Hi, Penny, Thanks for your reply, which gave me a great chuckle. So far, we are winning. I shake the tree a couple of times a day, and the fruit lands on the soft grass. I then take it into the house to ripen, which it does beauifully in this 85-degree weather. I guess you could say that the snake and I are great shakes at raising apricots:) And, my, are they delicious! I will have to try that snake ploy on our baby nectarine tree (variety, Panamint, requiring very, very little chilling). Thanks again, Ron penny x stamm wrote: > Of course, Ron, I live on the southern edge of New England > where one can find rocks, rocks and more rocks wherever > one looks! In jolly old England, farmers put in living hedges > to separate fields; in New England, they put up stone walls. > > So if you'd like me to mail you a proper rock, just ask. > > Penny, NY > > ________________________________________________________________ > YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! > Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! > Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.