OK, I know this is going to sound x-rated, but I would really LOVE to have some of your hairy balls. :) Also, the sunset hibiscus and any other hibiscus you might have. From your list of wants, I have whirligig zinnia and there may be other items on my list that would interest you. Thanks Michelle

Thank you for the photos, Michael. I agree with nickelsmum, it's looking very bare. As one of California's fourteeners, Shasta is on my list to hike. Surprisingly, it's actually more dangerous without the snow, because the rocks become unstable. If you do the hike, spend a night or two at elevation beforehand to get acclimated. Mt. Lassen is a very easy hike because you can drive most of the way up, and the peak elevation is much lower, 10,451ft. It's also quite a fascinating area because of all the steaming pools and hot bubbling mud pots. Well worth a trip! I'm glad you are enjoying yourself so much in northern California, Michael, seems like you have a new adventure every other week.

Tequila Sunrise and Pretty-N-Pink are maybe in the process of being registered. Still Ten English pounds is a lot of moular to some (and me). Tequila Sunrise is lovely. Pretty-N-Pink has a minor fault only visible to Tolumnia purists. Had a look at Orchidom previously and was impressed. Closer to home and you do not have to worry so much about the guardians of the gates. You might have to be careful with âÂÂclonesâÂÂ, are they talking about Mericlones which are usually more expensive than seedlings. The other big advantage is growing conditions. The Caribbean is probably Tolumnia Heaven. Three clones of Tolu. Alyshia showing the variation you sometimes get from the one compot of seedlings which in this case means produced from seed. The crossing is Shannon Elizabeth x Sizzler. Sizzler was registered by Robert Perreira. Tracking the ancestors of a cross will usually find an ancestor registered by Perreira or Moir. Thank you gentlemen! This post was edited by arthurm on Mon, Jun 30, 14 at 15:32

Thanks again David! Yes, these were planted one weekend ago. It sure has been windy here but they are fairly well protected by fences and houses and such. Your hypothesis makes a lot of sense though (especially after my answers to Skybird's questions below). I really appreciate your help :). Skybird, here we go: Pots were about 6 inches in diameter, 7 inches tall. Plants are about 7-8 inches tall, no flowers. I just went and looked at them now (11:15 pm). There are three. All have perked up some. The one in the middle looks normal and happy, and looked the best throughout the day. The two on the ends looked pretty terrible today, have perked up some tonight, but are still pretty "soft" and not very happy looking...not firm like the middle one. I planted them last Sunday and watered them that evening, then I watered them again Wednesday evening after our mini run off hot days...and after they were starting to look like they were struggling a bit. No, I haven't been watering them everytime they looked wilted. They started looking a little wilted on Monday (maybe even Sunday afternoon after planting) but I rode it out until Wednesday, watered them then, but they have continued on a seemingly downward path. All I added to the soil was Clay Buster, which has some organic matter in it. My local garden shop advised not to add anything else if I was using Clay Buster. Everything else in my garden is doing fine....even the other newbies planted in the same general area. Yes, bought them all at the same place on the same day. The roots looked good but they were pretty compacted and starting to grow round the pot if I remember right. The weirdest part, as I touched on above, I planted three in a V shape pattern pretty close to the fence. They are about 2-2.5 feet apart. The one at the bottom of the V is doing pretty well overall...still wilting some but bouncing back. The two at the top of the V, and closest to the fence, are the ones that are struggling the most and not bouncing back as well. Soil contamination in those couple spots doesn't seem to make sense because I dug a pond three summers ago and built a little hill with the excess dirt, which was tilled and amended and mixed real good, and the neighboring plants are all doing fine..so far. Ahhhhh, the joys and perils of gardening! I don't know how you balance it so well! Thanks Skybird!