Thank you all so much. John took me to a water garden place in Austin and it was soooo beautiful! I didn't buy anything there but stopped at a guys house on the way home I had heard was selling koi and got a really pretty good size butterfly koi and two shebunkins for the price of one small koi at the store. Its been a good birthday. Even got rain and didn't have to water, lol.

Hello Lucy! Beautiful Desert Rose, hope mine will bloom one day. We made it back. It was a sad but good trip. All of DH brothers and his sister made it in for the funeral. DH's brother was a member of the "Rolling Thunder" Its a motor cycle group of Vets. They lead the procession. It sure was something to see. All those bike and flags flying! Anyway Waiting to let you know we are home safe and sound. A lot to catch up on. Have not even started on the emails. LOL Big Hugs Dorothy

Thanks guys. Mary, that's only part of it..you should see the rest, lol. ALOT more hard work to come. Energy? HAHAHA!! I had absolutely none today, coffee didnt help at all..and my foot is bothering me again. Dog clipped me, I twisted my foot & fell on my hip about a month ago, (of course right in the mud, lol) and now every once in awhile it hurts so bad I can't even walk. So I didnt get to fill the preform today with soil for the lotus like I had wanted. All I managed to do was spray the brugs for bug prevention. Kristy, I can try..do you know when and how I should do it? It's not bushy, it just has the one main stem with all the buds at the top. From what I have read it will die down to the ground after first frost and return in the spring..So, if I cut it down to the ground in the fall, or even halfway..I can send you that to root? ya think? Or will that kill the roots? I will save seeds as well. My lotus pot is as deep as it is wide. Had it in a barrel liner at first, cuz I knew wider was better than deeper, but I just felt it wasnt deep enuf. I have half composted manure and half household compost mixed together. Only a thin layer of pea stones. I am using the Jobe's tomato spikes for feeding. I just stuck 3 more in there the other day. My feeder fish I put in there died. I cant get Gambusia here. That's too funny about the frog, I'm surprised the cops didnt show up, lol. Maybe mine hasnt bloomed yet cuz the weather hasnt been as hot as yours. I hope I get one soon. I'm just so curious why your leaves are shorter like that. Thanks Kylie! :)

O yay, another happy recipient today! Congrats on your goodies! Some nice bruggies, yay! So exciting to get a goody box! I wanna know who it was too! come on, fess up now!!