Cote d'Or on Labor day! Hi Mike, Thank you! I think we both have late inflos and these should last us through fall. Many more pictures to share until the winter blues kick in haha. Laura, Thank you!! You have lots of beautiful blooms as well! The weather has been unseasonably warm and humid this summer. I think we're very lucky to have so many blooms to share! Fantasia is great! I love the fragrance as well. Also, Robert gave me the gardenia you sent. A big THANK YOU!!! to you! One of the few "gifts" from GW that I will cherish! Hope to see this plant take off! Lynn, Thanks! I will definitely post pictures when my inflos bloom! Hope you have a great growing season! I know you have lots of flowers at your gorgeous new home! Allan, I have a gardenia from Laura for you! Taj Mahal is a great bloomer, it has been blooming for over 2 months! Kenny

Thanks, Mike. These little white specks have to be scraped off, as scales cling so hard to stuff. They were on the delicate buds, which would be damaged be scraping. Although the grasshoppers took several blooms, the remaining flowers have opened and the scale has not gotten too out of control. I will spray the plant (with what?) after the flowers are done. seahorse

DISCLAIMER: ridiculously wordy post below! Advance apologies! My belated thanks to you all for your compliments, and for the laughs--maybe I should start calling Donna S "Mad Max" or "Wonder Woman" LOLOL Nothing cracks me up more than recalling memories of our collective 70s-80s past :) K, do you suppose my cousin would KILL me for recollecting on here how he used to stick a towel in the back of his shirt, and then spin himself around like WW? LOL!!! (But not me...I never did that...nope, nope...) OK, Jen, speaking of dating one's self: I am so freaking clueless when it comes to computer issues--I have absolutely no idea how to make my photos larger! Perhaps you can help me--you use Flickr too, right? I'm all ears :) To your question, Jen, Donna S was sluggish to come out of dormancy this past spring--by the time she did, two of her three tips had sealed over. Those two both eventually branched profusely (4 each, I believe), and on one of those two, the biggest new branch popped an inflo. The second inflo is on the tip that did not seal over. Clearly, this tree wants to put out flowers...and I ain't complainin'! K, you next: beer and snails?...discuss... :) Mona, how totally cool that you work at a plant farm!!! I'm jealous. BTW I'm 40 exactly, so my family relation with you would I suppose depend on how young you would have become a mom LOL that's YOUR call, not mine haha :) but son, brother, good either way! :) So sorry to hear about your Charlotte E, but how nice to hear of the generosity of Tally in sending you a replacement! Sending a shout out and a thank-you to her too! Simi, thank you for your kind words. Haleakala is a stunner, for sure--I'm tickled with it. Tell you what--if Haleakala continues to be unavailable in the years ahead (which would be a real pity, gotta say), reach out to me...perhaps we will be able to arrange a trade. Based on your lovely photos, I am certain that you have some beauties that I might be interested in! Deal? Lynn, like I always say on here: we addicts help each other remain in denial by continuing to enable each others' addictions. You don't have to thank me LOL it's my pleasure :) Besides, your amazing collection has made my own wish list considerably longer too mmmkay? ;) Kim--thanks, and please, please post photos of your Titanic when that ship comes in!! I coveted that lovely flower and bid on it multiple times in past years but never came out on top. Peg, thanks to you as well, and you'll be pleased to know that your Veracruz Rose is becoming a lovely little baby tree :) It was probably all the better for our waiting on the shipping. You'll have Christmas at Thanksgiving in St. Pete!! :) So exciting, right? Brian: thanks! Do you have Waimea? It really is one of the best, both in appearance and in scent. Houston: I giggled when I saw your post, and appreciate the kind addition to my Bat-post LOL I have been admiring your gorgeous photos as well! Shame on me for not adding my compliments to your post. Good work! OK, call me Mr. Diarrhea of the Mouth...I'll wrap this up, but, I appreciate everyone's insightful comments on the topic of general growth habit as our trees age. Next season will be the year where the majority of my collection will turn 3 (so, so many bought in the frenzy of 2010--yeowza!) and I hope and pray that I will be able to report next year at this time that year 3 is when our trees "stop the madness" and become adults, thereafter growing slowly and modestly. If it turns out that they continue to grow as fast as they have so far, I'm gonna have a big problem on my hands! Holy hugeness! In closing: here's a phone camera pic of Haleakala from early this morning-- as Jen aptly says: THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!! Have a great week, all. Greg

Thank you Chuy!! ;-) Hi lady! So nice to see another another Plumerian in my area!! I used to get my supplies from Harry at The Feed and Seed store near Cleveland St. I still have a few bags of ingredients left, but they just closed the store and leveled it. I'm so bummed!! I'll have to search again to find my ingredients. Welcome to the forum and so nice to see you living in my area!! laura