Reptile addiction, I already have several that are kind of like Chihuily, but I haven't seen that one in person so I might be interested. Jo_evans, I like that one! Do you know the name? I have one similar, but it's not as bright red (I don't think). How big across would you say the hibiscus is? Do you know if it would be cold hardy? What would each of your wants be? You can email me if you'd like. Thanks! Heather

Rina, your Orgyalis is so pretty..Vivid orange. Your Kalanchoe must have been in full/direct sun. Mine has orange foliage but not as orange as yours. Okay, went outside..The perennial, whatever it may be has no fragrance..Leaf texture is rough, protrudes. Thankfully, no problems touching Kalanchoes. If so, I'd be in trouble. Have quite a few 'indoor' Kalanchoes. I also rubbed my finger and thumb over the Sage..It's VERY fragrant. Was going to mention, but didn't think it important at the time..probably isn't now either.lol. Actually, I bought two perennials at HD w/tags reading Euphorbia. The second had different colors. Unfortunately, it didn't make it through winter. Your E. Helena's Bush is gorgeous! Is it hardy? Your Sage looks similar to mine, only a LOT larger.. Height and leaf size. Is it planted in medium or full sun? It's supposed to grow tall, but for some reason, doesn't. This is the first year it's reached 8"..lol. Supposed to be 2-4' or taller. I think 104F summers halt growth too. Your plants look terrific. Toni

Lisa: No...until a couple of months ago I was quite certain that THIS time (3rd lucky) with direct intervention by the nursery owner on my behalf, I had the Real McCoy. Alas...while the latest plant looks nothing like the hybrid swarm from the first releases, it is certainly not a pure albopictum. I will contact MK and see if he can help me out. Yes, he apparently has the true species. Thanks for the suggestion. Your seeds had excellent and relatively rapid germination...tiny amount of seedlings lost to a touch of damping-off early on in spite of being sown on heat-sterilized growing media, but at present have about 100 x 1-1.50 cm diameter healthy-looking seedlings in a single compot. I sowed on mix of sifted oak leaf litter, fine bark and coarse pumice and have used RODI water from the gitgo. At this point, now I'm kinda hoping that some of them grow up to look like their putative (?) albopictum grandparents ;^) Your allenii seed here still ripening...IME, very slow for an Aechmea. Paul: Louzada's excellent Master's thesis is far ranging and "yes" he spent quite a bit of time in the field and published in situ photos and diagnostic illustrations of all taxa, incl. the ones described relatively recently by Elton Leme. I am certainly not an expert, but the plethora of photos taken in habitat by a number of different individuals and available on the web/in published works of these species suggests that there are "good" species involved. Examination of live material and specimens in herbaria by Leme, Luther, Louzada and others also points to these plants being separate entities with "good" morphological characters that define them as such. I doubt that any species in this group, barring navioides, burle-marxii and vagans, have been in cultivation outside of Brazil long enough to know much about how variable they are from seed. We will, however, know much more about how they breed within the next several years. Cheerio, J

I once had two orange cats. The first I got on Halloween as a kitten and named him Pumpkin. He lived around 14 years. Then I got Louie as a kitten and he lived a long life too. Pumpkin was a lighter orange but Louie was a deep orange tiger and was a real brat. The orange boys are characters.