thanks, y'all. good to be remembered. to anwer your question, v1, no I didn't host a swap- It was early in the season and I wanted to plant some perenniels and had no seeds, so I asked if anyone had any extra - well someone sent me a LOT! I don't really do that much WS'ing, just about 20 containers, ... um...ok, maybe 30 or 35 :) so i re-packed and sent off the extra seeds, but the ones I kept were things I would never have tried, and it was exciting- so if anyone else is stodgy like me and keeps to the tried and true, go ahead - experiment! thanks for the link to post pics. Mine are from the "old-fashioned" 35mm, not digital. I have them on a CD, it is not hard to post them, I just have to have my friend guide me thru it. Not to worry I'll get them up. thanks, y'all,be well.

bsntech - They never check the nitrogen levels in soil tests, because it is the only 1 out of the 3 major nutrients that leaches away. In other words, it's typically the only one that you have to add every year. The others ( phosphorous and potassium )stay in the soil. EG

Myredhouse, Thanks for the suggestion. I tried to find photos of Stone House and some that I found looked great and others looked little darker than what I'm looking for. I'll keep this on my list for when I paint samples. Deltabreeze, Thanks for the advice. I like Light Terracotta but am not sure I'm brave enough. I have to admit that I'm a little afraid (actually, make that "very afraid"- lol) of color on the walls, especially when the area is small and there's not much light. I purchased from Ellen before and she is such a pleasure to deal with and very helpful. Actually, I just asked for her suggestions and am waiting to hear back from her. My guess is that she will also suggest Light Terracotta. lol I was just browsing the kitchen section and came across Redroze's kitchen. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg030117443299.html I know the current decor style (if you can even call it that-lol) in the condo does not compare in any way, shape or form but I love everything about her kitchen and living area and was wondering if the paint colors would work in my space - BM Chantilly Lace on the cabinets and Natural Cream on the walls. When it comes to paint colors I get so confused and normally just stick to shades of white. Maybe by the time I get around to actually renovating and buying furniture, I'll be a little braver . lol

Hi Bev and Dee, Thankyou for your input. I love the term 'shrubette' - never heard it before, and if this water idea fails I'll go out and buy some pantyhose and try it! I hope I'm forgiven for bringing up the subject of propagation on this forum, perhaps a bit off subject, but the only propagation forum I know of is based in US and they sometimes use strange terms that I can't understand! Well, Dee, the cuttings are looking healthy in the water, and yesterday a friend told me her mother went to change some flowers and water at Gran's graveside, only to find all the hibiscus stems had taken root in the water since she was last there, so she took them home and planted them in ordinary old soil from the garden, and they're thriving. Acting on that, I went out yesterday and took some hibiscus cuttings and put them in with the snowball cuttings, plus a few lantana Calypso cuttings, and a couple of Yesterday Today and Tomorrow's, so I'll let you know what eventuates. If and when they do take root, I'll dip the ends of them all in pure (no glucose added) honey, as I did this with a load of pellie cuttings last Tues., and they've nearly all developed strong roots, so that might be the answer. Apparently the honey provides food for the cuttings. Another little hint of mine (I'm probably completely wrong, but have a lot of success) is to take a cutting when in bud or flower. I like to believe that this gives the cuttings incentive to keep on growing or something. My only real bugbears to get going (besides the snowballs) are YTT (Brunsfelsia), diosma, pittosterum(sp), magnolia, the tassel-bush (Garrya?) and the fringe-flower. Oh, and the Pyramid Tree. I've a huge one down the back corner, have tried cuttings in every season and even planted some of its horrible, itchy seeds, to no avail. Any hints/suggestions will be very much appreciated. Cheers, Venice