Morningluna, Welcome to being a hibiscus owner! I must warn you, they are addictive! Your plant is gorgeous! No wonder you bought it! How long have you had it? It will grow really large this summer being planted out in the ground. I grew a red one in the ground last summer and it grew 8 feet tall! If you want to bring it in in September, just pot it up. If you don't want it in the house over the winter, you can just let it die over the winter and buy another one for next year and plant that one outside. They love humidity and sunlight, and they love the hose on their foilage when it gets real hot. This also keeps the bugs under control. I think tropical hibs are my favorite plants! I love gardenias, (which I try to grow every year), but tropical hibs are the best! GOod Luck!

Hi everyone--I have returned with a couple photos of my Pinky Winky and Vanilla Strawberry. I just don't know--what do you think? I should warn you that my camera slightly exaggerates the pinkish colors, yet standing right in front of the plants, I can see a slight pinkish hue, at least on Pinky Winky, less so on Vanilla Strawberry. On the other hand, none of my blooms look even remotely like maydena's and lois's photos (those are so lovely), so I still don't know if I actually have a real Pinky Winky plant and a real Vanilla Strawberry plant. What do you think? Notice the burnt edges on the leaves and the brownish sunburn on VS in particular. That is what several months of over 100 temps does to paniculatas--unfortunately. Pinky Winky (maybe) Vanilla Strawberry (maybe) To me, it's possible that my Pinky Winky is the real thing and that like Brian in NE Kansas says, it can't be counted on in our heat to perform that well. But I really question whether the second picture really is Vanilla Strawberry. To me, it looks more like the old paniculata that was growing there when I bought this property nearly 30 years ago. That old paniculata got blooms very much like this one--slightly cone shaped but much fuller and rounded in the wide middle section, then in the fall turning a faintly colored copperish pink. Whatever that old paniculata was, it certainly was not a Vanilla Strawberry--although a gorgeous white--just like my current one was a gorgeous white before it got all sunburned. Here's one of the few flowers in my yard without traces of too much sun: I know--not a hydrangea. Just thought it was pretty and that you might enjoy it. : ) Kate

That is just wonderful! You really did get a nice crop of blooms off yours this year and I love the colors. I bought mine late last fall from a mail order and was shocked to find it was only in a 4" pot. This summer it grew like crazy but no blooms yet. I am really looking forward to next year now that it is bigger. I'm glad you included photoes so that I could see what it looks like "in person". Mary/Gainesville, GA

I don't have time to read all the other messages but just a quick word of advice - Colorado Natives are not real fond of transplants, as in people who immigrate here. Their top two disliked transplants are Texans and Californians. Change your license plates ASAP as a matter of top priority. And I have learned to stay very quiet about being from out of state. When we first moved here (7 years ago) there were often write ups in the paper about eggings of cars that were from Texas or California and people being harrassed, kids at school, etc. It is fairly openly discussed in social situations, as well. I had family here who helped me transition fast, they were concerned for our family. People like being here and it's getting body to body over-crowded and the growth and expense is staggering. It's on the minds of many - like at the top of their minds - and sometimes it's just better not to say you are a transplant, especially don't be passing the word around that you are from Southern California. The transplant to native ratio is evening up fast so this may not be an issue for too much longer. Good luck! And I am not saying this to put anyone down or cause fear or anything like that. Just friendly advice from someone who went through it. Like I said - it's getting better but we have had a ton of construction again lately, you will see that in the Springs - and people are antsy again.