Hi all, My first plant was an African violet. My grandmother was at fault. It was 1979 and I was about 23 years old and in college. I decided I would like to have a house plant and went over to her place to get some pothos cuttings. She grew wonderful looking pothos like nobody I've ever seen since. Anyway she was really thrilled that I was interested in having of houseplant and cut me several good lengths of pothos stems. When we were done with that she took me over to the window and showed me an African violet. She told me that I could take one of those leaves, put it in a glass of water, and that it would grow new plants from the base of the stem. I thought to myself, "no way", but I took a couple of those leaves home, stuck them in a glass of water as she instructed and indeed after couple months little plantlets started to grow from the bottom of the stems. I then planted them in African violet soil and had two plants. I soon took more leaves and started even more African violets. I thought it was such a coup how I was able to produce these "free" plants. Although by the time I bought the pots and soil those plants were not free. lol I then started propagating other plants. I even grew a lemon tree from a lemon seed I had harvested when making lemonade one time. My surprise was that the thing had thorns. Even though I liked my plants I can say that I was really in love with them. That would come later. I graduated from college and married a girl who was in ROTC and went into the army six months later. She was immediately sent to different schools and we traveled around the country to three different places in less than a year. Keeping plants going under those conditions was not very good and I lost a lot of plants, but not my African violets. I wound up in Washington, DC and worked for what was pretty much a white collar "sweat shop". It wasn't uncommon for me to work 60 to 70 hours a week. I needed somewhat of a diversion occasionally though and I found that diversion to be houseplants. I was very lucky to share a corner office with a couple of other people. The sunlight was incredible, and the windows were tinted so that the sun was not too harsh. I bought several starter plants and had them around my desk. To make a long story short I had a spider plant that was just magnificent and I had a Swedish Ivy that was to die for. The Swedish Ivy hung from a 9 foot ceiling and was basically a pillar all the way to the floor. I could not get my arms around the circumference of the plant. Anyway that's when my love of plants really blossomed. I continued to purchase and propagate African violets and had several to give away. My wife, who would eventually become my ex wife, and I moved to Denver. I then became acquainted with other gesneriad cousins of African violets. I went to African violet and gesneriad shows annually and met several people who grew these plants. I love all of my plants but my first love is African violets and their gesneriad cousins. Larry

Pamela, thank you and I promise to write it down this time. :-) Blackcatgirl, your Elle is very pretty. I agree, Gean has a wonderful way with words. Patricia, I can assure you that you do not want to see a photo of my garden right now. The spots have spots. The big picture isn't lovely but there are areas that are beautiful in the midst of the general untidiness from falling leaves and fungal ridden roses. My RdO didn't rebloom very well until the past two years. She took a long time to get around to blooming much but she has been constantly blooming this summer. Always a few blooms, often lots of blooms. Do you think she would do better with a little more time? It's good to see you posting. I miss you! Lordy Hamp, that is a gorgeous big ole girl. She really does like the south. Post as many "huge" pictures as you would like. I've got to remember the "Monster Tillier" :-)My LH has also covered herself with buds just in the past two days. Her last hurrah I guess. I love it that you managed to talk Randy into a rose just as a side note.... Thank you Randall, I'll try to find that lavender. Where you gonna put your Ducher? :-) Lux, I love jasmine. I have Carolina and Confederate jasmine. I wish I could grow lemons here. When I was in California, Carol made us the most wonderful lemon dessert from Meyer lemons from her very own tree. I was most impressed. Your garden sounds lovely. I love reading about all of your gardens! Off to bed. Another long day of work tomorrow. Carol

Hi Guys- On the mint, I think you need to find a plant that does well where you are. Keep it in pots (It's invasive, and manages to escape the pot...) I clip the flowers...most of the time..and when it begins to look scraggily, I divide it up. Lemon grass...the last time I bought lemon grass (It was years ago..) I got a healthy looking bunch that had some roots (just a few) I stuck 4 stalks in a glass of water on the window sill for a couple of weeks, and then planted it in the center of whiskey barrell, with other herbs around it (which was very pretty, until it ate its pot mates). To harvest, you have to get down and pull/cut it out by the roots (the grass blades are sharp) You use the white bulby part in Thai cooking, or you can just kind of bruise the bulb and throw it in a pot of tea. It gives a wonderful lemon flavor-with out being sour. This year I am growing sugar cane, stuck a couple of pieces (from the oriental grocery store) in a pot--It took a while to sprout.. Maggie

Boo, I grew Cherokee Trail of Tears a couple years ago. They did stay pretty short through most of July, and then they took off like Rockets! I got a nice crop out of them. I've been getting rain, but thankfully not too much. I'm lucky with the weather most of the time. Sometimes the patterns go haywire though, and I get bizarre/bad weather. I live in the lane between the two lake patterns. Often times you can be at my house and see the line of clouds to the north and south, and have it clear here. So unless a storm or cloud cover is massive, I miss the brunt of it. Of course when it is a really dry summer, I'm talking to the cloud begging them to move over this way! Remy