my little girl wanted to ask him "when can I have my Daddy back"
Scotty

 

[MikePoor]

Yeah, Welcome Winch! I like the photos of the crane. But i'm even more impressed with that big "Burl" or whatever that thing is on your avatar. I bet alot of us Buzzers would love to see photos of some of the amazing specimens at Biltmore!!! (if you get the time....please) Some of these specimen trees are mentioned in my favorite books!

 

[Winch]

For those interested in my avatar: the fern was a Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum). Working on the Estate affords us the chance to do some weird chores, like removing that fern from it's hoist inside the Conservatory. When they installed that fern years ago, it weighed over 400 lbs - they hung it on chains and called us in, without test-weighing it, and when we got to it (suspended off the roof supports of the greenhouse), it was light as a feather. A 20 lb. feather, that is. We still have that specimen, it was a year ago that we removed it, but things like that tend to hang around for a while. I'll post some pics of that job some time. oh here's one - see the attachment

 

[SpaceGhost]

What up, Royce!

Nice Staghorn.