I am so glad that it got there okay and that you like it. The tibouchina grandiflora (Princess Flower) will have large round leaves (up to 9 inches) that are have silvery fur on both sides. It has the same purple flowers as the regular Princess Flower and same growing requirements. Yours will look like the one in this photo. They are frost tender. http://centralfloridagarden.com/favorites/tibouchina.html The Strictocardia (Hawiian Bell Vine) is a vigorous grower and makes pretty hot pink flowers with a yellow center, my mother plant has buds on it right now, so it likes to bloom the most in the fall but sometimes will bloom sporadically the rest of the year. They will need protection if it freezes. I would prob. wait till spring to plant in them in the ground. They will both need afternoon shade in TX. The raccon village figurine is from my dd. She saw them and wanted to get it for you and bought it with her own $ lol! She thought they were so cute. Then I had to also get her a redneck xmas cd because she wanted one too when she saw yours LOL! I plant those pink and white sweet potato vines under the brugs for ground cover. They look especially good with pink and white brugs and will climb up the trunks with a little coaxing. They are frost tender so I usually bring in a few cuttings in the winter to keep them from dying out. ~Lenette Here is a link that might be useful: Stictocardia beraviensis

first pic.. i was fixating on the leaning tree.. didnt even see the fallen one.. i am about 15 miles north of the MI border ... around midnight.. it sounded like a train roaring over the house for an hour .... no damage here though.. that i have found anyway ... do you think the near 60 degree [completely abnormal] heat wave the few days before complicated the plants in pots?? ken ken

I found this post by accident and couldn't stop laughing. What a relief to know that I am not the only member of the "wrong car club". I'm not even the only member of the "loading groceries in the wrong car" club, LOL. My husband is always pleading with me to please be more aware of my surroundings. My daughter and I loaded a weeks worth of groceries in someone else's car one time. I got into the drivers side and she got into the passenger seat and buckled up. We were both into our conversation so much we didn't notice someone elses fast food bags and jumper cables in "our" car. It hit us both at the same time ...mid sentence. We grabbed our groceries as quick as possible and ran.Unfortunately, in our hurry, we left our toilet paper in the back seat of the car. I've always wondered what the real owner of the car must have thought when he found an unopened package of toilet paper in his back seat.

Saw the pup Thursday night. DS/DIL were at work and we went to their house to wait for them so we could go out to eat. Oski was in his playpen and so glad to see us. I took him out for a walk. He really doesn't like to walk away from the house, stops and looks, has to be tugged along. When we turn around he tries to run back. Still is very mouthy and the house training is slow. He is one strong-willed, energetic pup, worn out at night. Yes, he eats things in the yard as well but I don't think he has thrown up yet. I guess you really have to watch things in the yard since Elliot likes to eat things. Toadstools, etc. Sorry for the throw-up mess and hope he recovered quickly. The vet told us that dogs don't learn from eating bad stuff in the yard; they'll do it again Oski had his operation. First trip to the groomer today (they'll probably put a surcharge because he won't hold still). He's growing; I notice it when I pick him up, bigger around the tummy. He's a lot of fun and thanks for asking. I guess I can hijack this thread since I started it! At the park. He approached another big dog who snarled him away. He took off but continued running around unfazed. He's such a happy little dog. This is probably 10 times more information than you want, but it's all I have for a grandchild! LOL!