Yes, I have the whole thing written out - I think it's about 33 pages. The only parts that are still in progress are the P&L, Cash Flow, etc. I hear that I won't really have to *argue* for a grant -- most people say if my business plan looks good, it's clear I have a head on my shoulders, I'll get a grant. They are required to do something, and so far they haven't done anything in 4 years I've been on the program. I had to dispute the sudden (undisclosed) closing of my case! Apparently my old handler was leaving due to illness and she closed a bunch of files w/o getting the clients to sign off on the idea, so when I went to submit the Plan they said "you're no longer a client here, your case was closed in May" !!! So I went to the director and let him know that was not acceptable, since I was not notified, did not sign off, and didn't know it was closed. I continued working w/ the sba and submitting various papers since May (proof that I did not know it was closed) They contacted me Friday to let me know that my case was closed wrongfully, and it is now open again, so there's nothing in the way of submitting the Plan except my own concerns, which I am working hard to address. I have a physician's appt. to work on a solution to the latest bad test response. I don't want to start something that I have to stop in a few months because of my health! :)

It looks a lot like L. pycnostachya, I've got a small patch started from seed several years ago. You will know when it flowers, since pycnostachya is a spikey kind, and ligulistylis is a button type. L. pycnostachya is gorgeous in a mass, but it's quite floppy for me - not sure if it's growing in the best place or not. Is yours in a wet or dry spot?

Hey Ryan...Did any succulents follow you home? lol. How many varieties did they have? See anything unusual? New and exciting? A few yrs ago, we went to a local nursery..when you enter the greenhouse, there's 3 huge rooms filled w/succulents.. One plant that caught my attention was a 6+' variegated Pony Tail. It's leaves were green with yellow speckles. The owner, Ted, is a really nice guy and possesses quite a sense of humor. I asked about the pony tail, and its price..he came back with, 'Can you take a second mortgage on your house?' lol..The PT was started from seed in the 1940's..Several nurserymen have practically begged him to sell, but he refuses. Little baby PT's were growing off the trunk. The problem is, no matter what they do, the shoots die. I wanted to ask if he'd sell a shoot, but didn't have the nerve. lol The PT was the most beautiful I'd ever laid eyes on. Got a new plant in the mail today, even though it hasn't quite been 3 months, lol..It's called a Pickle Plant..I think its botanical name is Othonna capensis..Unsure about spelling.. If you or anyone has info on this succulent, I'd appreciate it. Anyway, sounds like you had a productive day. I hope you found something nice..if so, please post pics.. Mind if I ask what floor your're on? The view sounds amazing. Mountains are so beautiful, and you're right, each have their own personality. Especially during different seasons. I emailed the nurseryowner where I bought my olive tree. Hope he remembers..Think he sold one type, so he should. Are you saying there are some olives with large leaves and other with small? What size are we talking? Never considered an olive bonsai. Do they need a cool period? Do you consider olives slow-growing? Seems like mine is taking forever to grow..Don't get me wrong, it's grown since its arrival, but slow, very slow. Now that you've brought up bonsai, lol, since I have no intention of purchasing another olive, how difficult or perhaps easy would cuttings do? Any ideas? Russian Olive..isn't RO a perrenial? I can't recall its family..I had a RO growing in the garden, its stems and leaves had a silver hue. Very pretty, but you're right, it's not an olive that bears fruit. I'm thinking it's an herb, but not sure..perhaps Sage? Yep, Olives are mentioned in the Bible, though I can't recall their significance. Gotta love Olive Oil..Wonder why it's much more expensive than veggie or corn oil. I doubt there's an olive strike. lol. Did you catch the election? Our future president offered Olive branches to those who didn't vote for him. Guess it was a gesture of peace. Here's pics of my new Pickle plant, and new succulent shelf..The shelf is a blessing, it holds numerous sux. 8:55pm, 33.3F, 52% humidity... Toni Pic one faces south and west, pic two faces west and north. Have a great day.. PS. Ryan, thanks so much for the weather site..I saved it to favorites..

Happy Sunday.. The weather is perfect..high 90's, 95% humidity, breezy, and the sun is shining.. Plants are in heaven..:) So, am I... Consentida..You're welcome.. I too need to repot my tree Gardenia. The problem is, I want to use a bigger, plastic growing pot..nothing fancy. Got to look for one..never toss pots..whenever we buy a perrenial that comes in large container, I save them. Large, growing pots are expensive. Especially 12" and up. My gardenias are potted in a combo of soil and soil-less mediums..since gardenias prefer acidic soil, Peat or Spaghnum Peat is added..Black, rich house plant soil, too. When HD sold decent sand like Mike's talking about, it too was added..the finish is Perlite and small stones. I think that's it..After repotting, soil gets a hearty drink with a few drops of Superthrive. Con, regarding hoyas, do you know its type and what size pot it's in? Hoyas start flowering when roots fill container..light is important. Some people grow hoyas under artificial light, but lights must be on 14+ hours per day.. People on the Hoya forum have beautiful specimens..Wow. They fertilize quite often..Years ago, when I got 'hooked' on plants, I read, slow-growing plants should get little fertilizer. 2-3 times per year. Hoyas are slow-growing, so, they'd get little fertilizer..after talking to ppl on the hoya forum, I learned they fertilize every other week, etc, and their hoyas are just gorgeous. If you feel your hoya is overpotted, perhaps you should downsize its container??? Mike, it's tempting, but an 800? mile drive is a bit far..lol...Although, I always wanted to visit the east, especially New England states..it's impossible going anywhere, no vacations, not with the pets..2 dogs, 4 birds and an iguana..lol.. The last time we left IL was for a funeral. I had a friend come over to feed the birds, (we didnt have the iguana) and at the time we had one dog..we put the dog in a kennel which ended up turning into a disaster. Umm, chocolate-scented-flowers..I had a chocolate scented Geranuium..it smelled delicious..lol. I've never seen pics of your hoya..What type do you have? I got to get outside and snap pics..plus repot fand fert a few more plants..I'll get to it soon..gotta eat something first, my last meal was yesterday..lol Cereal and a banana..ummm..lol. Ponderosas are the prettiest. A local conservatory has a huge, tree-shaped Ponderosa..The first time seeing it, I thought the fruits were grapefruits..the lemons are huge. It's different growing citrus in a green house year round, opposed to a house. I think, not sure, theirs is planted in dirt, not a container..We used to visit the conservatory several times a year..Despite the season, their Ponderosa was in bloom and fruiting. After seeing their tree for the first time, the following day, I contacted Briteleaf Nursery and ordered a ponderosa..lol. Mike do you bring all plants outside? Does your house look empty? lol..it's so easy buying plants when a room is barren..then come fall, one thinks, where did this and that plant go??? lol. Happy Sunday..hope you're weather is beautiful..Toni