Me too, Foxwichya. I've tried to get Dyckia 'Toothy', but even I asked my friend to purchase from the Tropiflora's manager directly, he said they had only F2 or F3, so I got one F2 , it doesn't look as spiny as the original F1. I also got another F2 of 'Brittle Star' that crossed with 'Snaggle Tooth'..a nice spiny here. I have not much Hechtia, about 10 of specimen plants with a 10 No. of Hechtia sp. seedlings from a german seed dealer. These are now about two months old seedlings I mentioned. A charming one, Hechtia gluaca, that will turn red with gold in winter here. An unknown Hechtia which also enhancing its spines to be red when cool and drought. As you said, it's quite hard and hurt to separate the pups from Hechtia clumps. I found, some difficult to root pups will root better in pure perlite and some help of rooting hormone. The pups then should be water daily or every other day.

Cindy: When your SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS blooms, do post a pic. I've got that one too from Curt but it is not a star performer here yet. Debra: This many blooms this late has to be due to the amount of rain we got over the past month. I don't recall this much showing at this late date. Mantis: yes, earlier pics of GEECHEE were better but just shows how much a late opening with cool temps can do to a daylily. Celeste: I've admired your pics of COUSIN SUZANNE. The race is definitely on here too! Linda and Kay: I'm so thankful to get these blooms this late in the season. I'm always on the scape hunt because I just never know what will show itself. KIOWA SUNSET has always been a favorite of mine. It is registered as a EE but here, it doesn't start blooming till early July and the scapes are taller than 23" as registered. Well, the weather turned and we are already up at 60 degrees F here this morning. Rain, rain, rain so I guess that is why our temps moderated. Julia

I think it is a great orchid for a newbie. Seems very carefree and blooms for a long time.Nice light scent of honey. I've not had any pests problems so far. This orchid seems to really enjoy water, I soak mine every 2 days in just regular tap water. Give it decent lighting & some good air-movement. It's a wonderful orchid to grow - certainly in my top five orchids to grow. Tks ifraser -- certianly not as tricky as I thought. Regards G

Thanks again, everybody. Brickeyee, the silly think is, I *have* a caulking gun. I just don't have the inclination to do this. I'm thinking that if the main guy doesn't "get" what's wrong with it, then I may just say, "you have to 'make it right' by taking it OUT," and then I'll redo it. I'm running early tomorrow to buy tintable caulk at the paint store, and to try to find a really, really pale gray to tint it with. And andrelaplume2--you know what? I think my DH would have actually done a better job. oh, that thick coat in the corners of the tub? It's still squishy. We gave it about 30 hours to dry before we used the shower. And the shampoo bottle we set on the corner of the tub got pushed into the caulk and made a huge arc in the blob.