WOWOWOW. I knew I there was a reason that the hummel Jade is my favorite next to mine of course... I love it!!! Beautiful and BIG! Thank you for giving those of us hope who own nothing but a 5 inch Hummel, or smaller one, not to say a few leaves besides we are trying to root. I can only hope I am around long enough to see mine grow that big.. Mike

Mike Lee (Colvos Creek) has told me of a plant or planting of 'Howard' in a Seattle garden going back many years. A short time ago this cultivar was carried by more than one local garden center. While still in a 5 gallon pot it seems a reduced size version of the Arctostaphylos manzanita ('Dr. Hurd'?) with greenish leaves and dark bark that is here and there elsewhere in Seattle (if these are, in fact, all the same form). WESTERN GARDEN BOOK has 'Howard' rated Sunset 7 (Rogue Valley, Sierra Foothills) and 'Sunset' rated Sunset 6 (Willamette Valley) so whoever worked on that section apparently didn't think these would be tender up here, but rather would find the summer too cool. (If anything, Sunset 6 is consistently colder in winter than Sunset 5, with the Oregon portion of Sunset 7 at least not being too much different in this respect). I did see some 'Howard' at Emery's Garden loaded with that goofy earlike leaf gall, like you sometimes see on A. urva-ursi.

Well, I stumbled across this post and think I may have found the granite I've been looking for, so thanks for posting these photos last year! I'm also looking for a granite with the color/look of soapstone and really LOVE your countertop photos (and the whole kitchen)! If you are still checking this post, I'd love to know if you still love your honed / enhanced Virginia / Jet Mist granite counters? Are they easy to keep clean? Do you find the honed finish is susceptible to staining? I'm having a hard time finding a soapstone that is within my budget (it does not seem to be very popular in in my area - Southwest Virginia) and also the slabs are apparently smaller and I need something to cover a 36" deep peninsula without a seam down the middle. I have been worried that the Virginia Mist is too light in color but in these photos, your stone that was treated with enhancer appears dark gray / almost black, much like newly oiled soapstone. Is that how you would describe it? I know photos can sometimes be deceiving (based on available light/etc. so I wanted to ask you what color it "reads" in most normal light conditions -- would you describe it as more medium gray, dark dray, or black? Does the enhancer darken the stone permanently or do you have to reapply periodically? Do you re-seal your own counters or is it better to have the honed finish sealed professionally each year? Thanks for any additional info or advice you can provide!

Hi! Thank you Gill and Andy. I had a b&q trip and made the mix you suggested Gill. The roots looked ok to me (white and dry) and they'd grown a lot since I last re-potted it - so I think that's positive. If it would be better out of the heat during our 'heat wave' (hottest day in 9years!? Apparently) I'll pop it in one of the other rooms for a while. I did read the link you sent Andy, very interesting and informative. I admit I never even thought about air availability in the soil! Bought a good quality potting mix instead of the cactus mix. Thanks again. I'll let you know if it's improved in a week or so! *fingers crossed*