"I have to ask...how is your shelf attached to that window and how did you do the reservoirs?" The reservoir-thingies are little plastic trays. The "shelf" attached to the window is a soap holder thingy with suction cups, purchased in the bathroom fixtures dept at most shops... I got the idea 'cos I liked the "Violets Do Windows" the Selective Gardener sells (minis with a self-watering reservoir that sticks to a window with a suction cup), but wasn't about to pay $30 for a set of 4 :-p

Hey Denise, Boy that's quite a comeback that Australis made, from bare sticks, hard to believe. I'd forgotten what nice leaves Australis have; been a while since I had one. Glad to see you've defrosted from that deep freeze. I was keeping you & my uncle in mind (He lives in Lincoln, but hails from NY's upstate snow country, so he knows how to do super cold winters better than most). He says add more layers. Yes, thanks Josh, when I saw the new growth was more than one leaf, I did give it some dilute fertilizer. I've had to move some plants around (put in an AC this summer, lost me 2 window sills worth of west window growing space), so I've had to experiment with moving things around. I realized after the fact, this Hoya cutting ended up right next to a radiator, which has been cranking some serious heat on & off. Wonder if maybe that acted somewhat like bottom heat & gave this plant a boost. Yes, as to the dessicated, 'you never know' examples, that can be a bit true sometimes of bare vines too. Last Sept. I got some cuttings from SRQ (enabled by GreenToe, ;>) thx) among them a lovely Verticillata variegate, which I didn't realize til later had a break in the end of a bare vine. So I saw the break & snipped first, THEN saw the peduncle on it, ACKKKKK. Well, am happy to share saving that bit of stem & peduncle, w/ a lovely new leaf, a happy & lucky little save, may it make it to Spring! I DO love variegates, so pretty. Am happy to share I was pleased w/ all of Joni's cuttings as most of you all seem to be.

Bill, good to hear from you! Our photos from the trip scroll through our t.v. screensaver, so we see you often and beachboy remembers you well, especially if we see a garden with lots of flowers blooming. He's taking swimming lessons so he'll be better prepared to surf next time, lol. Cross-country book club! I also loved Honolulu. Thanks for the rec. If you enjoyed Wild Swans you might like Cleopatra: A Life. Brilliant and fascinating history that turns conventional ideas about her upside down. Take care and give your family our best.

Hang in there, you are making progress. We did demo in mid-February, and I have not had a functioning kitchen on any level at all since then. My contractor is not in jail, thank goodness, but sometimes I wish I could put him there! Not really, but there have been mistakes and delays galore. This is the second time I've done a kitchen renovation, so I know that it will seem like it will never be done, but eventually it will. So be patient a little longer. I finally got my granite installed today, and a back door (but not steps so I can't go in or out the back door). When I get home tonight, I may actually have working sinks in my kitchen, hallelujah. So I won't have appliances for ages, but I may be able to wash a dish in my new sink! But only before the sun goes down, because we don't have a single light in the kitchen. I actually am finding it harder to be patient now that we are getting closer. That light at the end of the tunnel is so enticing!