Luckygal, those delphiniums are absolutely beautiful. Do you have them staked or are they just that well-behaved? Roper, isn't it great to just "wait and see". What a nice surprise you got! Kay, do you just scatter fresh zinnia seeds in that area in the spring? Or do you start plants from seed? It sounds almost like they come back each year on their own from seed. Trailrunner, I thought I saw you mention on another post that you were riding through my area! I hope you enjoyed NH. I can't even imagine all the hills/mountains you must have climbed up here! Any plans to ride through New England in the fall? The foliage is unbelievable up here. Here's what the summer slope would have looked like when you were up here: Last Fall: Winter: Early Spring: When I first planted the slope I put in a bunch of cotoneaster and figured that would be that. It was just too ho-hum for me though and a few years later I ripped it out and planted it as it is now. I haven't made many changes to it. I think it has been planted for about 6-7 years or so. There's always something going on with the slope and it is the easiest area in my yard at this point. A couple weeding sessions over the season and that's it. I'm never bored with it anymore.

Wow, how can you even choose faves? I never can. I guess my fave groups of plants are palms, orchids and aroids. I like hoyas, but they aren't my faves by a long shot. These are some of my faves that I grow: Rare entire leaf (undivided leaves) palm, Salacca magnifica. It is found naturally only in Borneo, where it grows at the base of cliffs in very moist locales in the rainforest. My largest leaf at present is about 10 feet; mature, they will be 20 feet, going straight up from the base at ground level. Very architectural, stunning in habitat. This is a little variegated Lady Palm (Rhapis) that I particularly like I love aroids with large leaves that have a little "something extra" like variegation or cool colorations, like this Alocasia "Purple Prince" I have growing out in the yard I love variegated monstera. I have managed to collect 4 plants and planted them in various sopts to climb up the walls This is one of my favorite trees, Erythina indica variegated, also called the "Sunshine Tree". It just glows and makes the entire area light up I love small understory palms that put out new leaves that are highly colored, like this Calyptrocalyx polyphyllus I guess of all theorchids, Bulbophyllums and Cirrhopetalums are my fave group, because they have such bizarre blooms

Well,even though this is California I'm in NoCal,so the tropical look varies from not- at -all in upscale areas,to quite subtropical looking in minority neighborhoods where rampant vines, palms,succulents and flowering tropical tree are common..just spotted a huge Chayote vine the other day. I have a very tropical looking property-guess where I live. The response I get ranges from punks who yell, G** it up!,but by far, most teenagers walk by and tell me "cool yard"..thumbs up. What they smile about is when I'm out there with the camera..NOBODY takes photos of their yards like I do around here-lol..then they might also smile as I do my "the Arteest" of standing there staring at my yard arranging and re-arranging plant material in my head. If you play chess you get the idea. After these many years they don't even seem to mind my taking the occasional photo of their yard's..I think when I see Tree Euphorbias,King palms,other not common subtropicals in those yards I might have been a smidgeon of influence.

Thanks all! I let little man read all your comments this morning. He was blushing and saying to himself, "I didn't cook this all by myself and I am not that good looking..." but I saw the sparks in his eyes and knew he secretly enjoyed the nice compliments. LOL I want to take advantage of his new found interest and run with it. We have decided that he would continue to make breakfast for his dad when he feels like it then dinner once a week, mostly Sunday. If he's up to it, maybe one easy dessert during the week. I got hubby hooked on bread making and now little man cooking, think I am ready to retire! LOL Pat, I guess the Xpress is sort of like a grill with much less capacity. We like it because it's small and very portable, just about the right size for a 7-year-old to handle. Karen, thanks for the link again. We have it bookmarked and have been checking it from time to time. We haven't tried out any of their recipes yet but I am sure we soon will. Rusty, I believe you're right about soda crackers = saltine crackers. Here in Canada (at least the part where we live) soda cracker is an ethnic food that has a different look and taste. They are bigger, fluffier and have no salt on the surface. The recipe definitely calls for saltine crackers because when little man finished crushing the crumbs, it turned out just the right amount. If we had used the "soda crackers" found in the Asian store, we would end up having way too much crumbs. Chase, I noticed the difference too! LOL Thanks again everyone. Your comments definitely reassure his positive experience at first attempt. I greatly appreciate it.