text:
Report 2002: Status and Recommendations
Version 7.0 - October 2002
The woody landscape plants grown in the United States comprise 1200 to 1500 genera of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and vines from around the world (See Appendix 1). Landscape plants enhance the quality of life by directly affecting aspects of aesthetic, environmental, and psychological well-being. Landscape plants contribute to the vitality of public, commercial, and recreational spaces, as well as add to the value of residential property. With increasing concerns regarding air pollution, noise abatement, energy conservation, and climatic change, the potential for landscape plants to ameliorate these problems makes it critical that we strive to develop improved trees and shrubs and expand the diversity of species in our communities. Environmental horticulture ranks third in the nation in gross agricultural cash receipts with an estimated $49 billion economic impact. This industry, consisting primarily of small family businesses, creates nearly half a million jobs. In addition, many plants with landscape value are also important for food, medicine, fiber, building materials, and to solve natural resource problems. Consequently, woody landscape plants represent a natural resource of considerable economic and strategic importance to the United States.
The function of the Woody Landscape Plant Crop Germplasm Committee (WLPCGC) is to serve the landscape nursery industry, consumers of its products, and the germplasm research community, by providing input to individuals and organizations, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), State Agricultural Experiment Stations, and others, on technical matters relating to woody landscape plant germplasm management. The WLPCGC also serves as a facilitator for information dissemination, germplasm management, and partnership formation. Along with providing recommendations to USDA, the purpose of this report is to heighten the awareness of germplasm activities in the public, private, and commercial sectors; foster better coordination among sectors; and to enhance the acquisition, preservation, conservation, and utilization of woody landscape plants.
Status of Crop Vulnerability
While there is great potential for many different genera and species to be used as landscape plants, the genetic base of individual species under cultivation is often narrow. In fact, some woody landscape plants are represented by only a single clone. Moreover, many urban landscapes rely upon just a few species. For instance, green ash, redtip photinia, American sycamore, honeylocust, silver maple, Indian hawthorn, and Bradford pear are all used extensively in certain regions. Such a narrow genetic base results in increased vulnerability to catastrophic loss by insects, diseases and environmental stress. Several woody landscape plant species have suffered devastating losses to diseases and insects during the past 50 years. Extensive plantings of American elm resulted in major losses of urban street trees due to Dutch elm disease, beginning in the 1950s. During the same time period, the Lethal Yellowing phytoplasma decimated vast numbers of Atlantic Tall coconut palms in Florida. More recently, the imported wooly adelgid has caused widespread destruction of hemlocks in the eastern United States.
Many woody plant species currently maintained in the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) are represented by only a single accession. This situation is unacceptable from the standpoint of maintaining a sufficient variety of genotypes for enhancement, breeding, and conservation of genetic diversity.
While there are still many opportunities to collect plants, accelerated changes in land use, degradation in soil, water and air quality, and changes in the political climate towards plant collecting will continue to decrease genetic diversity in natural populations and restrict access to genetic resources in many key locations. Thus, it is imperative that the genetic base of vulnerable target species be expanded while opportunities allow.
Since the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force in 1993, the free and open access to genetic resources from other countries has greatly diminished. The regulation of access to genetic resources was fundamentally changed by the CBD, which became international law on 29 Dec. 1993. The CBD, now ratified by 179 countries, is an international treaty dealing with the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
Article 15 of the CBD recognizes that nations have sovereignty over their genetic resources, and provides that access to them is subject to prior informed consent from the national government and mutually agreed terms on the sharing of benefits derived from their use or commercialization. The implementation of the CBD presents challenges for germplasm source countries, as well as for those desiring access to foreign genetic resources. Countries who are party to the CBD were directed to enact national legislation regulating access to genetic resources, yet procedures for implementing these laws remain to be completed in many countries. Notably, the CBD specifies that countries should create conditions to facilitate access to genetic resources, and not impose restrictions that impede use of those resources.
State of the Nursery and Landscape Industry
The nursery and landscape industry includes thousands of small family businesses that grow, retail, install, and care for plants and landscapes. The industry employs approximately 500,000 workers during peak seasons. According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, the nursery and greenhouse industry comprises the fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture. For example, while the number of U.S. farms of all types has declined over the last two decades, the number of nursery and greenhouse farms has increased. Grower cash receipts from nursery and greenhouse sales have grown steadily over the last two decades and are increasing at approximately $500 million per year. In 1997, nursery and greenhouse operations had sales of $10.9 billion, up 43 percent from 1992. Of 18,860 nursery-crop farms, 650 (3.5 percent) had sales over $1 million. Woody landscape plant products account for 57.5% of all nursery and greenhouse crop value.
The U.S. is the world's largest producer of and market for woody landscape crops. These crops represent an important and unique segment of agriculture whose impact is felt on the national, state, and community level. Nursery and greenhouse crops represent the third most important crop sector in U.S. agriculture. Nursery and greenhouse crops are among the top five commodities in 27 states and the top 10 commodities in 42 states. Sixty-nine million U.S. households spent $30.1 billion at retail lawn and garden outlets in 1998, according to The National Gardening Association and The Gallup Organization, while over 21 million households spent $16.8 billion on professional landscape, lawn, and tree care services.
Breadth of Woody Landscape Plant Research Activities
There are many institutions, both public and private, engaged in projects involving woody landscape plant germplasm. However, in most cases, there is limited financial support for and little coordination of these efforts. Often these activities are left to the discretion of current staff with no established institutional policies to ensure continuity. Thus, there are many areas of overlap in activities and also many major voids.
In order to determine the potential value, impact, and importance of the nation's woody ornamental germplasm, the WLPCGC conducted several informal surveys to identify stakeholders, determine their missions, and assess the relative importance of woody ornamental activities relative to other crops.
The American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest, most visible organization in the U.S. dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application, with almost 4000 members from research, universities, government, and industry. To get an estimate of the how many of these members focus on ornamentals, a quick survey of the listings of working groups in its 2000 Membership Directory was undertaken. It revealed that, of those U.S. members who listed a working group, approximately 20% associated themselves with the Nursery, Ornamental/Landscape/Turf, Propagation, and/or Ornamental Plant Breeding working groups.
In addition, an email survey was sent specifically to nursery and ornamental working groups and colleagues in October 2001. Responses from 16 university scientists and 6 ARS scientists, who conduct breeding or selection of woody ornamental landscape plants, revealed that over 62 genera are represented by the activities of these 22 scientists alone.
Structure of Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Resources in the United States
Woody landscape plant germplasm is conserved by numerous institutions both within and beyond the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The following sections describe institutions with significant conservation efforts and the roles they play.
National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS)
The NPGS is one of the components of the U.S. National Genetic Resources Program which also conserves genetic resources of animals, microbes and invertebrates. The mission of the NPGS is to collect, document, maintain, evaluate, enhance, distribute and preserve the plant genetic resources necessary for improving the quality and production of economic crops important to U.S. and global agriculture.
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory (NGRL)
The role of the NGRL is to support the germplasm activities of the working and base collections of the NPGS through the development, enhancement and maintenance of the system-wide database, Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN); facilitate the acquisition of new germplasm for the NPGS through maintaining germplasm exchange and plant exploration programs and liaison with U.S. quarantine regulators; help identify needed germplasm for the NPGS; assist in the proper documentation of new germplasm; and coordinate and facilitate the activities of the Crop Germplasm Committees. The Database Management Unit (DBMU) and the Plant Exchange Office (PEO) manage the various activities of the NGRL. The DBMU develops and administers the computerized database information on all germplasm maintained within the NGRL. This database, GRIN, is available at the website: www.ars-grin.gov. Available information on all NPGS accessions includes passport, accession, inventory and evaluation data, and needed germplasm can be requested directly through this site. The NPGS curators load and maintain these data for their assigned crops. The PEO manages the USDA/ARS Plant Exploration/Exchange Grant program to acquire needed germplasm for the NPGS. Scientists develop proposals according to PEO guidelines. The proposals are first reviewed by the appropriate Crop Germplasm Committee to insure that they support their priorities. Once proposals pertinent to woody landscape plants are endorsed by the WLPCGC, the grants are reviewed by a subcommittee of the NPGS for possible funding. The PEO works with the proposed host country to obtain the necessary access to their germplasm and develops any required agreements concerning the use, ownership and distribution of the germplasm. Collected germplasm and documentation are forwarded to the appropriate NPGS collection where they are maintained according to NPGS policy. PEO also supports the NPGS by facilitating NPGS distributions, maintaining liaisons with USDA/APHIS, assigning the NPGS PI numbers, helping determine NGPS germplasm needs, participating in plant explorations, and developing international collaborations to support germplasm activities.
Pertinent National Plant Germplasm System Repositories
Within the NPGS, a network of active sites located throughout the U.S. manages working collections of a diverse array of plant germplasm and associated information. A summary of all relevant NPGS active sites is presented in the following table. Information on the sites can be found at www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/holdings.html. Active sites deal directly with germplasm users and are dedicated to making germplasm and information available for research and crop improvement. Twelve of these sites are conserving important collections of woody landscape plants. The most comprehensive collections are managed by the Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Repository (WLPGR) in Glenn Dale, MD and Washington, DC. The overall objectives of the WLPGR are to introduce, maintain, and distribute diverse and wild-origin genetic resources of trees and shrubs for landscape use through collection, exchange, and evaluation. Woody plant germplasm is also evaluated for production potential and further characterized using biochemical and molecular DNA technologies. The repository is responsible for maintaining 182 genera. More than 1,400 accessions of seeds are maintained in a medium-term storage facility, and 2,800 plants are maintained on the grounds at Beltsville and Glenn Dale, MD, and Washington, DC. The site at Glenn Dale, where most of the in-ground collection is maintained, is scheduled to close in 3-7 years. Preparations are being made to relocate this germplasm to a site in Beltsville, MD. The Curator of the WLPGR can use the expertise of the WLPCGC and this Status Report to guide decisions regarding physical aspects of the move as well as broader germplasm issues.
NPGS active sites with important collections of woody landscape plants.
Pertinent Collections
Form Held
Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Repository Glenn Dale and Beltsville, MD, and Washington, DC ca. 180 genera Plants, seeds
North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station Ames, IA ca. 30 genera Seeds, plants
National Clonal Germplasm Repository Brownwood and Somerville, TX Carya Plants
National Clonal Germplasm Repository Corvallis, OR Amelanchier, Corylus, Cydonia, Pyrus, Riber, Rubus, Sambucus, Sorbus, Vaccinium Plants, seeds
National Germplasm Repository Davis, CA Actinidia, Diospyros, Ficus, Juglans, Morus, Olea, Pistacia, Prunus, Punica, Vitis Plants
Plant Genetic Resources Unit Geneva, NY Malus, Prunus, Vitis Plants, seeds
Plant Genetic Resources Management Unit Griffin, GA Hibiscus, Indigofera, Leucaena, Pueraria, Senna, woody legumes Seeds, plants
Tropical Plant Genetic Resource Management Unit Hilo, HI Artocarpus, Averrhoa, Bactis, Canarium, Carica, Dimocarpus, Litchi, Macadamia, Malpighia, Nephelium, Passiflora, Psidium Plants
Tropical Agriculture Research Station Mayaguez, PR Tropical genera Plants
National Germplasm Repository Miami, FL Tropical genera Plants
Western Regional Plant Introduction Station Pullman, WA Amorpha, Artemisia, Genista and various range shrubs Seeds, plants
National Clonal Germplasm Repository Riverside, CA Citrus and related Rutaceae, Phoenix Plants
Base Collection: National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP)
NPGS working collections are made more secure through intentional duplication in a base collection designed for long-term conservation. The NPGS base collection is managed by the NCGRP (formerly known as the National Seed Storage Laboratory) in Fort Collins, CO. The NCGRP, through its two plant-oriented research units, services active sites by providing back-up under the best possible storage conditions and by developing and testing protocols that improve long-term preservation and viability monitoring. In addition, the NCGRP houses collections for the Plant Variety Protection Office, the Center for Plant Conservation, and various other institutions. The NCGRP does not generally distribute its collections directly to users, but collaborates closely with curators at the active sites to improve overall levels of conservation and management and their interactions with a diverse community of users.
At present, only small proportions of most of the pertinent woody landscape plant germplasm collections are backed up at the NCGRP, but the Center is conducting research on preserving clonal materials (including vegetative buds) under cryogenic conditions, which should accelerate the back-up process.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Plant Materials Program collects plants and develops plant science technologies for the successful conservation of natural resources. The program consists of a network of Plant Materials Centers and Plant Materials Specialists strategically located throughout the United States, which together provide conservation solutions for critical habitats, environmental concerns, management practices, and key farm and ranch programs. The collection of native (and in some cases non-native) woody species by the Plant Materials Program represents a tremendous germplasm resource. Currently, a limited amount of NRCS germplasm is submitted to NPGS for long-term preservation. Many of the species collected by NRCS can be evaluated for ornamental or landscape use, in addition to conservation uses. More information on the Plant Materials Program can be found at: http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov .
USDA-Forest Service
Activities to conserve genetic diversity of forest species by the US Forest Service have been minimal to date. Beyond the holdings of the Center for Conservation of Genetic Diversity in the Institute of Forest Genetics at Placerville, CA, which maintains important collections of a few major species and several with restricted ranges, few, if any, materials are maintained with long-term genetic conservation as a goal. With a few notable exceptions, much diversity exists in natural populations and also in seed orchards and provenance studies at USFS installations. None of these collections has been managed with conservation of genetic diversity as a primary goal. Documentation of ex situ collections is uneven and non-standardized. Recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to conserve forest genetic resources have been developed but funding has not been approved. (see The Status of Temperate North American Forest Genetic Resources. Report No. 16, University of California Genetic Resources Conservation Program, Davis, CA, D.L. Rogers and F.T. Ledig (eds.).
American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA)
The plant collections of North American botanical gardens and arboreta are major repositories of genetic resources from throughout the world. The plant collections of numerous institutions contain rare or endangered species, documented wild-collected species, modern and historic cultivars, botanically complete collections, as well as genetically diverse collections.
With nearly 300,000 accessions growing on approximately 100,000 acres of North American gardens, these collections represent priceless genetic repositories. They are vital to horticultural and botanical research, breeding programs, nursery industry production, conservation efforts, and pharmaceutical research. Information on many of the collections held by AABGA member institutions is accessible through the AABGA Collections Directory.
Despite superb individual collections, until recently there has been little coordination among gardens sharing similar collection interests. Efforts are often duplicated, and clonal material passed from garden to garden, while other rare or otherwise important genetic resources remain unprotected.
Established by the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta in the early 1990s, the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC) has two primary purposes: 1) to coordinate a continent-wide effort among botanical gardens for the conservation of plant genetic resources and biodiversity; and 2) to act as a mechanism for elevating curatorial standards for the management of plant collections.
NAPCC can be a powerful force in conserving crucial plant genetic resources. By creating collective inventories and analyzing the data, the NAPCC can identify redundancies as well as gaps in North American plant collections. At the same time, NAPCC involvement in the development of focused management plans for target collections can ensure that significant collections are systematically replicated to protect plant genetic resources from potentially catastrophic events.
No single organization has the resources to acquire and manage the ornamental plant genetic resources of the world. In 1995, AABGA and the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entered into a Specific Cooperative Agreement to support the development of the NAPCC program. This NPGS collaboration with AABGA has enormous potential for dramatically expanding the conservation, management and utilization of plant genetic resources. To date, ARS has partially funded a part-time NAPCC Coordinator and the production of publicity materials promoting the development of collections for targeted conservation.
In return, the NAPCC plant collections will greatly expand the availability of plant genetic resources to the NPGS and the broader user community for carrying out their missions. While retaining complete autonomy of its own program, each NAPCC member is a NPGS associate germplasm repository for the taxonomic, horticultural or other grouping it has defined.
There is a significant and unreported amount of woody plant crop germplasm outside the formal plant germplasm preservation community. This germplasm is held and maintained by individuals and institutions ranging from personal collections to nurseries and universities. Germplasm in these holdings varies significantly in the quality and completeness of its documentation; however, many taxa have been systematically collected and preserved. Many of these holdings have been assembled by private individuals, nursery professionals and university researchers engaged in international plant exploration, collection and importation activities, but are not part of the NPGS or other documented collections. Without knowledge about the quality, quantity and location of these holdings, the plants are unavailable as genetic resources. Plant societies, nursery professionals, public garden professionals and university personnel may be able to provide information on or access to this germplasm.
Although not necessarily associated with living collections, the numerous herbaria affiliated with arboreta, botanic gardens, universities, and museums constitute a valuable resource for woody landscape plant germplasm, as they serve critical roles as repositories for vouchers of living collections, plant identification and systematics, and documentation of the extent and characteristics of natural distributions.
Germplasm Holdings
In cooperation with the NGRL, curators, and others, the WLPCGC developed a prioritized working list of woody landscape genera, along with information on the number of research programs utilizing each genus and on sites holding significant collections, both within the NPGS and outside, such as in the NAPCC (Appendix 1). Genera were ranked on a scale of 1 to 4 according to perceived importance to economic, aesthetic, or environmental well-being. Genera with which respondents were not familiar were not ranked. It became apparent that tropical genera, although important to woody landscape plant germplasm, represented a significant portion of the list, and should probably be ranked separately. Thus, there are currently two lists, one for temperate plants, and one for tropical plants. The prioritized lists can be used as an aid in acquisition, preservation and the establishment of collaborative relationships with other institutions.
Status of Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Acquisition – Exploration & Exchange
The acquisition of both foreign and domestic plant germplasm through exploration and exchange is vital to enhance plant diversity, and drives the sustained growth of the nursery and landscape industries. Plant exploration activities have not always been coordinated with preservation; consequently, the germplasm and the associated information on many of these resources are no longer available. In the past decade, the NPGS has developed effective protocols for obtaining access to plant genetic resources in many countries, established ethical and standardized plant collecting methods, and has continued to support numerous explorations. In addition, successful explorations have been conducted by botanic gardens, as well as under commercial, university, and individual sponsorship. However, international law now dictates that genetic resources are a sovereign resource of the country of origin and no longer the common heritage of humankind. Consequently, access to plant genetic resources in many countries is limited. New strategies involving increased collaboration and additional resources are now required to continue plant exploration and exchange activities. Additionally, the importation of germplasm carries inherent risks, such as the introduction of potentially invasive plants and other biological pests.
Several arboreta have been involved in plant exploration activities. These include the National Arboretum, the Holden Arboretum, Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens, University of Washington Arboretum, Missouri Botanical Garden, Arnold Arboretum, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Desert Botanic Garden, Fairchild Gardens, and Lyon Arboretum. Plant exploration and collecting has also been improved by the formation of consortia. Examples include the North American/China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC) and the Midwest Plant Collecting Collaborative.
The WLPCGC is currently assessing plant collections to determine if priority genera are represented by known sources and include good representation of available genetic diversity. Based on this assessment, future collection/exchange programs can be tailored to fill gaps in species, collection locations, or specific traits.
Germplasm Preservation and Maintenance
The preservation and maintenance of ornamental germplasm are the most resource intensive components of collections activities. Curatorial standards often vary among sites. These activities are frequently under-funded. Preservation of non-clonal material may involve cycles of renewal by seed or vegetative propagation, while clonal material is usually renewed only by vegetative means. Non-clonal collections can also be maintained via long-term storage of seed, whereas clonal collections have traditionally depended on maintenance of field or greenhouse accessions. Advances in long-term in vitro storage and cryopreservation of clonal germplasm may ease this burden in the future. Due to limited resources, the preservation and maintenance of ornamental germplasm has to be prioritized by consensual standards of importance to its end-users.
The American Forestry Association (www.americanforests.org) has identified a number of Grand Champion trees, many of which have landscape value or grow in managed landscapes. In addition, there are a number of heritage trees throughout the U.S., prominent because some historical event is associated with them. In order to preserve this old and historic germplasm, groups of university scientists and some private nurseries are involved in attempts to propagate from these trees.
Status of Woody Landscape Plant Evaluation Activities
The initial characterization and field evaluation of landscape plant germplasm have been undertaken by numerous institutions on many separate occasions, as part of organized introduction schemes, breeding and selection projects, and other trials and scientific studies. While many botanic gardens, universities and nurseries continue to conduct these projects, to date, there have been few attempts to standardize the collection of these data, and retrieval of such data by potential users can be difficult. Results are often limited in value because of lack of knowledge of origin of the material under evaluation. This pitfall, coupled with the tendency to make broad recommendations, often results in erroneous conclusions about a species' adaptability. Plants of the same species from various parts of its native range often may give different results.
Another limitation of these efforts is that evaluation criteria are usually based on evaluation for direct use only and not on genetic potential for use in a breeding program. Thus, plants that may have possessed some outstanding characteristics have often been discarded because of limitations in general adaptation or other characteristics. Plant germplasm should be characterized for all important traits, including disease and insect resistance, foliar and floral characteristics, plant habit, and tolerance to various environmental stresses.
Provenance trials and biosystematic studies are also used to evaluate woody plant germplasm. The primary limitation of these reports is a lack of information on aesthetic or landscape characteristics, as well as limited scope. These studies are often not linked with germplasm preservation.
At present, there are projects underway to develop standardized databases containing pertinent evaluation data. These projects have been initiated for a variety of purposes on limited groups of genera, and little effort has been made to coordinate their activities. Such projects include the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service's Woody Plant Evaluations made by Plant Materials Centers for conservation purposes. In 1995, the WLPCGC developed a general framework of basic descriptors for characterizing and evaluating woody landscape plant germplasm in GRIN. Other efforts are the description systems established by the Malus, Pyrus, Prunus, Juglans, Vitis, and Small Fruits Crop Germplasm Committees for GRIN (primarily for characteristics dealing with fruit and nut production, although some descriptors will clearly be useful to other users). An additional activity is the compilation of The Directory of Landscape Tree Cultivars sponsored by the Horticultural Research Institute for named cultivars of shade and street trees. Of these examples, only the GRIN system is directly connected to germplasm preservation.
NC-7 Regional Ornamental Plant Trials
The NC-7 Regional Ornamental Plant Trials began in 1954 through the efforts of a small group of dedicated horticulturists led by Professor S.A. McCrory of South Dakota State College (now University). The Trials began with the ultimate goal of expanding the range of knowledge about useful plants for the region's nursery trade. To this end, the emphasis of the Trials is placed on detailed, long-term evaluations of plant survival, growth and aesthetic characteristics at a broad range of sites rather than on promotion of new plants. However, trial site cooperators do collaborate to varying degrees with their local nursery industry to introduce promising materials. The Trials rely on a network of horticultural cooperators at about 30 sites located throughout the North Central region and in other states with similar climatic characteristics. Cooperators are located at land-grant universities and experiment stations, public gardens, and the region's four USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Centers. There are now nearly fifty years of data collected from ten-year trials of more than 500 accessions of landscape trees, shrubs and vines, including a much wider range of genera than are maintained at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station. Data on plants distributed for testing since 1984 are held in a database available on the Internet at: www.ars-grin.gov/ars/MidWest/Ames/trialhmpge.html and, when possible, are also linked to accessions in the GRIN database.
SERA-IEG 27
The Southern Extension and Research Activities/Information Exchange Group - 27 is sponsored by the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station directors and Southern Extension directors. Representatives from extension and research programs from thirteen land-grant universities and the U.S. National Arboretum cooperate to evaluate ornamental plant germplasm adaptable to the southeastern U.S. The objective of the group is to identify, evaluate, select, and disseminate information on superior, environmentally sustainable landscape plants for nursery-crop production and landscape systems in the southeastern U.S. The group is currently evaluating 10 woody plants, although evaluation reports are not yet available.
Canadian Evaluation Programs
There are two ongoing evaluation programs for woody landscape plants in Canada: the Prairie Regional Trials for Woody Ornamentals (PRTWO) and the Alberta Regional Woody Plant Test Program (ARWPTP). A third evaluation program at sites across Quebec, originally coordinated by the Atelier "Réseau d'essai des plantes ligneuses ornementales du Québec" of the Conseil des Productions Végétales du Québec (now the Centre de Référence en Agriculture et Agroalimentaire du Québec), was recently discontinued. It produced a series of evaluation reports available from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec (see http://res2.agr.ca/stjean/publication/volume/reploq_e.htm).
In 1959, the PRTWO began evaluating trees, shrubs, and roses in the Prairie Provinces, under the auspices of the Western Canadian Society for Horticulture (WCSH). Since that time, more than 1430 accessions have been propagated primarily from the AAFC-Morden Arboretum and distributed to cooperators at ten locations (eight active) for five-year trials of overall adaptation and plant growth. Detailed observations and notes are filed at the AAFC - Morden Arboretum. Historically, reports on plant performance were published approximately every 3 years in the report of proceedings of the WCSH. Reports are now complied periodically and mailed to interested parties, as well as being made available at http://res2.agr.ca/winnipeg/overmor.htm.
In 1983, cooperators at a wide range of sites (presently seven) in Alberta initiated a provincial evaluation program (the ARWPTP), which conducts six-year evaluations resembling those conducted by the PRTWO. Results and images of trial plants are posted at www.agric.gov.ab.ca/crops/trees/rwptp/index.html.
International Registration Authorities (IRAs)
The purpose of an IRA is to promote stability in the nomenclature of cultivars and cultivar groups within designated plant groups and to produce and promote authoritative checklists and registers of all names known to have been in use in such groups. The IRA records and registers cultivar and cultivar group names, and collects information on the cultivar, including herbarium vouchers, other illustrative materials, and evaluation data. An IRA may be an individual with superior knowledge of the taxon, or may be a member of a plant society, governmental organization, botanic garden, or university. Some genera of woody ornamental landscape plants have their own registrar (e.g. boxwood, holly, and camellia), while most fall under the registration authority for unassigned woody plants. Although the IRA does not conduct trials, judge distinctness of cultivars, or judge the superiority of one cultivar over another, the organization that sponsors the IRA often does participate in evaluation of plant materials. A list of IRAs can be found on the web site of the International Society of Horticultural Science at www.ishs.org/icra/index.htm .
Status of Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Enhancement/Breeding Activities
Compared to other crop commodities in the United States, breeding efforts of woody landscape plants are disproportionately low, especially considering the value of woody landscape plants to the U.S. economy. A 1985 survey by Brooks and Vest identified a total of 7.7 full time scientists devoted annually to breeding and genetics of landscape trees and shrubs by scientists at publically supported institutions in the U.S., while a survey conducted in 1994 and published as the 'National Plant Breeding Study-I' in 1996 by Iowa State University revealed that in 1994, there were 18 ornamental breeders at universities (11.7 or 65% woody); 5 ornamental breeders in ARS (4 or 80% woody); and 64 ornamental breeders in industry (23.9 or 37% woody, omitting pine). Because of the long life cycles and the high cost involved in breeding woody plants, most small nurseries cannot afford the investment to operate breeding programs. A few genera, such as the rhododendrons and roses, have hobbyist breeders; however these efforts primarily focus on breeding for large showy flowers or other aesthetic qualities and often do not involve multi-generation crossing programs to incorporate resistance to pests or tolerance to urban and other environmental stresses.
Only a few public institutions have active woody ornamental breeding programs. These include the USDA/ARS U.S. National Arboretum, the USDA/ARS site in Poplarville, MS, the University of Minnesota, the Landscape Plant Development Center, Rutgers University, Texas A&M, North Carolina State University, the University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, the University of Arkansas, and Oregon State University. Reduced support levels have resulted in many public institutions either reducing or eliminating their breeding programs. The Holden and Morton Arboreta are the only two known private arboreta or botanic gardens known to have an active breeding program in woody landscape plants. In Canada, the Morden Experiment Station is the only institution actively involved in breeding activities.
U.S. National Arboretum
The Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit of the U.S. National Arboretum conducts a broad-based program contributing to basic and developmental research and the implementation of new technologies for the floral and nursery industries. Emphasis is placed on developing new and superior floral and woody nursery plants. In addition, the Unit has the responsibility to collect, propagate, maintain, distribute, evaluate and preserve representative levels of inherent genetic diversity of woody landscape plants as part of the NPGS.
Landscape Plant Development Center
The Landscape Plant Development Center (LPDC) is a non-profit organization with a mission of developing stress-tolerant landscape plants for all geographic regions, with emphasis on USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 5. The LPDC's approach is a cooperative effort with research participants at many institutions and broad industry support. Through this cooperative approach, the LPDC can utilize the plant collections of participating institutions to make desired crosses. The breeding strategy is based on the hypothesis that plants in the F1 generation are usually intermediate in hardiness between the two parents and thus may not possess sufficient hardiness for the most severe climates. In succeeding generations, however, there should be some individuals equal to or exceeding the tolerance of the hardiest original parent. Thus, to efficiently test generations and to discover the best-adapted strains, F2 populations are planted at institutions located in different regions. Superior plants that are well adapted to each region can be selected from the same F2 or later-generation population for either direct landscape use or for further breeding efforts to incorporate superior aesthetic traits with the previously selected environmental tolerance.
Environmental Issues Concerning Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm
Unlike most other crop plants, woody landscape plants are used to ameliorate certain environments, and also contribute extensively to the health of both natural and man-made ecosystems. Therefore, issues such as invasiveness, bioremediation, threatened and endangered species, and erosion control are all relevant to the WLPCGC. While these issues cannot be treated extensively in this document, it is important that these issues be considered when making decisions regarding woody landscape plant priority genera, collection/exchange proposals, and curation. The National PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov), maintained by the USDA NRCS, maintains lists of invasive as well as threatened and endangered plants.
Invasive plants have increasingly severe environmental, political and economic ramifications, and prevention of further releases of invasive or potentially invasive species should be encouraged. The WLPCGC recognizes that plant introduction and improvement are the foundation of modern horticulture, yielding a diversity of useful plants for managed landscapes and gardens, and that only a small proportion of introduced plant species become invasive and cause unwanted impacts to natural systems and biological diversity. The issue is complicated by the fact that species can be invasive in some regions, but not in others, and the impacts of invasive species can occur at times and places far removed from the site of introduction. These principles have been reiterated by several groups, including the National Invasive Species Council established by the Federal Executive Order 13112 on February 3, 1999, and the St. Louis Declaration (December, 2001).
Concerns that species and their habitats may be adversely affected by human activities have resulted in federal, state and local legislation, including the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1600-1614), as amended. ESA was enacted to provide for protection of endangered plant and animal species and their habitats. ESA's provisions include the federal listing of such species as threatened or endangered, establishment of standards for their treatment, and specification of mandated actions towards recovery of listed species. Germplasm collections can serve important roles in preserving endangered plants and providing material for research and reintroduction programs. Genotypes and even species and genera that are extinct in the wild are preserved in cultivation, and some of these (such as Ginkgo biloba and Franklinia alatamaha) have proven very valuable for landscape use.
Maintenance, distribution and research on threatened germplasm are important for the nursery industry as well as for conservation purposes. The nursery industry can play a role to in the preservation and reintroduction of threatened and endangered plants. Activities on holdings of threatened and endangered species in the United States are being coordinated by the Center for Plant Conservation, and international transportation of endangered species is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The following recommendations, the priority genera lists, and this entire report are meant to be revisited each year when the WLPCGC holds its business meeting.
Before it is practical to prioritize collection and preservation needs more explicitly, a more comprehensive inventory is needed of what already exists in cultivation. Our prioritized lists (Appendix 1) are first steps in this direction. An assessment of the extent to which that inventory constitutes authentic material representative of taxa in nature must be made. Consequently, high priority should be placed on the loading of passport and inventory information on the collections of the U.S. National Arboretum into GRIN, followed by that for the collections of any other USDA facility not already in GRIN. This effort should then be extended to any other agency of the federal government holding permanent collections of woody plants. Also, a strong effort should be made to link holdings in NAPCC collections with the GRIN accession and taxonomy areas. Once this partnership is established, decisions regarding germplasm collection and preservation needs may proceed with some assurance that they will reflect national priorities.
AABGA - NAPCC
The task of maintaining woody plant germplasm is an enormous one and unlikely to be fulfilled completely by either the NPGS or AABGA. It would therefore be highly advantageous to both organizations to coordinate efforts due to the limited resources and to avoid duplication. The coordination of germplasm preservation among different institutions will have several important benefits, including a more complete representation of the germplasm of managed taxa, without any cooperator necessarily having to increase the size of its collection; an increase in the overall efficiency in managing plant germplasm, with the opportunity to locate plants at environmentally favorable sites; less likelihood of a catastrophic loss of germplasm of managed taxa, with different clones being located at different garden sites; and more effective long-term management and easier transfer of collections when necessary.
The efforts of the AABGA to establish a consortium of botanical gardens and arboreta with the resources and willingness to manage their documented plants as one, national collection is to be commended and supported. Because of a lack of sufficient funds, this program may be jeopardized or restricted in the future. It is in the best interest of both the NPGS and AABGA that this program succeeds. Although the partnership has begun, much work remains for this collaboration to be fully realized. Specific targets include: increased support for coordination, database linkages with distributed querying, expanded institutional participation, and improved curatorial and evaluative expertise.
Because of the diversity and number of woody landscape plant genera, a coordinated approach to preservation/curation would be most effective. The U.S. National Arboretum is well-suited to take a leadership role in this responsibility, through a support position either with Plant Records or the WLPGR. Working closely with the coordinator of the NAPCC and other NPGS curators, a full-time position at the National Arboretum could focus on integration of plant databases from other gardens and training of member curators of NAPCC. Such cooperation will identify duplication in collections, assist in increasing diversity of holdings, and help optimize survival of plants more suited to one region of the country than another. The curators should continually strengthen working relationships with other federal agencies that maintain or oversee woody plant germplasm both in situ and ex situ, notably the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, in order to coordinate the preservation of all significant collections of woody landscape plants currently under federal jurisdiction.
We endorse a pilot study headed by Rick Lewandowski to study the ease and problems associated with transferring electronic data about plant collections at various gardens, maintained on various platforms to a spreadsheet format. Initially five genera (Camellia, Viburnum, Magnolia, Cornus, Ilex) will be studied, and Rick will request specific field information from 15 institutions. It is important to document how much time it takes, results, and problems, so that a proposal can be developed to send to the National Program Staff (NPS) for future funding of a more comprehensive effort through NAPCC. It would be useful to NPS to have an estimate of the contribution of each partner in NAPCC (i.e., what resources each member institution has committed or will commit to maintain germplasm).
We recommend that GRIN nomenclature be used if there is no established synonomy (www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/tax/index.html).
We endorse the concept of using distributive querying of on-line plant databases as a cooperative collection management tool, and encourage GRIN staff to join a multi-disciplinary task force to adapt existing software for this purpose. It is also recommended that grant programs be established to help support NAPCC member gardens in moving their collection databases on-line.
NRCS
Although the Plant Materials Program already cooperates with the NPGS, further enhancement of this relationship is possible in the following areas: preservation of NRCS collections; submission of existing collections to NPGS; funding for future collections and evaluations; and facilitation of other NRCS-NPGS collaborations.
Germplasm Preservation
While planting out and seed banking are suitable ways to maintain woody plant germplasm, given current technology and limitations in funding, other methodologies, including cryopreservation of dormant buds and seeds, appear to have merit and may prove to be more efficient in the future because of greater economies of space and labor over time. Continued research, where information is lacking, and compilation of findings on these methodologies as they related to woody plants should be encouraged.
The search for, and collection of, diverse sources of wild populations and their preservation should take precedence over cultivated material since habitat loss could result in the loss of valuable germplasm. In addition, collection and maintenance of wild populations species is the most economical method of preserving the largest number of genes in any plant group. However, we recognize that cultivated germplasm also has value, and efforts should be made to avoid the loss of germplasm when breeders discontinue working on certain lines. The collection of any species should include samples from the various extremities of its range, ecologically as well as geographically, and from various locations between the extremities. Until information becomes available that would suggest a more feasible approach, we recommend that the core collection approach be implemented with woody landscape plant germplasm preservation.
Because research on invasive plants often requires study of the invasive species themselves, we do not recommend eliminating potentially invasive plants in germplasm collections. However, we do recommend that dissemination of these species, whether through natural seed dispersal or through distribution to users by curators, be carefully controlled.
Preservation of accessions from recent and current exploration efforts have also been identified as a high priority.
In cooperation with NAPCC, encourage the development and application of best management practices in curation and attempt to address the lack of continuity in curation of specific collections.
The Glenn Dale move
The transfer of plant germplasm from Glenn Dale to Beltsville, MD represents an opportunity for evaluation and possible consolidation of the materials, but is also a major threat to valuable and unique germplasm. The curator of the WLPGR should seek advice, as needed, from members of a subcommittee of the WLPCGC that formed specifically to advise on technical and germplasm aspects relating to this undertaking. The CGC can also take partial responsibility, if necessary, for loss of plant material that occurs as a result of its recommendations. A WLPCGC subcommittee consisting of Jim Berry, Paul Capiello (chair), Harold Pellett, and Mark Widrlechner was recently established. This subcommittee should receive a list of pertinent germplasm from the curator of the WLPGR and may visit the site if necessary, with travel support from the NPS.
Germplasm Characterization
Identify unnamed plants of known wild origin and verify named plants of known origin in existing collections.
Germplasm Evaluation
Identify substantial collections within prioritized genera to determine whether evaluation programs are justified.
The WLPCGC, working with NAPCC and other interested organizations and agencies, should develop a directory of North American evaluation programs along with a summary of how results from these evaluations can be obtained.
Better cooperation between evaluation programs and institutions that are able to maintain germplasm must be encouraged. GRIN and projects such as NAPCC should act as bridges to connect evaluation data with maintenance records. All pertinent institutions and agencies need to provide adequate maintenance for accessions being tested.
Most programs are aimed at the southern half of the U.S., with much less effort to the northern U.S., tropical regions or the southwest. We recommend support for cooperation between the LPDC and the USNA breeding programs to explore the potential to strengthen breeding efforts for northern parts of the U.S., as well as support for breeding efforts that focus on tropical or arid species.
Germplasm Exploration/Exchange
Examine germplasm holdings within GRIN (and NAPCC, as the program develops), and compare with the WLPCGC priority list to identify gaps and/or voids for future exploration or exchange. Similarly, identify substantial collections within prioritized genera and identify whether exploration is justified.
Foster support of cooperative landscape plant exploration and collecting expeditions such as those initiated by NACPEC. Encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration to make efficient use of available resources. Increase awareness of grant programs among the botanical garden and arboretum community.
In making recommendations for exploration of woody plant germplasm, the WLPCGC will consider both the invasive potential of the species in question, as well as the potential benefits to U.S. horticulture. Therefore, germplasm exploration proposals submitted for endorsement by the WLPCGC must specifically address the issue of invasive species.
Germplasm Distribution
A one or two sentence "warning" should accompany woody landscape germplasm distribution from repositories or from Indices Seminum, reminding receivers of the threat of invasive species and the regional differences in invasive behavior.
Appendix I: Excel spreadsheets (one for temperate genera, one for tropical genera) with rankings and other information for genera of woody landscape plants.
Useful Web sites related to this document
www.usda.gov/ The U.S. Department of Agriculture
www.ars.usda.gov/ The Agricultural Research Service
www.fs.fed.us/ The U.S. Forest Service
www.nrcs.usda.gov/ The National Resource Conservation Service
http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov The Plant Materials Center of the NRCS
http://plants.usda.gov The National PLANTS database
www.usna.usda.gov/ The U.S. National Arboretum, including the WLPGR
www.ars-grin.gov/ The National Genetic Resources Program
www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/holdings.html Plant Germplasm Repositories in the U.S.
www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/tax/index.html GRIN Taxonomy
www.ashs.org/ The American Society for Horticultural Science
www.anla.org/ The American Nursery and Landscape Association
www.americanforests.org American Forests
www.ishs.org/icra/index.htm The International Society for Horticultural Science
www.aabga.org/ The American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta
www.ars-grin.gov/ars/MidWest/Ames/trialhmpge.html NC-7 trials
http://res2.agr.ca/winnipeg/overmor.htm Evaluation trials from the Western Canadian Society for Horticulture
http://res2.agr.ca/stjean/publication/volume/reploq_e.htm Canadian evaluation trials in Quebec
www.agric.gov.ab.ca/crops/trees/rwptp/index.html Canadian evaluation trials in Alberta


Marvin Daniel Hill Sr. of Champaign, Illinois passed away March 20, 2019 at home. He was born October 23, 1924 in Ogelthorpe County, Georgia to Enoch Amos and Florrie (Smith) Hill.
His parents relocated the family to Garden City, Michigan in 1926. In 1944 Marvin joined the Canadian Army and became an infantry scout in the Algonquin Regiment during WWII. After the war he became a car salesman for Ford being transferred throughout the United States. In 1961, he bought his first dealership "Hill Ford Sales" in Fremont, Ohio which he then sold in 1969. Then owning "Hawthorne AMC Jeep" in Toledo, Ohio until 1981 and in 1982 purchasing his 3rd and last dealership "Hill Ford Sales" in Champaign, Illinois from which he retired at the age of 80.
Marvin was an avid big game hunter acquiring trophy animals from around the world and being recognized by Safari Club International.
He married Verna (Fish) Gilbert of Fremont, Ohio on March 3, 1973 in Toledo, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers Albert "Al", Odell "Tony", John and Chuck Hill.
Marvin is survived by his 5 children Sharilyn (John) Burdett of Clyde, Ohio, Jeanette (Bill) Druckenmiller of Fremont, Ohio, Marvin Daniel (Pam) Hill, Jr. of Bozeman, Montana, Kevin (Dennie) Hill of Pemberville, Ohio, and Kimberly (Joseph) McGraw of Tazewell, Virginia. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. His two sisters Edna Mudry and Barbara Lantz, both of Florida, also survive.
A visitation will be held at Morgan Memorial Home located at 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy, Illinois on Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Foos Funeral Home located at 504 East McPherson Highway in Clyde, Ohio on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 11:00a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Marvin will be laid to rest at Parkhurst Cemetery in Clyde, Ohio.


When new clients contact us about surrogacy, one of their first questions is whether a surrogacy contract is really required when the surrogate is a relative.
Our answer is always the same: yes.
We get it. A contract seems very formal when you know and trust your sister/cousin/niece enough that you are willing to pursue surrogacy with them. So in this blog we outline three primary reasons to have a surrogacy agreement in Ontario, even if the surrogate and intended parents are related.
A key benefit to surrogacy agreements is that they force the intended parents and surrogate to think about difficult situations that could arise and plan for them. While most surrogacy journeys are smooth, there is always the potential for something unexpected to happen. Like anything else in life, it is far easier to handle curve balls if you have already contemplated what you want to happen in those situations. For example, if genetic testing reveals serious problems with the fetus, it would be devastating and indescribably challenging for the parties to find out at that time they have different philosophies about abortion. While this is a very serious and more extreme example, there are dozens of other potential disputes that could also arise. We believe that the surrogacy process should be as conflict-free as possible, and agreements are one tool for achieving this goal.
Until 2017 parents who had a child through surrogacy needed a lawyer to go to court on their behalves before they could register their child's birth with the government and obtain a birth certificate. The law in Ontario recently changed and the process is now much more stream-lined. However, the new process is only possible IF the parties have a surrogacy agreement in place before the surrogate is pregnant AND the surrogate received independent legal advice (meaning from a different lawyer than the one who drafted the contract). The resources (financial, emotional and time) involved with going to court are best avoided in virtually every case.
Just because the parties are related does not mean they are more knowledgeable about surrogacy law than anyone else. Part of the process of making the surrogacy contract involves receiving legal advice about surrogacy laws in Ontario, and the parties' rights and obligations to each other. It is an opportunity to understand what is and is not legal. Much of what is written about surrogacy in the public domain is from other countries, is not written by lawyers, or reflects different circumstances. There is no substitute for receiving proper advice and obtaining answers to the questions you didn't even know you had.
Finally, as an honourable mention, it is also worth pointing out that many fertility clinics will not proceed until they have received a letter from a surrogacy lawyer indicating that a surrogacy agreement has been signed.
We hope you now understand why we believe surrogacy agreements are essential elements in every surrogacy journey.
If you are in need of a surrogacy agreement or legal advice about surrogacy, we would be pleased to assist you. We can be reached at 416-937-8768.


Business Continuity: What are the costs of IT downtime?
The topic of business continuity (sometimes understood as high availability of servers and systems) is covered in a number of websites around the world. Here is a brief (and as of now incomplete) list of good resources.


text:
Mitchell on Mavs: 'They are kind of the reason I am in Cleveland'
December 15, 2022 December 15, 2022 Categories UncategorizedCAVALIERS, DALLAS MAVERICKS, DONOVAN MITCHELL, LUKA DONCIC, NBA, UTAH JAzzLeave a Comment on Mitchell on Mavs: 'They are kind of the reason I am in Cleveland'
Last season, as a member of the Utah Jazz, Donovan Mitchell was eliminated from the playoffs by the Mavs in the first round.
In that series, where the Jazz lost in six, Mitchell struggled; he averaged 25. 5. points per contest in that series, but he shot only 40% from the field. After that loss, the Jazz felt they needed to do something with their roster. They traded three-time All-Star Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves in July, and a couple of months later, they dealt Mitchell to the Cavs.
Mitchell, who spent five seasons in Utah and had a lot of success, is off to a great start in Cleveland and is averaging 29.2 points on 50% shooting, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per contest.
Last night, Mitchell got some revenge. The three-time All-Star scored 27 of his game-high 34 points(13/20 FG, 6/9 3-pt FG) in the first half as the Cavs defeated the Mavs 105-90 at American Airlines Center.
"I think for me it's just understanding that at the end of the day, they are kind of the reason I am in Cleveland," Mitchell said about losing to the Mavericks in playoffs. "They did a great job in the playoff series, and I am thankful I am here, but it's just recognition. I have played them a bunch of times in my career and played them six times in the playoffs with intense focus on different things. Obviously, different personnel here, so I am able to find gaps, and I was telling these guys how they are going to attack me and approach the second half."
According to Mitchell, his extraordinary performance was not about trying to get revenge against the Mavs but about setting the tone after Cleveland's tough loss to San Antonio.
"For me, it's just trying to set the tone," he said. "I think more of it was just trying to set the tone after the San Antonio loss, then coming in here worried about last year. Last year just made me a better player as a whole. You take those lessons, and you learn and implement them in the game."
Only Mitchell knows if this game meant a little more to him, but in the end, the Cavs are happy that things did not work out for Mitchell against the Mavs and are delighted that he played at a high level on Wednesday night.
Previous Post Jermell Charlo: 'Nobody is ready for me in my division'
Next Post Commanders' Heinicke is hoping for big-time fan support against Giants

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Ramdial Parts & Services keeps most common wear items for your Mattress Machinery products in stock for shipping the same or next day. Our guarantee to you is that you will get top quality re-placement parts that will require no modifications or alterations to making it fit, you won't get a better fit than original,than ours.
We also offer In-House and On-Site repairs and Services in the New England and Metro States. If your company is outside these States, we have trained technicians that will travel to meet all your needs. Our many years of experience with Mattress Making Equipment makes us a one stop Parts and Services Company with the knowledge and capabilities to make any Repairs, Re-Building and Upgrades for all your production equipment.


text:
February 17, 2017 | Monograph
Islamic State 2021
FDD Press
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross
Senior Advisor on Asymmetric Warfare
Download the full report here.
The Islamic State (referred to in this report as ISIL) has seen its prospects in North and West Africa grow increasingly dim since early 2015. ISIL has experienced significant losses in North Africa in the past year, especially in Libya, which was once ISIL's most valuable territory outside of Syria and Iraq, and was home to the group's unofficial African capital. Meanwhile, the Nigerian militant group popularly known as Boko Haram, which is ISIL's West Africa Province (ISWAP), has experienced major internal schisms, as different factions vie for resources, compete for the attention of ISIL's senior leadership, and renew longstanding personal, ideological and strategic disputes.
But despite these setbacks, ISIL continues to pose a threat to North and West Africa, and is capable of mounting high-profile terrorist attacks in the region and beyond. Additionally, continued political instability and conflict in countries like Mali and Libya could undermine counter-ISIL efforts, and provide the group an opportunity to rebuild its networks and mount a resurgence. Indeed, two recent occurrences – the reemergence of ISIL in northern Mali and the group's temporary takeover of the town of Qandala in Puntland (a region in northeastern Somalia) – illustrate ISIL's ability to exploit ungoverned spaces and fragile states. It is possible that ISIL's global decline could also paradoxically help the group in North and West Africa, as state and non-state actors shift resources from combatting ISIL to other seemingly more urgent issues, giving ISIL the breathing room it needs to regenerate.
Several factors will have a fundamental impact on ISIL's future trajectory in North and West Africa:
1. The future of ISIL's Sirte network: In order to survive and rebuild in North and West Africa, ISIL will likely need to preserve at least some of the militant infrastructure it developed during its year-plus in control of the Libyan city of Sirte. The Sirte network has been a key bridge between ISIL's Syria-Iraq leadership and its African allies, and ISIL has relied heavily on the Sirte network to maintain its patronage of its provinces (as ISIL refers to its affiliates) in the region. While ISIL has lost its foothold in Sirte, the group may be able to preserve some of the jihadist apparatus that had ruled and administered the city.
2. ISWAP's organizational dynamics: ISWAP's internal schisms threaten to cripple the group and weaken, if not sever, its ties to ISIL. The loss of its Nigerian province would be a major blow to ISIL's expansion efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa, and would further tarnish the group's brand. Conversely, if ISWAP remains in ISIL's orbit, ISWAP could provide ISIL with a vehicle through which to expand its presence into other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal and Mali.
3. The resilience of ISIL in northern Mali: ISIL's recent resurgence in northern Mali gives the group a new foothold at a time when it is struggling elsewhere in the region, and across the globe. But ISIL's presence in Mali remains tenuous, as both regional and French security forces, as well as rival al-Qaeda militants, will likely target ISIL.
4. Political stability in North Africa: ISIL's prospects in North Africa hinge to a considerable extent on the future of the region's politics, especially in Libya. Ongoing tensions between rival political and armed factions in Libya continue to threaten to escalate into a high-intensity civil conflict, with destabilizing effects for the rest of the region. Spillover from Libya would test Tunisia's already fragile young democracy. Algeria's political future is similarly uncertain, given the lack of a clear successor to the ailing president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Political turmoil could provide ISIL with the opening it needs to rebuild its flagging networks.
This section now outlines ISIL's current capabilities and future prospects in each of the six countries/regions examined in this report.


Laundry Pedestal with Drawer is rated 4.5 out of 5 by 2.
You can never have enough storage. The pedestal opens up to reveal a large storage drawer, perfect for all your laundry essentials, so you can keep your laundry neat and tidy.
The pedestal raises your front load washer or dryer to a perfect height, which means a better working height when loading or unloading your laundry.
Rated 5 out of 5 by KS12 from Fantastic Product I have had this product for about 1 month. It is the best purchase I've made! It's great! A little tricky to put together. You do need 2 strong people to attach the washing machine to the pedestal.
Rated 4 out of 5 by Brad from Does the job Bought this recent. You do need two people to install as the washing machine needs to be placed on its side to attach the drawer. Couldn't get the back brackets to line up. Also if you have a condenser dryer it can't be stacked.


text:
Tallinn Music Week will fill the historic railway station Balti Jaam with sounds of the future
The new music and urban culture festival Tallinn Music Week (TMW) taking place from 27th March to 2nd April will open the historic railway station Balti Jaam for a party marathon staged by club event series AUX, Mürk and Isola.
From Friday, 31st March to Sunday, 2nd April the waiting pavilion of Balti Jaam and pedestrian underpass will be transformed into a techno club "Balti Jaama Tunnel" offering audio-visual experiences, raw beats and cutting edge music curated by AUX, Mürk and Isola. The 30-hour party marathon presents local underground DJs as well as some of the most exciting producers from all over the world, among them one of the UK's most in-demand producers, Pearson Sound and the mysterious SNTS from Germany.
The Balti Jaama Tunnel will open on Friday, 31st March at 21:00 by Estonian Su—Mu mixing Balearic beat with psychedelic sounds. Also present is Finnish house legend Jori Hulkkonen, hailed as "the most underrated producer in the world", one-third of the team behind the UK's Hessle Audio label, David Kennedy's Pearson Sound.
On Saturday, 1st April the club opens already at 16:00 with the MÜRK party – one of the strongest techno brands in Estonia, presenting local underground favourites along with Hannu Ikola from Finland.
At midnight it's time for the TMW official after-party by ISOLA, that combines music, fashion and visual arts, showcasing the mysterious ambient techno producer SNTS from Germany whose hidden identity aims to let the music speak for itself.
Balti Jaama Tunnel is an immersive audio-visual experience, completed by the light and video art by Emer Värk.
Balti Jaama Tunnel on Facebook
Single tickets for €10 available at Piletilevi.
Entry also with TMW festival pass, TMW priority pass and TMW delegates' pass.
TMW 2017 Priority Passes are on sale at TMW web store for €150. Priority Pass holders are asked to register for the opening concert by 20th March by e-mail.
TMW 2017 festival passes for 60€ are on sale at TMW web store.
TMW 2017 delegate passes are available for €250 until 19th March (From 20th March €295) at TMW web store. Sign up as a delegate and buy your pass. TMW delegate pass grants access to the conference seminars and priority access to the music festival as well as the database of registered contacts.
This year's edition of TMW from 27th March to 2nd April will present the music festival line-up and two-day industry conference, a series of free City Stage concerts, TMW Arts programme, curated by the Estonian Contemporary Arts Development Centre, Design Market showcasing the most exciting Baltic and Scandinavian brands and designs, TMW Talks series with topics from music to science and societal issues, City Space activities in cooperation with the interior designers of Estonian Academy of Arts and a kids and youth special programme for the first time.
TMW 2017 is presented by Nordea bank, the sponsors are Telia and Spotify, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Enterprise Estonia, Eesti Meedia and Nordic Hotel Forum. Partners and supporters of TMW are Uber, Viru Keskus, Telliskivi Creative City, Solaris, Music Estonia, Tuborg, LaMuu, Fritz Kola, Tallinn City government. Tallinn Music Week's international activities introducing Tallinn and Estonia as an attractive tourism destination of music and culture are supported by The European Regional Development Fund.


We are delighted to announce that the PTA will be running another fantastic Fireworks event this year. To make the event a successful one and generate funds for our wonderful school we are seeking a number of parent volunteers to help run the candy floss, popcorn, drinks and BBQ stalls.
Events like this are only made possible with the support of the whole school so please sign up for a volunteer slot. It is also open to the local community so please help spread the word!


It was my birthday earlier this week and I was lucky enough to be given this Origami Jewellery solid silver rabbit necklace by my boyfriend. I'd not heard of the brand before, but imitation origami jewellery pieces had caught my eye in the past so I was thrilled to receive one of the original pieces behind the origami jewellery trend!
Origami Jewellery is the work of French designers Claire Naa and Arnaud Soulignac who, after being taught the Japanese art of paper folding one winter night by their friend Masayuki Muraki, decided to pay tribute to the intricate shapes created by combining them with precious materials such as silver, gold and rose gold. The pair travelled to Japan to carefully source manufacturers capable of reproducing the intricate and delicate shapes of origami and from there a whole forest of origami animal jewellery was born.
The little rabbit is rather weighty and hangs on a long chain that rests mid-chest (sorry, I'll get my tape measure out soon and give you an exact length, I promise!). It's the perfect piece to give a basic outfit an edge and I've already received a number of compliments on the necklace, which is always a good sign! In the UK, Origami Jewellery is stocked at Liberty - presented in a beautiful bell jar on one of the counter tops in the jewellery hall no less! It was a tough choice as all the animals were so appealing - the swan, the flying horse, the dog - but I chose the rabbit in the end and I am so happy with it. You can see other examples of Origami Jewellery animals here.
I've always loved origami and in this form it's just precious! Love it!


text:
Trustees of the IFRS Foundation
Follow - Appointment process ×
Trustee Appointments are made with the approval of the Monitoring Board (MB).
Proposed process for appointments
Each year the appointments process is approved by the Trustees and sent to the MB for their approval.
The Trustees advertise the Trustee position(s) becoming available on the IFRS Foundation website and the Economist, in order to invite nominations. The nomination process is open for a period of at least four weeks.
The Chair of the Trustees' Nominating Committee writes to relevant stakeholder groups, including the Monitoring Board, current and former Trustees to seek nominations.
The Nominating Committee reviews the candidate names and, taking into account the Conflict of Interest Policy, agrees a shortlist which is subsequently agreed by the full Trustee group before any appropriate follow-up actions are taken.
The Nominating Committee Chair and at least two Nominating Committee Members meet with the shortlisted candidates.
Following the candidate meeting, the Nominating Committee will discuss and agree a recommendation to the full Trustee group to proceed with suitable candidates.
Assuming candidates are interested, they are sent a consent form and asked to complete and sign a register of interest prior to extensive due diligence checks that are undertaken by a specialist third-party organisation.
Once the checks have been completed they are reviewed by the Chair of the Nominating Committee, one other Trustee and IFRS Foundation Executives. Subsequently, the material is then reviewed by the rest of the Nominating Committee and sent to the full Trustee group.
Assuming these checks do not highlight matters that would prevent an appointment, approval to proceed will be sought from the Nominating Committee and then all Trustees.
The candidate recommendation, their biographical notes and the Nominating Committee assessment of the due diligence material is then sent to the Monitoring Board.
The Monitoring Board will follow its own appointment process.
For reappointments the following adjustments are made:
Trustees eligible to serve a second term are asked whether they wish to be considered for reappointment.
If a Trustee confirms their interest in serving a second term, their application is considered by the Nominating Committee alongside the Committee's consideration of other candidates as set out above.
Due diligence procedures are followed as set out above although these are limited to the period of their first term, ie the last three years.
Once due diligence checks are completed satisfactorily the Trustees will send the Monitoring Board a summary of the findings and a recommendation to consider reappointment. The Monitoring Board then completes its own approval process.
When considering potential candidates for At Large vacancies, the criteria, published in the Structure and Effectiveness Review, November 2016, are followed:
Individuals with global experience who do not fit easily into any one geographical category;
Individuals from emerging economies;
Individuals from countries that do not fit easily into any one geographical category; or
Individuals from one of the specific geographical regions referred to in the Constitution, but who, in the opinion of the Trustees, are assessed as having exceptional skills and experience that would be of benefit to the Trustees as a whole
Trustee role specification


Is Your Dog's Personality … Changing?
Earlier today, I was eating a small bowl of blueberries. My dog, Peter, was immediately very interested — sniffing, wagging his tail, sitting like a good boy who would like to have some of whatever that is, thank you; he's sitting and ready, hello??
I shared my blueberries with him because we're friends and I love him so much, obviously, but I warned him that he's never liked blueberries in the past. Okay, just give me a blueberry please, he communicated, so I did. To my surprise and yours … he liked it!
I tell you this thrilling "tail" (dog tail) not only because it's very captivating, but also because it is mildly connected, at least in a vague sort of way, to a new dog study that appeared recently in the Journal of Research in Personality. According to the study, a dog's personality can change as he ages, sometimes due to training, and sometimes due to a sort of personality melding with his human counterpart.
The study looked at 1,681 dogs, from one-and-a-half weeks to 16 years old, and included 50 different breeds. It was meant to prove empirically what we've likely already observed in our own dogs: Puppies have different personalities than old dogs; trained dogs act differently than untrained; and, less explicitly, my dog is sweeter than most because I am sweeter than most, and also he likes blueberries now.
William Chopik, an assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University and lead author of the study, spoke to PsyPost about his findings. "Dogs can and do change in their personalities across life," he said. "There are some things that owners do that might affect how they change over time." Training and obedience classes had the strongest effects on personality, leading to more active, excitable dogs, and obedient dogs, but just being around you, and your either "terrible" or "normal" personality, can have an effect, too.
Extroverts seemed to have more excitable dogs, for example; open-minded people seemed to have dogs that were less fearful and aggressive. Neurotic people (oh no, is that you?) tended to have dogs that were more fearful and difficult to train. "We still don't know entirely why dogs change," Chopik said. This study focused only on comparing dogs of different ages, rather than before and after big life events, or anything else.
Perhaps owners are affecting their dogs' personalities by eating blueberries near them semi-regularly? A study for another day.


text:
Historic Natchez mansion faces uncertain future after foreclosure
Published 4:14 pm Friday, February 1, 2019
Natchez lawyer Bruce Kuehnle stands at the top of the Adams County Courthouse steps to auction off the Dunleith property Friday. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)
As several dozen onlookers watched, one chapter in the more than 160-year history of antebellum Dunleith was closed, with another chapter yet to be written.
United Mississippi Bank foreclosed on the storied mansion from which Dunleith Historic Inn and The Castle Restaurant operated after no one else placed a bid in a foreclosure auction.
The bank, which had enacted foreclosure proceedings in an attempt to recoup money the bank had loaned to Dunleith's former owner, set a minimum bid of $4.7 million for the property.
"Since there were no other bidders, we simply foreclosed," bank CEO Adrian Sandel said. "Today, we simply took possession of the property."
The bank's bid was the lone bid made before a crowd of spectators Friday afternoon on the steps of the Adams County Courthouse.
Free of the stigma of the bankruptcy and foreclosure, the bank can now seek to market and sell the antebellum mansion set on a palatial estate.
"The bank is working with the current management on plans for the property," Sandel said. "Our goal is 100 percent to sell the property. There are still a couple of interested prospects (would-be buyers). We need to see if any of those comes to fruition.
Technically, the bank did not acquire the businesses that were operating at the facility, but simply foreclosed on the property itself and other fixed assets on the site, Sandel said.
"The bank didn't acquire the company, Dunleith Plantation LLC, but the bank took possession of the building and its contents."
Dunleith's sale was the final of three businesses that were entangled in owner Michael Worley's personal bankruptcy case. United Mississippi Bank claimed in court that Worley owed the bank $7.3 million.
A federal judge's ruling in December cleared the way for the bank to foreclose in an attempt to recoup its money.
On Thursday local businessman Dan Bland purchased Worley's second Natchez business, Bowie's Tavern, also ensnared in the bankruptcy, for $1.37 million.
Worley filed a personal bankruptcy under Chapter 11 codes on Jan. 8, 2018, citing more than $107 million in liabilities, with just more than $80 million in assets.
Bowie's Outfitters was sold in September to Roberts and Knost Investments, an LLC formed in August. The LLC shares a Baton Rouge address with the Excel Group, an industrial construction firm, owned by David Roberts.
Bankruptcy documents indicate Worley owed Roberts $352,729.31.
Dunleith was built in 1856 and has been operated as a commercial bed and breakfast facility since 1976. Dunleith currently has 22 luxury rooms available for overnight guests and has been the venue for many weddings and large parties throughout the years.


The collaboration will help companies to unbundle the complexity of moving from ECC to SAP S/4HANA.
SAP Analytics Cloud is embedded into SAP applications through its integration services, giving it direct access to the SAP S/4HANA platform and its assorted business and metadata, says Neil Herbert, director: Business Analytics at SAP Africa.
Magic's integration solution empowers customers to automate and optimise processes through interoperability with SAP solutions.
The Fujitsu XpressWay for SAP service package offers an integrated approach to SAP S/4HANA implementations for driving digital transformation.
The SAP S/4HANA integrated banking package helps banks run 'simple' in the digital economy, says Astrid Stolbrink, DBS head of Financial Service, SAP EMEA and Africa.
The two companies have teamed up to accelerate development of the SAP S/4HANA suite of business applications.


Original Russian 91/30 spike bayonet in good condition.
Tall Mosin Nagant front sight for the Finnish M24.
47-round 7.62x54R magazine for DP28 rifle.
New production PPS-43 Barrel support kit including bracket and installation rivets. Exact copy of the original.


text:
24 Best Things to Do in Seattle
From a thriving art scene to lots of outdoor recreation, these are the things you can't miss when visiting Seattle.
Tamara Gane
Tamara Gane takes dozens of trips every year to find the best destinations, hotels, restaurants, activities, and travel gear to recommend to readers. Her writing has appeared in more than 30 major publications, anthologies, and textbooks.
Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan
People who say you can't have it all probably haven't been to Seattle. The city is like a choose-your-own-adventure book of spectacular experiences. From unparalleled views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains to world-class museums, parks, and fresh seafood, the Emerald City is a dream for all kinds of travelers. And the expansive array of outdoor activities, from kayaking to picnicking in the parks or on the beach, only add to the appeal of this eco-conscious destination.
To help you plan a memorable getaway to the northwest city, here are 24 of the best things to do in Seattle, according to a local.
Visit the top of the Space Needle.
The Seattle skyline is defined by the iconic Space Needle. Tall and slender, with a top that flares into the shape of a flying saucer, it's a beautiful thing to behold. To get the full experience, ride the elevator to the top and take in panoramic views of the city, water, and mountains from the rotating glass observation deck. Make your visit even more memorable with reservations for drinks and culinary pairings at The Loupe Lounge.
Stroll through Pike Place Market.
For more than 100 years, Pike Place Market has been Seattle's go-to spot for fresh fish, produce, flowers, and artisan goods. Even if you don't plan to shop, be sure to set aside some time to stroll through and take in the sights and smells of one of the nation's most famous public markets. And don't leave without pausing to watch the sellers throw fish to customers at the seafood market.
Spend the afternoon at The Museum of Flight.
Set aside a few hours to visit The Museum of Flight. It's one of the largest independent air and space museums, with 23 acres of more than 175 airplanes and spacecrafts, countless artifacts, interactive displays, and exhibits. The collection is spread out both indoors and outdoors, which means it's a great stop regardless of the weather. There's even a children's Flight Zone with hands-on activities for young visitors.
Experience art al fresco at Olympic Sculpture Park.
Olympic Sculpture Park offers nine acres of world-class art in a stunning outdoor setting with sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. You'll find everything from a living sculpture of a fallen tree ecosystem by Mark Dion to Richard Serra's mammoth steel masterpiece, "Wake." Best of all, admission is free and it's open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.
Feel the sand between your toes at Alki Beach.
Located on the West Seattle peninsula, Alki Beach is one of the prettiest places in the city, with a long stretch of sand and views of the Seattle skyline. While you'll see plenty of people simply relaxing in their beach chairs, it's also a great spot for those wanting to stroll the sidewalks, play volleyball, enjoy the playground equipment, and frequent the neighborhood bars and eateries across the street.
Geek out at the Museum of Pop Culture.
The experience at the Museum of Pop Culture begins before you even walk through the doors. Designed by Frank O. Gehry, the building is a swirling marvel of textures and colors meant to evoke energy and music. Inside, you'll find permanent and rotating exhibits dedicated to local musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam; the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame; and areas focused on iconic films, gaming, and other conversation starters.
Drop a paddle in the water.
Seattle is a great place for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. In addition to the stunning views, there's also the chance you might catch a glimpse of a sea lion or whale. But make sure you are comfortable out on the water, as Puget Sound and Lake Union are both working bodies of water, so you'll be sharing the space with everything from giant barges to seaplanes. It's a unique experience that blends breathtaking natural beauty with the pulsating activity of a vibrant city.
Take a ferry to Vashon Island.
Vashon Island is often overlooked by tourists, so chances are you'll be catching the ferry with locals. Largely rural and unspoiled, the island is a haven for farmers and artists who love living in close proximity to downtown Seattle, but prefer to lay their heads in a place where they can hear the owls hoot at night. It's a fantastic spot for a day of beachcombing, visiting art galleries, or biking, followed by a delicious meal in one of the cafes.
Sip your way through Seattle's urban wineries.
In Washington, most of the wineries can be found in the eastern part of the state. But you don't have to leave Seattle to experience Washington wine country. In recent years, a number of wineries have formed a vibrant urban vino scene. Sodo Urban Works is home to 10 local wineries, including Structure Cellars, Nine Hats Wines, and Sleight of Hand Cellars, so you can easily walk from one to another. If you only have time to visit one, you can also stop by the Browne Family Vineyards tasting room in Pioneer Square.
Cheer on a local sports team.
Seattle takes sports seriously. Locals are wild about college athletics and, of course, pro teams like the NFL's Seahawks and NHL's Kraken. Fans here are known for making lots of noise, which makes for electric energy and an enthusiasm so contagious you simply have to pound your feet and clap your hands, even if you aren't a local. If you have a chance to see a sporting event in Seattle, take it.
Check out the Hiram M. Chittenden Ballard Locks.
Locals refer to this marvel of engineering simply as the Locks. Connecting Lake Union to the Puget Sound, the ingenious, complex series of locks is preserved as a National Historic Site. It allows traffic to pass from one to the next without the saltwater of the sound contaminating the freshwater of the lake. On any given day, you'll see everything from leisure boats, enormous fishing vessels, and tiny kayaks making their way through. You'll also find a fish ladder, visitor center, and lush botanical garden.
Walk the pier at Miner's Landing.
The giant Ferris wheel at the end of the pier overlooking Elliott Bay is a well-known Seattle spot. Attractions like the Seattle Great Wheel, Wings Over Washington virtual flying exhibit, unique shops, and some of the best outdoor dining in the city can all be found on the Miner's Landing pier. Pro tip: If you plan to take in multiple attractions such as the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Argosy Cruises, and more, you'll save a significant amount of money if you bundle them together with a Seattle CityPass.
Get dazzled in a glass garden.
Dale Chihuly is one of the most popular and influential glass artists in the world, and there's no better place to immerse yourself in his genius work than at Chihuly Garden and Glass near the base of the Space Needle. You'll find galleries filled with gorgeous floor-to-ceiling glass formations and lush botanicals living in harmony with Chihuly's masterful creations, as if they were created by Mother Nature herself.
Visit the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center.
When you step foot in Seattle, you're walking on the land of the Duwamish people. In fact, the city is named after Chief Seattle (Si'ahl), revered leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes. At the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, you can learn about the area's Indigenous history and cultural heritage through an ever-rotating calendar of exhibits, artifacts, and community events.
Take your love for coffee to the next level.
Starbucks was famously founded in Seattle, and though you'll generally see a long line of people outside the original Pike Place Market location, true aficionados will want to visit the flagship Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Here, you can learn about how coffee is grown and roasted, as well as participate in elevated experiences like tasting some of the world's rarest and most unique coffees.
Discover underground Seattle.
To find the most historic buildings in Seattle, you'll have to meander through the rooms, storefronts, and hallways underneath the city. Once at ground level, they were eventually abandoned when the streets were raised after a devastating fire in 1889. Bill Speidel's Underground Tour will safely lead you beneath the city streets, with fascinating — and often hilarious — tales of Seattle's history along the way.
Have lunch in the Chinatown-International District.
Seattle's vibrant Chinatown-International District is packed with restaurants just waiting to knock your socks off. Whether you're craving dumplings, baked goods, or noodles, the aromas on the street are heavenly. Be sure to also visit the excellent Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, which masterfully blends exhibits and storytelling.
Ride the monorail to Seattle Center.
If you want to leave downtown to visit attractions like the Space Needle, International Fountain, and Chihuly Garden and Glass, there's no need to get in your car. Just hop aboard the Seattle Monorail and travel via a rail above the streets. It's the best way to avoid traffic, not to mention one of the most unique modes of public transportation in the country.
Spend the night in a hotel with a view.
Seattle has its fair share of luxury hotels, but perhaps the most sought-after amenity in town is a room with a view of the water. The Edgewater Hotel is built on a pier above the water, and rooms have private balconies where you can wave to passing ships and ferries. The Inn at the Market is another fantastic option, with views of iconic landmarks like the Pike Place Market, Seattle Great Wheel, Puget Sound, and Olympic Mountains. The property also features a private deck where guests can relax and enjoy conversation by the fireplaces in the evening.
Take a cruise.
The Seattle skyline is even more beautiful from the water. Argosy Cruises' harbor cruise will take passengers on a narrated, hour-long tour of Elliott Bay, offering closer views of the shipping centers, waterfront, and jaw-dropping Olympic Mountains. Plus, with a full bar and snacks, this ship might be the best place to enjoy a cocktail in the city.
Get lost in the Seattle Art Museum.
It's easy to lose yourself in the many rooms of the Seattle Art Museum, which features a host of rotating exhibits and permanent collections celebrating various artists and cultures, as well as mediums such as African art, ancient American art, pottery, and furnishings. The museum also houses world-class traveling exhibits that spotlight legendary artists like Monet and Georgia O'Keeffe.
Meander through Pioneer Square.
Pioneer Square is full of interesting architecture and some of the city's most eclectic shops and restaurants. Browse and buy local art, antiques, books, and rugs all within a couple of blocks, and cap off your visit with a bite to eat and craft cocktail at one of the neighborhood's lively watering holes.
Have a picnic at Gas Works Park.
Located on Lake Union, Gas Works Park is just about as funky as a park can get. This green space is located on the former industrial site of the Seattle Gas Light Company plant that used to power the city. The old mechanical structures rise out of the landscape like works of modern art, making for some of the most interesting views in the city. It's the perfect place for a picnic or walk as you watch seaplanes land in the water.
Eat like a local.
Seattle is famous for its culinary scene, and locals are equally enthusiastic about hot dogs with cream cheese as they are about tasting menus at renowned restaurants like Canlis. To make sure you enjoy the best of Seattle's food, try a little bit of everything. But if you must choose, ask your server or fishmonger what's in season, so you can dine on fresh seafood that was loaded onto the docks that morning.
The 5 Best Hotels in Seattle
15 Best Trip Destinations for Solo Female Travelers
11 Best Small Towns in Washington — From the Mountains to the Coast
These Are the Best Airbnbs in Seattle, From Tiny Houses to Rooftop Decks With Space Needle Views
Seattle Travel Guide
25 Best Beaches in the USA
Seattle Is the Underrated Family Vacation Destination Parents Have Been Searching for
The Perfect Three-Day Weekend in Seattle
20 U.S. Destinations Perfect for Solo Travelers
18 Best Free Things to Do in London
The World's Most-visited Tourist Attractions
23 Best Things to Do in LA, From Art Museums to Markets
7 Best West Coast Road Trips in the U.S.
29 Best Things to Do in San Francisco — From Famous Sites to Can't-miss Attractions
30 Best Things to Do in Chicago, From Iconic Sites to Can't-miss Museums
The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022


A beautiful phrase, no? However, I realized that some of my "hidden sin" is judgement. Judgement of others and of myself. I absolutely HATE this about myself especially since I know that I DON'T KNOW what others experiences are nor what war they are fighting personally. My quick, judgement-ridden thoughts only last for a few seconds, but that is a few seconds too long as a child of God.
However, I DO know about my own war. I know about my own pain, joy, triumphs, and struggles, and yet I still judge myself. I judge myself for not pushing harder at the gym or for not folding laundry right when it gets dry. I judge myself for not being perfect, and in my head, I judge others for also not being perfect. This is not the gospel. This is not who/what God wants me to be especially as a child of His.
Because I am a child of God, I can throw off the need for perfection, the need for importance/greatness. Because of what God has done, I and everyone I know is already enough. No more struggling. No more guilt or anxiety.