40,000 square feet of office, laboratory and collection space at the University of Florida is to be the location of the world's largest research and education centre devoted to the study of moths and butterflies. The centre, to be called McGuire Centre for Lepidoptera, is expected to be home to six million specimens. The centre is due for completion in 2003 and will emphasise conservation and environmental issues.

Gardeners in Florida have had some unexpected visitors recently. Alligators have been found in ponds and swimming pools throughout the area. These freak migrations are thought to be as a result of the drought conditions that exist at the Everglades which has only received one-tenth of its normal rainfall. Alligators are sensitive to hydrologic conditions and have therefore decided to take up residence in the gardens of Florida where swimming pools and ponds make an ideal, and hopefully temporary habitat.

With the number of cases of Foot and Mouth still on the increase, horticultural and countryside organisations are continuing to update the advice given to their members.
The RHS advises that its Garden at Rosemoor, North Devon is closed and will remain so until further notice. RHS Wisley, Woking is open to visitors in line with advice from MAFF, however the soil analysis service has been suspended. The Society also states that organic manures and soil from agricultural areas must not be moved until after the outbreak has been resolved.
The Woodland Trust is urging the public to stay away from wooded areas throughout the UK until further notice. It has postponed all forest operations in high-risk areas and is putting up notices and using hygiene measures.
If you would like to keep up-to-date with the advice from either of these organisations, visit www.rhs.org.uk or www.woodland-trust.org.uk.

The sale of garden sheds in the UK increased at large DIY stores by between 40% and 140% during 2000. Currently, the shed market is worth approximately £75 million.
80% of lawnmowers sold last year in the UK were electric, interestingly only 1% of these were cordless. The lawnmower market was valued at £150 million for 2000.

We think that by making our children eat their greens we are caring for their health. However, the heavy use of fertilisers and pesticides and our yearning for visually perfect vegetables are some of the reasons why this may not necessarily be the case.
Not only do our vegetables increasingly contain residues of pesticides but their nutritional value is also declining as a result of cross-breeding modern hybrids. Many of the nutrients are being 'watered' down in our quest for vegetables that appeal to the eye. Perhaps we should think more about organic planting and using the older varieties of seeds when we are re-stocking our vegetables patches this year, rather than being concerned about what the end product will look like. To find out more information or even to buy your organic seeds take a look at 'Seeds' in the Plants and Trees section of the browsing4gardens directory.

If you are suffering withdrawal symptoms and can't wait until the weather improves before you roll up your sleeves and get out into the garden, then the latest exhibition at the Museum of London could well give you some relief. Running from Saturday 17th February to Monday 30th April 2001, Capital Concerns, explores London town gardens over the past 300 years. The exhibition promises paintings, drawings, prints and models as well as a series of organised events to accompany the exhibition. Further information is available at www.museum-london.org.uk.
For international readers, take a look at the Events section of the browsing4gardens web-site, you are sure to find something of interest.

Help is at hand for gardeners who would like to know more about breeding plants. Dianthus specialists, Mills Farm Plants, are sharing their knowledge and experience on the Internet. Its web-site provides information on how to select parent plants through to growing on young plants. 'We hope our web-site will encourage gardeners, especially young people, to have a go just for fun' says partner, Sue Russell. 'Breeding a new plant doesn't require much in the way of equipment or facilities and it's an activity that can fascinate children as much as experienced adult gardeners'.
More information is available at www.millsfarmplants.co.uk/plantbreeding.

It seems the perplexities of the elections in America have not deterred voters in the USA. The National Arbor Day Foundation is hosting a vote to decide which tree will take its place alongside the bald eagle, as one of America's national symbols. Voting began on 1st January 2001 and runs until 27th April 2001. More information and an opportunity to vote on-line can be found at www.arborday.org