What is on the bowling ball? It looks so pretty but I need close up or more details please. Luvs

No! (As regards the presumed parental background of "Chico") "Chico" and "Reggae" should both be selections out of the true Hippeastrum species cybister Sprekelia is a member of the american branch of Amaryllids the Hippeastreae but within this group it is more closely related to the genera Zephyranthes, Habranthus and Rhodophiala. The flowers of Sprekelia (two species afaik) and Hippeastrum cybister - and also H.angustifolium (as far as I can conclude from the poor pictures I perceived elsewhere) - share the special feature that the lower segments on the left and right side are bent in a particular manner to form a kind of sheath at their basis which covers the first part of the filaments. This feature does not indicate a closer relationship; it is simply the result of a convergent historic development (Biologically assigned, who would guess that, a "convergence") Here is a link that might be useful: Amaryllidaceae family tree (Meerow & Shields)

WHat a beauty that is! I Have bout 50 seedlings now so In a another 3 years I May be able to do that! I sure wonder where I Am going to put them though...sure would help to be able to plant them outside! I May have to get a grow tunnel for them. THen I could have a lot more, LOL. I also have 4 batches of seed I have not started yet this year. THe good thing is that I Can use up the flowers in my cut flower business even if I do not keep them after their first blooms. THat will help to pay their board and room bill...

Hey James, thanks. When i first planted my kentia outside, the existing leaves were burned really bad. We have very hot and long summers, often staying above 100 degrees Farenheit for weeks at a time. The emerging leaves weren't harmed by the sun though. I have seen 10 meter + kenias in full sun in the inner valleys of Los Angeles where temperatures are similar to ours and they seem to tolerate the sun just fine. I think it's all about aclimatizing the palm to the sunlight. You know, there are many queens here that continuously fruit and produce seed. I MIGHT be able to find and collect seeds for you. Again, I MIGHT. I'll keep my eyes out for a couple of large clumps of fruit that are hanging on palms that are planted at the local McDonald's. About the strelitzia, i would think that they are both equally hardy. I have both in my yard. I can tell you though that mature reginae clumps are more common than mature nicolai clumps. I don't know if it is due to the availablilty of nicolai as opposed to that of reginae. There are some older parts of town that have nicolai clumps that are as tall as the two story houses they are planted outside of. Here are two of the four reginae that i have here at home.