Joe's making a good point -- what focal length means has gotten a little confusing these days for the amateur photog with the advent of digital sensors in various sizes. Here's some more info: Focal length is the distance from the nodal point (center) of the lens to the film (sensor) when the lens is focused at infinity (the far horizon). Lenses come in three basic groups: short or wide angle, normal and long or telephoto. For any given camera the normal focal length lens is the diagonal of the film (sensor). 35mm film has a 46mm diagonal therefore the normal lens is 46mm (rounded up) 50mm. Focal length is related to angle of view which is likely what you're concerned about. Angle of view is a functon of focal length and the size of the film format. Simply put angle of view is how much the lens takes in. For what it's worth here's the math: Where V = angle of view, F = focal length, and N = length (width) of the negative: V = arctangent((N/2)/F)*2. Short lenses have a wide angle of view -- they take in more information. Long lenses have a narrow angle of view -- they take in considerably less information. Consider the two sunset photos below. The first was taken with a normal lens (45mm for 35mm film). The second was taken from the same camera location with a telephoto lens (135mm for 35mm film). Notice how the second sunset is just an enlargement of the central section of the first with most of the first photo cropped away. The photo below of the cross was taken with a wide angle lens (24mm for 35mm film). Notice how the shape of the cross appears distorted in the photo. The cross does not taper up yet in this photo the base appears larger than the top. This is because the camera is so very close to the cross. The human eye from the camera position would not be able to see the entire cross like this camera lens does. Standing there you would have to scan up and down the cross. Wide angle lenses (especially when used in close quarters) can show us aspects of the world our eyes do not show us and these photos can appear odd at times. Focal length is related to perspective. Perspective is a function of where you put the camera. Camera placement determines the apparent 3D relationship of objects in your photo. If you place yourself close to the objects in your photo the 3D space between them will appear emphasized and even exaggerated (common with wide angle lenses). If you place yourself far from the objects in your photo the 3D space between them will appear de-emphasized and even suppressed (common with telephoto lenses). This begs the question: Is there a correct focal length that will show viewers of my photos the scene the way it looked to me when I was there taking the picture? Yes there is; for a 35mm film camera that lens focal length would be 75/80mm. If that was all too esoteric and you're still with me here's a few tips for how to best use the different types of lenses. Short: expansive landscapes, tight places, buidlings and architecture, crowds and street photography. Normal: snapshots, family and friends. Long: isolate distance subject, wildlife, sports, fashion portraits. Joe

Annab - I am sorry to say this, but my old kitchen's mirrored backsplash was the first thing I couldn't wait to rip out. I hope I haven't offended you, but the purpose of this forum is to share our experiences, and perhaps help people in their kitchen decisions. I strongly disliked the mirrored backsplash because (A) it only stayed clean-looking for about 1 minute. It's called a "backsplash" because, well, things splash on it, and the mirror shows, and reflects, every drop of spatter, grease, even water drops. (B) As Khat mentioned, and I will emphasize, the backsplash just became a reflection of everyone's torsoes. So every time you or family members walked around the kitchen, you saw torsoes. And because the torsoes weren't balanced by seeing the rest of the body, any, ahem, imperfection, was magnified. For small children, you just saw floating heads. (3) No offense, but my old kitchen was circa 1991 - it was my understanding that mirrored backsplashes were a late '80's-early '90's look. I know trends come and go and we shouldn't be a slave to them, but still I need to mention that the look can be considered by some to be dated. As you can tell, I didn't like my old mirrored backsplash, to such a degree that I felt compelled to tell you why. Sorry.

I've been at planning my kitchen forever, got to make a decision. Settled on this company as we are on a budget and they will give us the best price. Can't decide to go with glazed latte (hand brushed creamy white finish) or add a chocolate colour on top (in trim recesses). Would love to see a picture of a kitchen done in this finish, as I can't find any. Having a hard time imagining it, the door we are doing is called Allegra, if anyone has the same that would help.

Thanks Carol and SJN. Yes, it was getting very little sun, and I think it was TOO wet (if that's possible, because they love wet spots). My other one up on the hill doesn't get enough sun either, but it isn't dying back, so all I can think of is it was kept too wet. Neither have bloomed, so I definitely have to find a sunnier spot this year. My fall-blooming hibiscus (H. acetosella, H. radiatus) are doing great and I can't wait for them to bloom. Funny that it says they only go dormant in z8. That must be old info before they changed the zones, because my friend has one in Z9b (he sent me the seeds) and his goes dormant as well. Even when I was in Z10a, my perennial hibiscus went dormant in the winter, and some didn't come back if we had a freeze, but the Texas Star always did. I had it in z7a in SC, and it came back every year and bloomed like mad all summer long.