Aka - 'Jimsonweed'. During the Revolutionary War, the starving militia at Jamestown ate Datura leaves out of desperation. They became very ill and tripped out big time for days! It was called Jamestown weed...and over time the name became Jimsonweed. Datura likes to grow in hot, dry places and prefers sandy soil. They like access to water, but need good drainage. I guess that is why they grow wild along sandy river banks and valleys and down in arroyos. Some catalog and nursery companies erroneously sell it as 'Angel Trumpet' flower, especially the purple and white one. Thus the confusion to some people. However, it should be noted that Brugmansia is commonly called 'Angel Trumpets, while Datura is known as 'Devil's Trumpet' - maybe because all parts of it contains an alkaloid poison. Perhaps they are aptly called Devil's Trumpet since they grow best in hot, forbidden places! :) Growing up in So. California, Jimsonweed grew wild throughout the sandy valley of the Santa Margarita River. My family used to camp down there near the river in the summertime and at night the air was swimmingly filled with the sweetly intoxicating fragrance of their blooms. They were hell on bare feet though. When the moon was full, those 'Moonflowers' glowed like lanterns, which came in very handy when you needed to go potty at night and had to watch out for Diamondback rattlers! You do not want to moon a rattlesnake!. I grew the white variety for several years. Still have seeds. I have photos of them somewhere. I was just as jubilant the first time they bloomed. I took gobs of photos. I have seeds for the purple and white variety too. I got them in a trade. They were labeled as 'Angel's Trumpets'. Just never get around to sowing them. (bad girl, BAD! ) Every year I tell myself that I am going to grow them and then always forget to do it in the spring rush to get my veggies going. You have all inspired me to dig them out and do it! Lord knows it is hot enough right now that they will love it. Thanks for the post, Tom. ~Annie

Speaking personally, for me as a home hobbiest Hoya lover, these distinctions seem sort of minor. The look of these is so similar (one to the other) to me, I'm not going to worry which I have. This discussion (tho' calm & very civilized) reminds me of the bad blood that got going here a couple of yrs. ago in the 'nomenclature wars'. to bad results. I also know that this was the cause of a rather big rift btwn a number of 'name' Hoya growers of prominence (from what I've heard & read). Tho' I'm not saying this discussion is going there, it does remind me of all that yuck. I've recently gotten my 2nd one of these 'Multiflora types', am experimenting w/ diff. growing methods, am growing 1 in mix & the other just in water, curious to see which blooms first.

Hi Moonie, Here is the link to my root pruning... I sure hope this helps... Your tree is looking great to all of us Plumeria Lovers!!! Some of mine are so ugly, they are "cute.." : ) I have one tree "Pele" that looks like it went through a nuclear meltdown when the temps were Ahhh... very hot in the greenhouse last year.. Won't mention any names.. Cough, cough... He is still in the dog house for that one.. : ) I now have the temps under control.. This was the only one that looks bad.. So, your tree looks great to me too! : ) You are so right about our temps here.. We can have cool temps and then extreme heat. That is why you need to be careful to acclimate your trees in the spring. It sounds like you have a great handle on yours!! Good Luck and keep us posted!! Rachel, You are so kind to say.... Thank you!!! So nice to say those comments. I am still learning. We will always continue to search for all of the answers.. and hopefully apply what we learn and see the "rewards" from our beloved trees and plants. They tell us if we are doing a good job!! : ) Just remember its the learning climb to the top to get us to where we want to be.. I hope it takes me a long time to get there.. I always want to be on the climb up and keep learning... I hope everyone has a wonderful evening!!! Laura Here is a link that might be useful: Taking A Bare Rooted Tree....

Just catching up and found four more books on your lists I've also read: The Day the World Came to Town... Loved it and made me really want to go and visit Casey in Newfoundland. Marley & Me... it was about an ill-behaved dog with some real personality issues and an owner/writer who glorified his existance. Forgive me, but I didn't find this book cute and touching like so many others have. Poisonwood Bible... One of my all time favorites, but then I enjoy most of Kingslover's books. Shadow of the Wind... Kept me spellbound and wanting for more. Jodi-