Deanne...you are such a sweetheart...Thank you! I really do love spring *and* tulips...maybe I should move to Holland...LOL! You cracked me up about the goldfish...I didn't even notice that, but it really is rather clever...isn't it? LOL! Wish I could take credit for it. Maybe I should build on that idea though and add some other orange flowers to the bed! :-) I didn't see the hummingbird aviary...I'm going to have to ask Anita about that. We did see lots of hummingbirds though, both at the DBG and at Anita's house too. Was it you or was it Babs who had that great photo op of a hummingbird last year? I tried to take their pics, but in all my photos they were either too far away to notice, moved to fast, or the pics came out blurry. I am definitely *not* a photographer, but I really do enjoy having the camera, it has made gardening so much easier for me. Yes Michelle, I am fascinated with nature in Arizona it is *so* different than here. Still, while I think it is very beautiful, I don't think I could live there. I'm too fond of the four seasons (well, maybe not so crazy about winter) and what would I do without tulips!?! Paul has talked about moving there though, but the only thing that would even make me consider it is the fact that Anita is there. Thanks Marian...you are so sweet and so kind and encouraging. I wish you could meet Anita, I know you would like her right off. Ei

HI- Sorry I didnt see your posts before now. Congrats on your odorata! Great photos- sorry, I don't have the capability to do that. I think the warmth probably did help your buds open. Mine has been in a holding pattern since it bloomed in December, and I'm beginning to "wonder". Not one bit of spring growth anywhere. I looked at the roots about a month ago and there were almost none compared to the size of the pot so believe it or not I potted it down to an even SMALLER clay pot. A month later, still nothing. It looks like it will never grow- the leaves from last year are fine but the growth tips are hardened and crusted over, and the roots are brown, thin and stringy. After scouring this website, I'm thinking I should change the potting mix to a more loose one by adding perlite. How is your's doing? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I received four plumerias last spring (in Minnesota) and planted them in pots and kept them inside in front a sunny East window until temperatures rose outside. Then I put them on the on the outside South patio. They leafed out nicely. When it started getting cold, I brought them and put them in my bedroom which faces south. I placed them there in the sun and added a small grow light which I left on 12 hours a day plus they received the sun on sunny days. I watered them well once a week. They have grown a lot and are full of leaves. They did not go dormant and I never had any bugs nor root rot. I am planning to put them back on the south patio in mid-June when all danger of frost is gone. Since they never had a chance to go dormant, I was wondering if that would hurt them? And, I was wondering when I should start fertilizing them? Should I start now (early April) or wait until I move them outside? The are very healthy, large, and beautiful. Many thanks for any help/answers anyone can give me.

Oh lucky you! We LOVE that area, have spent many happy times in Flag, at the Canyon and in Sedona. There's not a lot to do in Flagstaff itself, other than admiring the San Francisco Mts, but the Canyon will leave you with your jaw dropped and Sedona is very beautiful, despite the tourists and over-building. Where are you staying in Flag? We like Little America a lot, although not for the food. There is also a lovely museum of Native American history and crafts which is well worth visiting. You will love the restaurant at El Tovar Lodge at the G.C. You can also hike along the canyon rim without getting so close that it bothers you (I also hate heights). Just be prepared for the place to be stuffed with wall-to-wall tourists in July. Take sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. In Sedona, the Pink Jeep tours are excellent. Personally I don't think much of the vortex idea, but the views from them are very good. There's an accessible vortex on the hill going up to the Sedona Airport. Sedona has some of the best shops and galleries in the Southwest. A special place to visit is Tlaquepaque (ta-lah-ka-pah-key) Square. This is an area of galleries and restaurants that is built in the style of an old Mexican town. Even if you don't buy anything - haha - just strolling around is great fun. I like Rene's French Restaurant there and also the very good Mexican one. The galleries are tremendous - take an empty credit card, lol. There are also good galleries across Oak Creek from Tlaquepaque, including one just over the bridge that specializes in Native American rugs and weavings. To die for. There are many shops on the main road through town, but lots of those are pretty junky. Best of all, IMHO, is the drive through and up Oak Creek Canyon on Highway 89, which connects Sedona to I-40 and Flag. I would drive it from the top down for a spectacular view that you will never forget. It's very, very twisty for about 15 minutes and then settles into an easy winding drive through O.C.C. that is just a dream. Personally, if I were you, I'd take one or two overnights in Sedona. You will want that much time, and it's a bit of a shlep back and forth from Flag. When we're in Sedona we stay at Sky Ranch Lodge, on Airport Mt. It's a well-kept motel, nothing remarkable, but OMG the views are incredible. At night, with the town lights below and the stars above, you'll think that you're in heaven! Enjoy!