Thanks for the ID Lucy. They have been devouring my citrus trees. Eloise I had the cold/flu thing then the allergies have been in high gear and having a lot of neck and shoulder pain again. Haven't even felt like getting on the computer much but am getting back to feeling half human again and of course its starting to rain since I was going out to try to fertilize and get some packing done. Well it will have to wait once again. I really love watching the fish in the aquarium. Its really relaxing and I'll take some more pics of the pond when it clears up. We had cleaned the filter and since we were messing around with it anyway I gave John his pond light so he could put it in. His birthday isn't until the 18th. Its nice to finally see a few blooms.

Thanks for the compliments on the annual pot! I worked for a private gardener one summer many years ago and my job was to do the annual pots and take care of them all summer. They ordered truck loads of gorgeous and rare annuals for their customers. I WISH I had access to something more interesting, but I make due (sp?) with what the local nurseries sell.... geraniums, million bells, licorice, potato vines, petunias, etc... I have 2 of these pots in my back done the same way and every year all I do is change the color of the million bells and geranium. It always comes out nice, but I think I'm getting bored with the same design every year. Oops, sorry to go on... thanks!

Nicole--si, il cuor verde d'italia, esattamente! :-) It's an apt nickname. If you ever get the chance, go there! Of all the places I've been on this planet, it stands out as the most enchanting, hands down. And the wine is unique and wonderful. I call that corner the Heart of Darkness because it's where the property line meets the seawall, and it's overgrown with clusters of palms of various sorts that never seem to get manicured--and so all of the dead fronds hang there and it becomes more and more like a tiny jungle as time passes. Small *cringe*. Anyway, I'll be glad to send the cutting either way. I know your trees are young. But if you make me an offer I can't refuse, I might then hafta accept :-) We'll talk about over the winter LOL it'll give us something to do while are plumies are bare naked sticks. Thank you, Wendy! :-) You're very kind. And I don't expect you to bother John on my behalf--it's all good. If I decide I MUST have that tree (and put it where???), then you've given me enough info to, theoretically at least, find out from John what that sassy little plumie is named, if not Tangerine Dream, and then order me one! LOL it makes my day to know that y'all enjoyed my storytelling :-) You hafta have a sense of humor, I guess, right?, 'cause if you don't, one minute the iguanas are downing your trees, the next minute you're going postal! hehe In seriousness, the iguanas still come 'round often enough to decimate any progress that a few of my smaller trees have made-- it only takes 1-2 visits a month on their part. It's sad--Mary Moragne and Kona Hybrid each came to me as short 2-tips, and they've been picked clean so often that the nubby tips are tapering up to nothing. Another one recently broke a branch off Haleakala, on its way to shred the leaves, kinda beaver-style LOL. It's MADDENING but I guess there are some things that one cannot control. G

How about making that little corner a garden especially for your kids? Let them experiment with stuff or use bamboo in a semi-circle and lashed together at the top to form a tee-pee, then grow annual vines up it - maybe cardinal vine or morning glory. It would be a great little place for a kids secret garden. Look up ideas for kids themed gardens on the web and you will get lots of ideas. Or you could simply let them pick out some annuals and let them plant and care for them.