Hello, Bigdaddy. I am not good at guessing plant names so I will comment on your other questions and see if someone else chimes in. Pruning should be done as soon as flowering is done in the Spring. The flower buds usually set sometime in the summer so, if you prune then, you are actually cutting off next year's flowers. As for food/fertilizer, they rarely need it. The decomposition of mulch under the plant provides most of the 'food'. Some people will use Hollytone or cottonseed meal in the spring. I add some bone meal at the same timed. Have you done a soil analysis recently, say in the last 3-5 years? If not, consider one in case your soil needs additional minerals. Also, check out the Azalea Society's Website for more hints/info. By the way, your azalea looks very nice and healthy, Luis Here is a link that might be useful: Link to the Azalea Society Website

The pink spots are botrytis, a fungal infection. The purplish spots are cercospora, another fungal infection. Many red roses are best in afternoon shade to keep from crisping, but most likley they are suffering a bit from botrytis also, but you don't experience the symptoms the same as you do on white roses. There really isn't an organic preventative that works on botrytis well at all. Sulpher does help some with cercopsora, but not greatly. It will burn the foliage like the dickens in hot weather too.

Thanks to all of you for your kind words. I have so enjoyed looking at everyone's ideas and homes that I was inspired to post my own. I have to say it was such fun taking the pictures and learning about photobucket. I do enjoy the collecting of Christmas stuff but like most of you here on the boards I am budget minded too. When I get some on these gorgeous items on sale after the holidays it makes it that much sweeter. To answer some of your questions: Kathleen li - I love the ironing board Santa in the hall display too. It isn't really an ironing board but a piece of plywood with fabric and paint done to look like Santa. I bought it years ago at a craft fair here in Birmingham, AL for less than $20. The santa portrait is new this year from Kirkland's Home. The have one every year and it is only $59. I got it last week at 25% off. Calicocat1967 - I like the Santa plates. I was fortunate enough to most of them from Fitz and Floyd last year on Christmas day. They put everything on sale and I get their emails telling when. I picked them up for less than $10 each. The covered dish in the kitchen corner cabinet came from Tuesday Morning after Christmas last year. It is a Christopher Radko but I only paid $15 for it on sale. luvstocraft - Thanks for thinking I "belong". I kind of felt like I did and it's nice to point out to hubby "There are others like me. I'm not the only one always picking up dishes or decorations everywhere I go" One of the things I have enjoyed about the board is the comradery. Every when I didn't post I felt apart of the community. I am glad that I came out of lurkdom. I got the angles in the pictures for 25 cents a print years ago and had them framed for less than $10 each. I stole the hanging on a ribbon and dowel idea from a magazine. Very eye catching and costs very little too. phyl345 - I'm glad you enjoyed it. sameboat - Thanks for looking and commenting. melvalena- I hope I didn't create new work for you for next year. I am enjoying changing up things a bit from year to year, so I love the ideas you guys come up with. Hope you have a wonderful holiday with your grandkids. bonniee- Thank you. I enjoyed your post about decorations too. mary ruth - Thanks, I love the Fitz and Floyd too. I got the large santas on top of the refridgerator last year on Christmas day. They are normally $350 each but on their clearance/outlet on their website they were only $89. I know that is still expensive, but I couldn't pass up the chance for something so large and beautiful for that price. I ordered my mom and her sister one for this year's Christmas present. I am so excited to give them to them. They are the chief decorators in the family so I came by it honestly. slinkey - What a nice welcome. Thanks for you praise and I feel like I will be a regular now that I've broken the ice. I do love my home. It is older and I actually came to these boards because we are considering building a new home on a lot we bought so I was researching building and come across this board on a search. But it didn't take me long to go from the Building a House forum to Decorating to Christmas/Holidays. purplemoon - I have loved all of your decorations and posts for the year. I thank you for your comments. The pair of large leaping reindeer are my "pride and joy". This is the first year I have displayed them, getting them last Christmas Day online. They came from Frontgate, which is not a store that I can normally afford. But after Christmas they put all their stuff on sale and mark it down a little more each week. On their website is a section called Outlet. I did not know of it and wanted a large reindeer for my fireplace hearth, so I searched and got a hit on them. The are regularly $199 each and but were on clearance for $59 each. Again a little more than I normally pay for a Christmas decoration, but a great deal on a heavy well made piece. I am pleased with the display. I would be honored to have some of my stuff in the Inspiration Album. Thanks for asking. Does that mean I have "arrived"? Ha-Ha. Feel free to look all you want. prosperity66 - Thanks for your kind words. I am glad others enjoyed it. Thanks again to all of you and I am off to scour the Internet for any clearance deals, but not ever sure where I could possibly put more if I find it. Merry Christmas!

Sorry to disagree with Pat: I also think putting both pots in front of the window is a shock. I would have left them between the windows where you had them to begin with. That corner was too dark for jades. They like lots of light and will grow much better in front of the window. Unless they were in very dark conditions for a while and are moved suddenly into very sunny spot (I do not believe that is possible in winter, in Michigan), there should be no problem. Moving plants into strong sunlight from indoors could cause sunburn, and plants should be acclimatized. I believe Steven meant moving the plants from place to place - like from a store, where it sat for a while, to a house...Some plants will respond by dropping many leaves when location is changed (ficus Benjamina is known for doing that). Personally, I do not have that experience with jades. And I move them around a lot.