Well, as disappointed as I am, it's not too big of a deal. The way I look at it, I WS about 225 containers every year. But then I have to plant them out, and that's the part that gets me, lol. So now I'll have a few less containers to plant - not that three or four containers will matter, and I'm sure I'll find three or four new things to sow, lol, but hey, that's how it goes. I did so want that KMOTGG, though. I saw it in a bouquet once with variegated euphorbia - just those two and nothing else, and it was stunning. Oh well, I will have to live vicariously through PV. I'm sure hers will germinate next year, if for no other reason than we have both been trying the same amount of years, and if I stop, hers will germinate and I will be ticked off that I didn't try just one more year. LOL, I may be doing you a favor, PV! Yours are sure to germinate if I don't sow again... Drippy, good luck with the beach plum. I'd hate for you to have tried so long and succeeded, and then not have the thing live! Morz8, my plan was to keep the alstromeria in a pot. I sell cut flowers at the farmer's market, so since many of my flowers get cut reseeding is kept to a minimum, and it'd be in a pot just in case of root spread also. But, it's a moot point if the darn stuff won't even germinate, lol. Jaynine, thank you for your generous offer, but I don't want you to go through any trouble. Besides, I'm not familiar with the variegated KMOTGG (although I'm sure my next stop is Google, lol) and I think I'd prefer the plain kind. But thanks! Karendee, if you don't keep good records, you don't know what didn't work so it's not as discouraging, lol. Well, good luck to all of us! There's always next year to overcome our nemesis! :) Dee

vnginger, I'm so sorry that I didn't get your email! I don't know what's going on with gardenweb lately. No emails get through and they wiped out my trade list months ago, too. Since there are 2 of the terrariums, I could give Kathy one of them and give you the other, if that would be ok with her? Or else I'll look and see if I have something similar at the house to bring for you. I won't have internet access tonight or tomorrow, though, so I'll have to assume it will work out for the best. I know she also wanted hummingbird feeders and I'll be bringing some of those for her. I'm also going to bring some regular hummingbird feeders for the general trade - I've decided to give up on feeders for hummingbirds, as I can't seem to attract them. So I'm getting rid of not only the fancy glass ones I bought at Pike's and posted photos of, but also the regular ones with the red plastic feeder ports. I have 2 of those to bring, one of which I think is sort of nice, except that it needs a new plastic bottle (any sort of shampoo or soap bottle can work). And I found a few other things to bring, including a very large, very sturdy macrame plant hanger. This thing was made by someone probably in the 60's, it is a dark orange color with some large beads incorporated in the macrame. It looks like it can hold a very large and heavy plant, for someone who's into things from that era. Also I dug up a piece of a miniature hosta that I don't know the name of, but it's a pretty golden yellow color, and a small division of arum italicum, and found a couple of pots of creeping raspberry (groundcover). Also potted a volunteer coneflower (probably pink) and volunteer blackeyed susans, and a yellow variegated vinca. These things will all have to go into the general trade since I won't have email tonight or tomorrow. Debbie

bgrose, I believe Dianthus is the name for the genus and carnation is the common name. Randy, glad that you liked my photos! texaslynn, thanks for your kind words. Carnations are pretty easy to grow for me here. As far as I know they like slightly alkaline soil and good drainage. Masha, I am unfamiliar with variegated hebes, so maybe you mean the plant of my neighbor, peeking over the little wall? Actually I didn't "do" the shot of OLOG with the dark background. It was just a lucky coincidence, that the palm growing behind the rose was shading her background. In reality the shade looked much lighter, but what you see on the photo is what my camera made out of the situation. Beth, you are right the plant is an alstromeria. I was looking for that purple color for quite a while. The plant didn't do anything the first year, but this spring it is flowering its head off. I am hunting for a white alstromeria, now. Below are some more photos of the same plants or areas of the front yard, taken in the last three days. I think the progress is astonishing, especially on the photo with the white irises now open! Our Lady of Guadalupe with Dianthus 'Devon Rosy Cheeks' Bearded iris 'Platinum' My pest control: ladybugs Our Lady of Guadalupe Garden scene front yard 1 Garden scene front yard 2

We live a pretty good lifestyle and we're fortunate that our house is paid for and have no outstanding credit card bills. I keep one credit card and only use it for things that require one like a hotel or car rental. I make a purchase on it a couple of times a year so the cc company doesn't try and screw me for not using it enough or something LOL On top of that I'm the king of 2nd hand!!! The male 2nd hand Rose. I never get a thing that aint been used. LOL It's a complete turnaround to a few years ago. I cringe now at the thought of having to spend money on new when I can better second hand at a fraction of the cost. That includes clothing as well, except for stuff like socks and shoes and underwear, sheets and mattress most of my stuff is hand me downs or from Value Village etc. I've got enough Polo Shirts and golf shirts to last me the rest of my life.. Most were never worn but were given me by my late dads best friends widow when he died last year. The man was a clothes horse. Just bought a "new" car, it's 2 years old and should be good for another 8 I hope, or more. I think what really changed my mind was how crappy and cheap all the new stuff is. Most of it is utter garbage. My comeback on people who say they wouldn't buy second hand because they don't know where it came from etc is that those same people don't seem to have any problem sleeping on second hand beds ,mattresses and sheets in a hotel or eating from second hand plates and cutlery in a restaurant that have all been used by countless hundres if not thousands of people before them. Now I'm talking about me here,, the one that I live with maybe not so much with the clothes etc.. buys new but he has no problems sitting on a second hand chair, that's what antiques are anyways aren't they LOL Or using my second hand stove that I featured here a while back, or the second hand dishwasher and fridge that came with this house. It all don't have to be new. And then some of this 2nd hand stuff I buy I resell on Ebay for good money. In fact just last week I sold a $5 Singer knitting machine thingamebob for $202 plus shipping. That pays a bill or at least offsets all the other junk err stuff I buy LOL