I just use the standard fertilizer when I think about it. I have a nice clump of Heliconias in the corner of my yard and they start blooming in June and will quit in September. Each stalk just produces one bloom and then it dies, but I have new ones that keep coming up. Have you considered growing your Heliconias in the ground? It's too late to start now but there is a book called The Exotic Garden by Richard Iversen which you might take a look at. He started a tropical garden at the State University of New York in Farmingdale which has been a great success. The only thing you have to do is to dig up some of the plants you want to keep and overwinter them in your house or garage.I grew up in Chicago so I know how hot it can get and there is no reason why some of the tropical plants wouldn't do well in Illinois. Your Chorophytum is an unusual plant and I'm sure the web site I found is the same one you did but I'm posting the link anyway.It looks like a really neat plant. Here is a link that might be useful: Chlorophytum nepalense

On our Christmas posts someone had great jeweled cone trees. 1 pastel other 1 Victorian looking. Can't remember what it was under but they were all pinned on so could be reused. With damaged jewelry you could take a "jewel" off of 1 item & put on another to fill in hole & then spray the whole thing, no one would know! Yes, I agree that all the jewelry needs sorting,clear plastic shoe boxes or even regular shoeobxes marked on end or ziploc bags & put it all in large box, mark top of bag with items inside- so they are "filed" in the box. Whole earrings with stones or rhinestones all in a box that way you see if you have enough of something to work out your design. It's been about a year so hope you have made something up. If not organize it so it isn't so out of control. I've gotten small stashes & even that is a mess if not sorted out. Hope yoou post pics soon. Jan

super job on the raised vegetable beds...i am getting ready to do another one but this one is big and have to haul about 8 tons of processed top soil first and then i'm going to do mine like yours just a little different design with the boxes...my goes across my yard so i am going to put a fence across there with a arch and a growing vine and inside a sitting bench with a trellis over and then put some flowers in it. i am going to have three long square one's and a octagon one in the middle. and then mulch the area like you did...here is where i got my idea, just scroll down about four posters and there are tons of pictures the two i loved is the one with the trellis and the one with the poles with flowers in it...both look like a flower bed. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cornucop/msg0419470025521.html

Well I really have to say I'm impressed. Everyone here has been so encouraging, welcoming and positive. Thank you for so many good thoughts! Reading your posts this week has been great fun and I've enjoyed hearing what everyone had to say. On the topic of further projects (besides finishing my flower bed) we bought a wonderful old small twin headboard from the neighbors yard sale last weekend for $20. Normally that is more than I would pay but the headboard is great and we learned recently the neighbors are having some financial challenges so we were able to help in a very small way. When we get that together will post again. Have a great weekend all. Kate