jodik, I too have been bitten by the hippea seed growing bug...I got seeds a couple of years ago from a member and they are now two yr old tots. I recently potted them in individual pots and have them soaking up the Florida sunshine. For the winter since it is mostly mild comparatively I tend to them less frequently and let them do their thing in a warm area out of the breeze. I am so excited to have these lil tots in my garden! I also learned from this member how the hand pollinate. I am now hand pollinating every hippea that blooms in my yard! No telling what I'll get! I do have a ton of my original amys (Minerva) planted by the former Mrs. of the garden and one of my closest friends. She gave me her mom's donkey cart last year ...(mom passed on a year ago)...and I transplanted some bulbs from another area in the yard to the cart and the blooms this year from that cart were the most amazing blooms I have seen in my yard!! I have shared the seeds with my friend and hope to do seed exchange with others in the exchange forum. Glad to share if you like! I do have a question from this ramble! I noticed one or two of the pods were still fairly green and they had popped open (was told to let them dry out and pop on their own) but this pod had some greyish looking (I am assuming really fresh or not matured) seeds. What do you think? Glad to share a photo if you'd like to see. I am so looking forward to gardening this year. I already have veggies growing everywhere...putting in some new attempts this year at different plants...and trying my hand at bulbs other than glads and amys. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I am 7 years into gardening and still feel like a newbie!! Thanks for letting me ramble! PS..another link to album from last years garden: http://picasaweb.google.com/ladyaustin96/July2008Garden sorry you'll have C&P Kim Here is a link that might be useful: Last years amys

I finally got a couple of snapshots. The rottweilers behind me never made a fuss but I had some problems with the camera. I met the nearly insufferably opinionated resident of this home years ago and knew that he owned a landscaping business. I would just drive by and shake my head. The house is on a corner and I guess I'd never turned down the side street and looked into the weed-choked backyard. The sight and entire concept it evokes was just overwhelmingly bizarre and laughable. That shed has signs proclaiming "XXXX Organic Landscaping." (The signs are narrow and above the windows - I couldn't zoom in well enuf for any clarity - sorry.) The 2nd photo is at the corner looking into the front yard. One can just barely see the outline of the house roof. The trees are aspens with 1 or 2 black locust. I doubt if the locust were intentionally planted. Three of the aspens have died and the tops of 2 are dead. Honestly, I don't know if the yard has had any care in years - not even some water for the trees. This isnÂt the home of some disabled elder incapable of yard care  this guy is in the business of yard care!! I'm very much in favor of organic landscaping/gardening however if this is an advertisement for the owner's job skills . . .

Thanks Felix ~ We both do know that we are NOT normal. LOL. Glad you enjoyed the flowerpot story. We both say we are too old for hauling those dang heavy cement pieces, but around here you see them all the time and they are hard to resist. Coffeemom ~ Thank you very much for your kind words on the potting area. I'm sitting here smiling and feeling happy. Not everyone appreciates 'recycling'. We've been turning trash to treasures are whole married life. FlowerLady

This might help http://gonyc.about.com/cs/christmasinnyc/p/holidaywindows.htm If you're lucky enough to use live branches, the smell is wonderful. I always use paper doilies. Cut them in half, dampen with water just enough to make them stick to the window glass,and then spray with artificial snow in the can. You could also use white shoe polish, I find it doesn't have that smell and fumes, and it's very easy to wash off. It doesn't flake off like the fake snow either. They also make paper lace and you could try that,too. Use fishing line to hang some pretty snowflakes from the top of the window. They move slightly in the smallest breeze. Hang 2 on one string, 3 on the next,keep alternating. Use a wooden trunk or box, to display some antique and vintage toys, or place them under a tree. A train is always wonderful, a small picket fence,create a curtain of lights from mini twinkle lights to hang behind the window display. Use tinsel garland cut in different lengths and hang a Christmas ball on the end of each in the top of the window. Use a chest or dresser to display items in the drawers. Or an old baby carriage or cradle. Have the children in your family help make the classic paper chains. String popcorn and cranberries. It'll be great! Here is a link that might be useful: Kudzu's Blog