To ray ratliff: Neos smell better than any other orchid on the planet (a little biased perhaps?!?). To my nose, it's a mix of vanilla, oriental lily, and some citrus, among other things. My partner, upon sampling it for the first time, literally dropped the telephone, wept and claimed the fragrance stops time! It is stronger at night, but usually detectable in the daytime as well. I hope you don't have to wait too long, but I can't imagine you will not be enchanted. My Neos have kicked into high gear rooting, and I spotted a few tiny spikes, which sometimes form as early as the fall, but generally wait until summer to open.

Everyone........Thanks so much. It has meant so much to me to be part of this community. I have learned so much from you all. I hope we can all meet one day...if nothing else, I hope we remain cyber friends. The pictures of your roses are all so beautiful. Sincerely, Robert

Ray and Flowerfarmer, Your posts are inspiring. I do hope that the kids will want to flower farm too. I know the girls at least would do great at market. They just love to talk to just about everyone and usually the adults like to talk to them too. I am thinking of letting them sell mini boquets they grow and make up themselves. The market I am interested in selling at is going through a transition to local growers only. I am on the list but I don't believe the transition is quite final yet. I haven't been called to attend the meeting yet. I won't have enough flowers anyhow except later when the zinnias and sunflowers come. I have hopes that I can sell those to two other places (plus any others blooming at the same time) if the market doesn't work out (it should but you never know). This is definitely a trial year with lots of learning, building up soil, perennial counts and so on. Wow, Irish Eyes, I thought Ray's psychiatrist mention was funny. Btw, in case you are wondering, I am not trying to have it all (don't recall anyone else here trying to either). My family is first period. I stay at home to take care of them. Now that they are school age, I have more time to pursue gardening. We do not have a house in the suburbs or two expensive vehicles in the yard. Our vehicles are paid for and the 19 acres will cost us the same whether or not I flower farm. There has been quite a lot of mentioning in a matter of fact way about various ailments but I am fairly sure none of us would dream of complaining to customers. I of course take it that your advice was friendly and well meaning. I don't have lofty goals. I will be very satisfied if I can add interest to my life and some money by flower farming. Whether or not I ever actually sell flowers, I think gardening and flowers really add to my life. You are right about not having it all but I don't see a problem with trying to do better with what you already have? Also, I just wondered about people not wanting to cut the flowers after they grew them. I don't think I will have a terrible problem with that. Hubbies flower garden tempts me too much (off limits) but then I didn't grow those. Planting of perennials in rows is a bit of a different story. I really would like to make pretty little gardens with them but am holding off on that. I agree soil management will be necessary. I do know tons of sucessful farmers that don't use compost (don't know flower farmers other than here) so that is why I asked. Composting should start in a big way very soon (maybe even yet today) but not good enough for this year. Hopefully, I can find a good source soon. Shirley

ProjectManager, You are right, there are some beautiful pools that use this stone. I am in So. Cal, Huntington Beach to be specific. We used Swan Pools out of Lake Forest, and the stone mason sub had the stone delivered. It was a couple of pallets worth of stone. The local building materials yard in my area also carries bouquet canyon stone, so I doubt it is a special order item. There is also a quarry for the stone north of L.A. somewhere. Good Luck wiht your project! Regards, Mike