well, we are almost to the max posts, so i wanted to update on my mature syngonium progress. i have 2 new leaves of 'mature form' AND also some variegation near veins - that's totally unexpected! so i have 5 leaves and 2 little 'horns' at the ends, just like other mature leaves. when i took the cutting, the last very young leaf got mangled in xfer , so i cut it off, but left the stalk (where the new leaf develops) - so the 1st leaf was def formed BEFORE i took the cutting. now the 2nd? i am not sure - may be it was already formed inside there too? so i'll have to wait for a few more to be sure. but so far i am happy - i fed it well, so new leaves are dark green, the older leaves are slowly decaying one by one. but that's normal. now the big question is - when do i trim the vine? i think i'll grow may be 10 leaves , so i can trim it and root again and then see what will come out. and then of course i am afraid that after the trim the young immature leaves start popping. but that will be end of summer, not sooner. so, the leaves on the left are new. they have a little hard time unfurling, so they some spots and tears. they are folded in a very interesting 'origami' fashion. next time i'll take pics as they unfold to show you.

Hello Everyone,,, Did I hear...correctly? "ROSA" did she "WIN" Yea....I haven't been over here for a few days...and honsetly i thought another had the name in the "bag" LOL... I am so thrilled that my name as chosen...Thank's to JOJO post i found it out after reading her post up thread...That makes me very happy everyone!!! Ok...now...the winner...2 roundtrip tickets to the "Ponderosa ranch" LOL...oh..really..i know...To the islands to pick out my own "rosa" LOL...You guys and gals are the best!!! This was so much fum!!!...I have never won anything....The only time i do "win"...is when i am working and then it comes down to me or the passenger to turn off their electronic devices....i usually win then...LOL... But this takes the cake!!! I tell them...(Fereral offense...or turn it off!! LOL...) I usually win...or back to the gate!!! Then I still win!!! They are off of the plane!!! LOL>.. sorry didn't want to go there..LOL... I am thrilled...Thanks everyone who voted for "Rosa"... Thanks Mike.... : ) Laura in VB

Hello, I have a problem with my beloved bluebirds I am hoping someone can help me with. We had a successful fledging a few weeks ago and then they came back and built another nest. Laid four eggs. I went out and one was destroyed and on the ground. The other three were in the very bottom of the nest making it hard for mama to even know they were there. A few days later she started building a nest on top of that nest. When I saw it, I pulled the other nest up on top of it so she could see the three eggs. Now she has laid two new eggs so far in with the old ones. And the nest is very high now and close to the hole. What will happen with old and new eggs in there? And should I try to squish the nest down from the hole more?

There was a time that I racked my mind day in and day out wondering the same thing. There were days when I swore that I could never forgive him for doing that. I would wonder how will she feel when she is old enough to understand? How could he possibly put something so ugly into her perfectly innocent world? But, I have come to realize that I will never understand how he could do something like that. I will never be able to fathom how he could see her happy smiling face saying "I love you Daddy' and still walk out of her world with such finality. There is nothing in this world that will ever explain why... what could have been going through his mind to make that decision... to leave his baby girl and with such ugliness. I would like to think that for a split second he regretted his decision but who knows. I worry every day that his decision will effect her in some drastic way... that it will crush some part of her. But, I know that I have and continue to do all that I can to make sure that her life is as full of love and support as possible. I know that in the end it will be up to her to decide what she feels about him and his decisions. I will leave that up to her and I will stand vigilant and strong should the worse happen. But, I have faith that with the loving influence of everyone else she has in her life... she will graciously accept that .... we will never know what makes people do the things that they do... we can only be grateful for the bright spots they gave to us... a pink teddy bear from her 1st birthday... a smiling picture from halloween...life and forgive him his weakness. Although his choice was made with more finality than others... I think the same is true for all parents who abandon children and those children that are abandoned. We will never be able to comprehend or understand why... and in the end, it wont matter... it will be up to the children to make their own decisions and hopefully forgive and live their own lives fully... even if we cant forgive them for doing that to our children.