Begonia #3 looks a lot like a Regal Minuet. Mine sometimes produces leaves that color when under stress. After a recent cross-country move, the first few new leaves came out just like that. When the plant is acclimatized, the leaves are a very deep red with a metallic shimmer. Have you found out what #1 is yet? That's an amazing plant, and I'd love to try to find one!

Lol, I will stop coloring too when it all gets one color. I just have this big black patch in the back. They found something on the cat scan last night they need to do an MRI and get a closer look at it near the pituitary gland in his brain. I have been so worried I am exhausted. I couldn't even tell what I was trying to say in that last post. He is still very tired too. I hope we can still go this weekend but waiting to hear from the doctor if its ok or not and see how we are both feeling. He is in denial of course and outside working in the heat so I am watching him close and making him come in for breaks and drink water. I think he had heat exhaustion He passed out and had a siezure. Sure wish the ER doctor had told me more before she ran off and left. My sister's daughter in Georgia just had a baby and they had to remove her gallbladder this morning so she might be able to come either. Whats that song about if it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all? Lol, things will get better. Just soooo tired.

Hey Mike.. The day is dark..where's the sun? lol..Wonder if it's going to snow..Has it snowed up east yet, or too early? One thing about snow...it brightens up a home..ever notice? Snow reflects off walls (I only use Semi-Gloss White paint) and other bright objects.. Mike, the things we do for our plants! I've placed aluminum foil behind plants so when we do have sun, it reflects off the foil..lol.. One time, I tried collecting snow for plants..lol...Don't bother. One year, I placed containers outside while it was snowing, blizard-like. The containers collected snow, filled, 'which took forever,' then brought inside to melt..I wanted to cry. There was about 2" of water..lol..All that work for nothing.. Here's another thing I do, but am not recommending. When snow is fresh, I grab a handful and place directly on soil. Most of you reading this are shaking your head, thinking, she's NUTS, lol, but fresh snow, although cold, is pure. The problem doing this is it can chill roots..So, when I add snow, it has to be sunny and early in the morning. Never at night. So far, Thank God, snow has never harmed a plant. Again, I'm NOT telling anyone to do this.. BTW, I don't add snow to cactus and succulents. I agree about caring for our plants like children, with one exception..What's the number one plant killer? OVERWATERING. Sometimes, people kill plants because they're too caring, and continue adding more and more water..Leaves droop, so they think, oh oh it needs more water or fertilizer..then the plant dies.. So, yes, I agree, we need to be alert, (especially when a plant shows signs of distress,) inspect, mist, shower, water when needed, fertilize at the proper time, etc, but never in excess.. BTW, if I'm not mistaken, the number 2 killer is over-fertiliizing. 3 is underwatering. Then there's the INSECT problem..sheesh..in some cases, insects are beyond our control. Especially for those starting out..they go shopping, find a pretty plant, unaware it's loaded with mites, bring home, and a wk later the plant is dead. But never neglect plants either. Heck, I talk and sing to them..lol..you should see my birds when they see me talking, especially singing to a plant..lol..it's hilarious. I found the variegated CC on Ebay..Ebay is the BEST..I wouldnt have half the plants I do if it wasn't for Ebay or the internet in general. Most stores and nurseries here sell the same, old, common plants. When they get something they deem rare, prices are hiked up 100%. Terrible. Oh, I agree, 'playing' with plants is more 'funner' than cooking or cleaning..lol. Oh you do have a MOO??? GReat..Flowers don't last long like you say, similar to tropical Hibiscus. Speaking of which, my Hib tree had several buds and one opened flower..it opened 3 days ago and still going, but starting to look crinkly..I snapped a pic last night, but haven't put it on Flickr yet.. What I'd love to find is a variegated MOO..lol..now that be sometehing..I'd also like to find a variegated Stephanotis..ohhh, wonder if any exist..lol.. Have a wonderful day..hugs, Toni

Hi! Becky, yes...the waterlilies I grow DO have a scent. I am glad that my ponds are small or else I'd have a hard time getting my nose close to sniff them! The scent is not real strong on these, but definitely sweet. I was also always fascinated by waterlilies as a child and swore one day I'd have my own! There's just something almost magical about them. Judith, I wish I could give you the names of all the waterlilies, but unfortunately some were cheapo, unmarked lilies from Wal-Mart simply marked by color. However, the first picture of Pond #1 with the white lily is a native waterlily from a lake down the road from me....that is a comical story in itself which involved me leaning over in a tipsy canoe to pull the tuber out of the bottom of the lake...and got soaked! The other white lilies in the last photo are Wal-Mart specials, but the 2 pale pink lilies are "Pearl of the Pool"...don't know the name of the darker pink one. If you saw my original posts, "My Garden is on Fire", the dark burgundy waterlilies are "Burgundy Princess" and the light yellow one is "Sunrise". And don't give up on your waterlilies...they take a few years to really start bloom production. None of mine bloomed in year 1; year 2 there were maybe 4 blooms; year 3...less than a dozen. Now they offer up quite a good supply, but they don't bloom for an extended period. Sometimes I have lots of them blooming, other times they are just pretty leaves. They are perfect hiding spots for the froggies! BTW, I have visited the Montreal Botanical Garden at least 5 times in my life, and to me it is the closest place to heaven!! I love Montreal, and have some of my happiest memories there...just a lovely, romantic city! I NEED to go back! Valerie, we decided we wouldn't use pumps in our pond for the reason you state....the ponds are too far away from the house and we don't want to add to our electric bill! Some people prefer the pristine-clear water and that is wonderful, but I'll bet they don't get all the tadpoles hatching out like I do....today, about 15 tiny, baby froglets were basking in the sun on the rocks around the pond...and there were about 6 big frogs with them....one big, happy frog family! Sometimes I get some algae, but I just use a net and skim it off. We throw in a few mosquito dunks (safe for frogs) in early summer so the skeeters don't lay eggs....Mosquitos are New Hampshire's state bird! LOL Thanks to you all, Celeste