And are the mosquito fish the sort which will burrow into the mud as the water evaporates and survive in a little capsule (somewhat as those west coast frits might do) until the next rain? =============== Hi Gang, In cool wet periods the woods behind my house stay flooded for months. The forest slowly drains into a low area at the back of my lot, and then the water runs off across a meadow. In heavy rains, when the soils are saturated, water accumulates in the meadow for days at a time. The meadow water is apparently deep enough to encouarge mosquito fish (Gambusia) to traverse the 1/8 mile from a pond to my backyard. Wet springs are wonderful and the frogs start in January and never seem to stop their music until hot weather. This year the cool spring has provided excellent conditions for crayfish, frogs, snakes, a few turtles, myriad invertebrates, and mosquito fish. Last year the low area never accumulated water for more than a week or two at a time, and no mosquito fish were apparent. This year the water has been continuously present for more than 6 months. Of course the fish are doomed, my yard alwasy dries in time and then I must mow the thic. In the interim the fish are very welcome because the do keep mosquitos controlled in my backyard. However, it really doesn't matter because the adjacent soggy woods seem to provide enough breeding places for unlimited mosquito numbers. It can be a real blood bath some evenings as I work in the garden. The extra water is good for native irises, Crinum americanum, H. liriosme and other plants. Proabably the whole area will be bone dry by the end of June. Summer heat takes the water away quickly. The forest behind me is full of trees and shrubs that tolerate or enjoy seasonal flooding: dwarf palmetto, willow oak, water tupelo, yaupon, red maple, and others. Though they are found in wet areas these plants all endure fair amounts of drought. These plants are all clearly intelligent, but I think not so intelligent as tulips. Cordially, Joe Conroe TX