I think Dennis is right that the internet can in some way supersede traditional plant societies. Those of the latter that can use the internet to their advantage may be able to prosper -- but let's not forget the tremendous amount of effort this requires, in our case, to run the wiki and the seed exchange and the mailing list. That kind of effort may be in even shorter supply as digital diversions waste ever more of our time. But I feel sure that there will always be serious gardeners. Although my parents and grandparents were gardeners (mostly of the edible/annual variety) I was never particularly interested in plants until I bought a house of my own, with a yard to plant things in. (My interest in bulbs originated primarily in this list). My fondest memory of the childhood garden: being sent out with various "swords" to hack away at a thicket of Japanese knotweed. Useless for controlling the knotweed, but effective in controlling the child! Best, Max Withers Oakland CA