I'm probably one of the ones you read on HMF but here's my opinion. Snow Ruby has beautiful form. She won Mini Queen for me last June. Plant gets to about a foot tall with shiny dark green leaves. Some black spot but not too bad. This was it's second season for me and I'm hoping it will get a little bigger next year. It did die back nearly to the ground last winter. But that really won't be a problem for you.

I saw gorgeous Nematanthus Ubatuba in a back yard in Tampa area - this is a large leaf and generally large plant. Most of Nematanthus do have orange or pale orange flowers. There are some exotic red, white and greenish with dots blooming species - but they are harder to grow and not available in a general nursery sale. Nematanthus comes from South America - I bet it is not dry in Brazil ;-)), but my understanding - it is an understory plant - it grows under the trees and on the trees as epiphyte - so dappled light would be good. Aeschynanthus (lipstick plant) takes the same niche - but in tropical Asia - so requirements are similar. Aeschynathus flowers of the available in nurseries varieties are mostly red, one really easy and quite wide spread species A. longicaulis (marmoratus) has interesting green flowers and gorgeous marble backed leaves. Some time ago a Florida member of this forum posted a pic of a large and well grown specimen of this plant - and it was growing in a back yard. Very desirable A.hybrid is called "Black Pagoda". Regarding conventions - the local gesneriad and AV clubs usually run their shows once a year mostly in the same place. The larger conventions are done in different towns every year - because most of the work is done by the hosting club - and they take turns. You check gesneriadsociety.org and avsa.org on "events" - so you will know who runs what in your vicinity. I would say you are in luck if you have a club nearby you can join - this is usually a source of knowledge, cuttings and nice people to associate with. (Just do not use the words "lipstick" and "goldfish" - if you are dealing with gesneriad crowd - they like to use botanical names - even sometimes not very many people know how to pronounce it right - for me - the biggest issue is Kohleria warszewiczii - I grow this beautiful plant - but i cannot "voice" it.) Cheers Irina Here is a link that might be useful: hybrids and species of Nematanthus

John, here in Yankee Land, we have to want snow, because if we don't get any, it means drought next spring. The meltwater is what fills our reservoirs and aquifers. The temps are cold enough that the ground is frozen now. So, if we get rain (during those days that are above 32F), it won't soak in -- it will run off into storm gutters and into cellars and basements. Snow, on the other hand, sits on the ground, and when the temps thaw, so does the soil enough for the meltwater to seep in gently. Snow also insulates plants and hibernating creatures. Without snowcover, many are exposed to the freezing wind. So, we're not entirely wacky for wishing for snow here.

Hey Janis! Thanks for asking. It's funny, all I have been thinking of is what Nashvilleans says when it snows. At least we don't live in Atlanta and are getting ice! Looks like the tables are turned? Glad you didn't get it too bad. I posted how it all went on other posts. here's one