What a gorgeous bloom! Thanks for sharing your picture. Is your plant full and rounded, or is it more upright? I'm trying to get an idea of what the entire plant looks like also. It's tough to find a full picture. I can see why though. With blooms like that I don't think I could focus on anything else either!

Yea, the bromeliads weren't red when I added them, at least not THAT red. I'm happy with how they've turned out though. The only things not really liking it are a couple of the orchids (mainly the Oncidium flexuosum...the roots are running wild, but the leaves aren't doing great) and the moss from when I moved the tank, though that's recovering quickly. As far as them breeding, that's what I'm hoping for. Leaving the parents to do their thing is the best way to do it, because there still is not much success when it comes to raising egg-feeders on artificial foods. Time will tell though.

Yep. IKEA is saving us money all over the place ;) With the cabs, counters and install of both, it is coming to under $10k. The cheapest cab estimate without installation was $17k elsewhere and we had a high of $35k. I think I got 5 prices all together. We are going with white slab front cabs, so it is not like I have a color or design issue to force me to one line or another. I just called the Corian/Dupont people and was assured that the brown will never show at the top. I guess something about it makes it show up on the back side. As for the flecks, the lady sounded surprised that I saw them in our sample so prominently. I want to go back to IKEA to see if they were as big or is it because it is on such a small size that they are more noticable. I will try to post pics of our sample later on. I am not super talented at drawing or playing an instrument, but I sure can find a deal or bargain. I do put the effort in to do so, but it is a well honed skill by now that comes naturally. We live way better than we would if I did not have this "talent", lol. Our kitchen is part of a renovation and extension so I don't have hard numbers on kitchen alone, but the materials so far are: Cabs, counters and install - IKEA with tax, approx $10k (btw - no tax on the counters through IKEA since they install those themselves) Appliances - separate Whirlpool fridge and freezer set , 30" wide each, $2k total (a few dollars under with purchase and shipping), bought for new kitchen 3 years ago and using in our garage for now Chambers Stove - $600 plus gas/tolls to pick up in NJ Monogram wall oven - CL, brand new, for $700 plus $50 to have electrician test it, just in case DW - Bosch, top of line model bought at PC Richard scratch and dent outlet $325 plus tax and $70 to Bosch for new kickplate, cutlery basket and manual Vent - island chimney style $1,000 (a few dollars less, inc tax) at Sears scratch and dent, forget the brand but I know it retailed for $2,400 3 years ago, stored in our garage since buying Sink - Kohler with built in sideboard and backsplash, from 1940, on freecycle - FREE, like new condition from someone's bsmt Faucet - wall mount, chrome, Chicago $150 (forget exact number) Floor - Marmoleum - to be determined, approx $3k for kitchen part BS - still working on - approx $500 (our biggest "splurge") handles and knobs approx $100, ebay, 2 sources, the majority are brand new vintage in original packages Vertex bottless water cooler/instant hot approx $500 Paper towel/foil/wax paper holder, vintage, wall mount, ebay, $30 canister set - chrome, vintage, ebay $20 Decorative white board for family messages - Walmart $14 plus tax total so far: just over $19k plus hook ups (not sure if we should count the new construction part, i.e. walls, ceiling, skylights and floors being built in our total number). The kitchen is being moved and extended. It is an L shape and fairly good sized, approx 11 x 5 and 16 x 9.

That's a fun comparison: Earth Angel vs. Alnwick Castle. I have both of them also, growing across the path from each other. The similarities: They both can have cupped flowers, they both have good fragrance, and they are both upright growers that don't get much disease. The differences, whether good or bad are up to you: Flowers first. Earth Angel has mostly white flowers with a pale pink center. They are extremely susceptible to thrips damage. They remain cupped in the heat. In my garden they grow in tight clusters. They require deadheading. Alnwick Castle has pastel pink flowers solid color all the way through that are non-fading. They don't show thrips damage. They open up in the heat, showing a frilly center. They grow in looser clusters. They drop their petals when the flowers fade. AC's flowers tend to nod slightly with first flush. EA's flowers are upright. Flower size is about the same in each, about 2-1/2" in my garden. EA's flowers last 4-5 days on the bush, AC's flowers last 2-3 days. They both grow and bloom in the heat. Taken today after a month or more of temps in the 90's and humidity ranging from the single digits to 30's. Earth Angel today: Thrips! I think my Earth Angel looks best like this (first flush): Alnwick Castle today: It can open up in the heat and become more coral: I think it looks best like this (first flush): Fragrance: Earth Angel's first blooms for me smelled like a wet dog, but now has very sweetly scented flowers. It's a clean fragrance now. Alnwick Castle smells like rasberry sorbet, and at times there is a woody element to it, like cedar. There are more mid-tones and low tones in comparison to Earth Angel's mostly high notes. Both are fragrant most of the day. AC's fragrance seems stronger to me and wafts. EA's fragrance doesn't waft for me. Plant habit: both are upright growers. Thorns on both are moderate. Thorns on EA are smaller. Vigor: EA required quite a bit of pampering in my garden to get it to grow, but most people say EA is extremely vigorous. AC is quite vigorous in my garden without pampering. Productivity: EA is too young for me to say, others have described it as prolific. AC is not what you would call a prolific bloomer, but also not particularly stingy. Personally, I would replace AC if I lost it. I'm not so sure about EA.