Since you guys are enjoying them, here are a few more. My DH isn't so crazy about the b/w instead of color, but I really love it, it's different than my "usual" zoo pics. But he really liked this fish which I have no clue as to what it is, haha, we'd call it a "gar". My focal point is off here, it's on the back of it's head rather than the rise of it's eyes. I faded the color on this one and darkened it around the edges so your eye would be drawn more to the bird. I liked it but I'm not sure of it. What do you think? And finally, my "artsy" photo of a rhino rear. (HAHA!) Thanks for looking! Sis

It is a matter of degree, as to whether the cut off top is even worth rerooting, as it will need to sit much closer to the artificial light source, or will just continue to grow etiolated. I'm not sure if an indoor grown Echeveria will have the same capacity/inclination to bud out again from side shoots, they will certainly do so outdoors with better light. An indoor stem may not be so inclined. Echeveria can often be difficult to grow well indoors in winter, they really need very bright light to not get etiolated, and I find that most will act the same even in a south facing greenhouse type window, which is about as much light as one can get in winter. Can you raise a supporting shelf under your lights so that the Echeveria is just inches away from the light? That would help with keeping the new growth tighter. If you do cut off the head, try also placing the pot with old stem closer to the light as well, maybe it will bud out with lots of new side shoots. With my outdoor Echeverias here in northern California, I usually de-head my plants about March, with the best regrowth of new baby shoots on the old stem. This is pretty much standard practice for larger/taller growing Echeveria's such as E. gibbiflora.

Definitely a roseate spoonbill. Their color can change from a pale pink to a bright pink depending on the amount of Crustaceans that they consume. I see them down here all the time, and it's amazing how the colors can vary amongst the bird.

gdinie....Red Tailed Hawk is a vigorous plant in my garden. Very tall and showy and I've had no problems with it at all. Brad, you chose some good ones for your faves. Robin's Tuition was actually sent to me as a bonus with an order a few years ago, and it is a better garden plant than any of the daylilies I had in that order...lol. It starts here early and is well scaped and budded so it blooms for a long time. The plant is healthy and always puts on a show each year. One of the best performers in my gardens. When I took the photo of it above it had been blooming for several weeks. My other 'star' is Royal Trophy. The blooms are quite large at 7 inches+ and striking from a distance with that deep purple hue. This is another great performer and one that will always have a place in my garden.