If you like having butterflies visit your yard, few things are more attractive to them than Lantana. If your Mom wouldn't mind, take some cuttings from her plants and literally just stick them in the ground. Water every few days if it doesn't rain. I just added pics including a Lantana cutting from last year that's growing back nicely this spring, in this discussion. Butterfly bushes (Buddleia) are just as easy to multiply, but somebody has to have one to get started. Easy to find in stores, inexpensive, or through trading. Of course BF's like butterfly bushes, HA! Basil flowers are beloved by BF's and bees. If you have a little patch of ground to scatter some basil seeds, they should have plenty of time to make flowers this year. Then, of course, the leaves are yummy. The flowers are white, so don't clash with anything, not that exciting visually, but I've seen hummingbirds visiting them also. That gets it a prized spot in my opinion. That's really cool your sprouts survived some frosts! Has anyone else noticed, the seed sprouts are all plain green, top and bottom. The plants coming back from previous years' tubers have red on the back of their leaves. I was very intrigued by the first one I saw in the back yard because I didn't recognize it at first, but could tell it was growth, not a sprout, and there were no weeds there to be growing back. Never know what could creep over from the abandoned yard next door though.

Wow Kristi - that is a gorgeous amaryllis. I thought I was getting a white double for christmas but when it bloomed I got a double red with white stripes. I think its called Promise. I guess someone put the wrong bulbs in boxes. I planted the large bulb as soon as I opened it and put it outside on the deck where it has been since. We had one of the coldest winters on record here. Many nights below freezing. Its the chill that sets the flower - so I am told. The cold temps must be good for many plants as I had the best blooms on my orchid cactus and clivia as well. My amaryllis is now in bloom and is gorgeous. I have another post on here with pics. It grew 2 thick stalks and one had 4 large blooms on it and the other had 3 on it. I just wish it would give me some pollen to do a cross with another plant. Stay patient Dave and you will get a beautiful flower from it sometime. I still want a white double amaryllis tho. Russ

I think I know part of what was previously seen and what’s going on here. I noticed an orange round object this morning on a pine tree which I thought was a bird but it never flew away. Anyway, I took some pictures. Before this blossom the branch had a tubular deformity like a bulge. I’m not sure, but the bulge could have been caused by insect in a prior year. This blossom occurred after three days of rain to include lighting and rain last night. This pine tree is also in a lower part of the yard where it get a good share of the water.

I second a Fat Plants 3:)! Isde02, nice new Jathropha. It's a perfect boob;). I love how perfectly round they get, and yours is definitely perfectly round. Lovely new Pachypodiums too. Pachypodiums are so beautiful, they have that pretty metallic "skin";). SLD, I really like that Pachypodium baronii. Bay Area's succulent/cactus shows start next wknd, and that one I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for;). Thanks another fatty on the list!