unacceptable levels of the herbicide clopyralid were detected in the compost Sadly, this is true. Woodland Park Zoo determined that the herbicide clopyralid arrived at the zoo in straw bedding and feed, and as of last fall changed bedding and feed suppliers. But it will take time for all materials to move through animals and then the composting stream. So they decided last fall to suspend compost sales for a year. They found the contamination after testing, following a complaint about tomatoes and other food plants from a compost buyer. Recent testing indicated new compost was clear of the herbicide, but they aren't taking any chances. The zoo has also been scaling back on all pesticide use over the past few years, even before this problem arose. We had snow again last night, but with partly sunny skies, temperatures reached 46 F today, at sealevel. Primroses, early tulips, several crocus, and of course popweed, are flowering in my garden. I moved several pots of seedlings into a cold room yesterday, following comments about bulbs being eaten down. I knew I'd been seeing Fritillaria persica and F. pallidiflora seedlings, even some Calochortus, and then, zap, they disappeared. So now I need not only a crow-dropping-clams-proof coldframe, it needs to be rodent and bird proof too. Kathleen Nahcotta, WA.