Yong, I haven't registered the other because it's not available yet, but here's a preview. That's Hot Lips on the left, and her little sister First Kiss on the right: I should probably do it before the name gets taken. Hot Lips was originally called Drama Queen, but *somebody* beat me to registering that name so I had to change it. ;-p FK is more of a bubblegum pink to HL's lipstick red. It's also somewhat more compact growing (although it's hard to tell that from these two plants), and shows its white spots a bit more. I think of her as more young and innocent, whereas big sister.................. well, let's just say she gets around. ;-) At any rate, Michael tells me that he sees a bright future for Hot Lips, since the color doesn't seem to fade out in strong light the way so many of Grant's hybrids (and my other hybrids made from his) do. That has been my experience too, which is a big plus for me growing it under my brighter conditions.

Thank you - all of you - for commiserating with me. I think I'm still in shock. I know this has happened to so many other homeowners and it does seem like there isn't much you can do. My husband has surprised me with his somewhat resigned attitude to the whole thing. His comment is that we have a 1 in 3 chance of being selected and maybe this time we'll luck out. And he agrees with all of you who have said that we won't win against the power company, especially since the Federal government has mandated an upgraded transmission line to prevent the rolling blackouts that occured in NY and NJ. Marilyn c - we did ask about a continuing lease arrangement. That way as property values increase the payments would also. But they want a one time settlement. Flamingo - We are worried about the effect the electromagnetic field would have. It means my husband can't erect his 40 foot Ham radio tower - it will ruin his signals. But more importantly we asked them what this would do to a pacemaker and defibrulator and would they guarantee in writing that it would not effect it. They told us to check with the manufacturer and the cardiologist. Neither the cardiologist nor the manufacturer are willing to guarentee that a third party's transmission line would not impact the effectiveness of the heart equipment. And I certainly don't blame them. Gayle. I think we will sell. PPL should make a recommendation to the PUC in August and then there will be 1 year of hearings in Harrisburg. Construction starts in 2010 and will be online in 2012. So we can enjoy it for 2 more years at least. Patti, Azzalea, Duck,Sherrmann, Stargazer - well since you've been through it you already know it's probably a losing battle. Socks - We are working on an environmental study. We found out that we don't actually have to have an endangered or threatened species actually on our property. If we can show that the habitat is suitable and if there are populations of these species near - then our property could be considered as supplemental. Many of the other property owners are fighting this too but most of them probably figure there's not much they can do. So we're praying they pick Plan B or C. And if they go ahead and pick Plan A maybe they'll consider moving the transmission lines off our property and erecting them on the undeveloped property behind us. Thanks again everyone. I'm keeping my fingers crossed -(which of course explains my typos!)

Hi everyone. littlegatorfarm - Try searching for this plant using the name Neoregelia 'Voodoo' instead of ‘Wurthmann’s Midnight’ as there have been several changes to the name and it may still be under one of the old names in your area. Neoregelia ‘Wurthmann’s Midnight’ This lovely very dark—almost black--hybrid with some light green speckling was formerly named Neoregelia ‘Voodoo’ Wurthmann, then N. ‘Midnight’ and, more recently, to differentiate it from another quite different plant of the same name (registered by Grace Goode in 1975), it has been amended to ‘Wurthmann’s Midnight’. The problem originally arose because there were two different hybrids of the same name—‘Voodoo’—and then there were two different hybrids named ‘Midnight’ and so we now have them listed in the Bromeliad Cultivar Register as Neoregelia ‘Elmore’s Voodoo’, N. ‘Goode’s Midnight’ and N. ‘Wurthmann’s Midnight’. Hopefully, this doubling up of names should not occur now because hybridists, with advanced technology, have access to an up-to-date Register. Hopefully this will help you track down one of these plants. All the best, Nev.

The flower on the original post is very pretty, I want to see the whole plant (when it blooms), oh, it's been another overnight....how about it Leon ? :) Chuckle, I have a red violet from VB (dont' recall the name just off top of head) that I'm waiting on opening now...I see progress every day...but not open yet, so I understand.