Wow Isaac did you graft them yourself? Amazing! The flowers are just beautiful! And they are all in hyroculture. I've thought of trying one of mine in hydroculture and tried a little aeonium first but it rotted and I love my adeniums too much to risk them. I should really try again. Mike you should so get one! They are the plant with personality and are definitely my favorite of all the plants I own! Its so exciting to watch them grow and change and then there are the flowers!!! They are super easy to grow from seed too, personally I recommend growing from seed so much more satisfying!

This isn’t a good rose picture and is from September, but it still makes me yearn for Spring…dogs frolicking in green grass below blue skies with flowers glowing in the sunshine…

jbwebb, I see that you are Cote De Texas owner. (Nice to meet you. ;) As I am one of the ones who paraphrased you, I feel compelled to respond. First, my post was coming from a very tongue in cheek place, heavy on the snarky side toward my own windows. I've bemoaned these windows a few times over the years here, this post is not the first. But on the bright side, they are keeping the cold and snow out this morning. That is a great deal to be thankful for, so won't complain too much. You didn't make me feel bad about how my own windows are dressed. I can do that without any outside assistance. ;) I hope I didn't make you feel bad about your comments. Wasn't my intent. (There has been a recurrent theme in discussions here lately about 'rules', and that made it's way into my thoughts when posting above.) So combine the rules discussions with my wonky windows and it's an arena for me where most rules (prefer 'guidelines') simply don't fit. As I was typing the comment 'My windows are like the Road Rules Challenge of all windows', I wondered what someone like yourself would do with them. (Not a blog follower, but have visited a few times via Home Dec.) But I'll be honest, when I followed the link above to your blog, I stopped after the first ten or so photos, because they were all grand. And I thought what I usually do when I look at a grand window: beautiful, stunning, would be great to have all that light. And then I tuned out. Because it's difficult for me to glean practical information I can walk away with and use. To a designer, a grand window is probably the best canvas to work with and showcase their talents. Some here can emulate those looks and pull it off. But many can't. Either we're window challenged, the window is a challenge, or both. I gave your blog a second chance just now, went back and scrolled through all the photos. 3 times. ;) Once beyond the grand ones the size scale dropped. (Still, all are large and nicely proportioned on the wall). Lo and behold, I might have gleaned something. I first saw what you labeled as a "DON'T" (and I agree, tried it long ago, returned it). Rod/ panel high on the wall, white window frame, woven blind inside mount. (But did see a discrepancy further down when a designer did the same thing under the "Do's".) Anyway, you mentioned on the homeowner's DON'T example that it would look better w/woven blind outside mounted and just behind rod, so it covers both wall space above window and white frame. (There was one of those aforementioned 'slap myself up the head' moments!) Why didn't I think of that?!? Now that might be something I could pull off. I'm part way there in one room. FR w/ 8' ceilings. Panels are raised to the ceiling. I took a scarf that matches a color in plaid panels and make one swoop across the rod, just to cover the gap between rod, painted wall, white window frame. Scarf tails are hidden behind panels on the wall area. Successfully hid most of the window/wall contrast, but it's still visible from a side angle and bugs me. Plus I'm tired of scarves. Because of extra height it brings the excessive wall space below the window into better proportion. But that's a low light room with furniture near windows that distract the eye. Upstairs in full light where nothing is near/below the window I don't know if it would work (will have to photoshop test it). But woven wood blinds I've tried have minimal clearance. So if they're going to tend to hug the wall, how does one overcome the 'hump' of the upper window frame when the woven blinds are lowered? (When I close blinds I leave panels stationery/open. Even tho I always install enough width to be able to shut them, it's just what I prefer to do.) My other challenge window is my picture window. It's 112" long, but only 48 high and takes up nearly the entire wall. I got it as close as I can, but walked away in frustration. It's not hideous, but it's not 'right' to me either. So every time I walk past it I cringe. I did say "it works for me", but that doesn't mean it's gratifying. I still yearn for something more refined, more finished. As long as I have lived here I have wished for someone (Southern Living, Traditional Home, Martha when I liked her, or hey, now how about you!) to take on this challenge that so many of us face. But the catch is the grand window is not a contender. The huge windows in uber chic settings has been done so many times and doesn't have a lot of practical application for so many of us. There are a lot of us readers/consumers/subscribers kicking around that don't have massive windows nor the massive budget to dress them. Just average size in average size homes but there is something goofy about them that just creates a major hurdle. So I'd really like to see a designer tackle our Challenge Windows in various shapes and sizes (short, squat, tall, narrow, sideways and too high like mine) and show us what they've got. An entire article devoted to Wonky Windows! There are a lot of us who have done the best we can but are still left feeling frustrated. An article like that with photo layout would be refreshing and rewarding to see!

Gosh, I have tried three times to post photos without success, but I have sure enjoyed everyone else's. I already planned to add a Brussels Griffon when my nest is empty, but now I am wondering whether it's too late in life for me to acquire a lake cabin and plan a trip to Spain, too! So many good ideas for summer enjoyment here. We are a lucky bunch of humans. I hope to return to this thread in February when spirits are as low and be reminded of better days ahead.