Sounds like an interesting job.....mine is until the grant $$ dry up as they have been lately.....still, when the expts work out and you see a surprising result it is like being a kid again.....my wife says that is my normal state of being anyway :o) Dan

Wasn't sure how to contact you so using this method. Any ideas where to get the Hovaria Kaleidoscope series plant 'Hobergine' in the US? I like the eggplant color potential! This color photo was posted on their site. In thinking about it H. 'Merveille Sanguine' might be an alternate way to approach that color density. Any other cultivar suggestions? Whatever plant is used I'm suspecting I'll need just the right pH and added aluminum and sufficient light. Any other nutrients help too? I sometimes see standard hydrangeas commerically treated for gift plants with darker than expected leaves (even green blackish tones) and flowers. Is this an added Fe or other effect? Thx for your input in advance.

Let me "ditto" what Gardengal said. It's a lovely arrangement and your message, John, a thoughtful sentiment. Happy holidays to you, and to all the other forum contributors. It cannot go unnoticed that you, John, belong in the category of those who have "graciously shared their time and expertise," helping to solve people's problems or giving order to their questions. From what I can see, you're always 'on the money' with your answers. Happy holidays to all!

I hope you get your winter, Marlorena: I too worry when it's too mild this time of year. This year the cold did finally arrive in November. We regularly get snow, frost, and extended chilly weather. After all, though here at the farm we have olives and tea roses, we also have lilacs and peonies. Our cat has been sick since late summer at least, and I suspect has used up several of her lives. More than once I thought she would die. Currently she is at least solidly alive, and we're about to begin the latest round of therapy, the earlier ones not having done anything for the skin condition. By now we must have put close to a thousand dollars into vet visits, treatments, and specialized diets. I've been following Brexit with interest and a degree of horror, and I wish you a good outcome! The whole thing is possibly the most amazing political event I've ever seen in my life, only excepting our own president, though in his case he's just one man, while you have an entire political system running amok.