Oh my gosh... I have been looking for adeniums and aloe pink blush both. I have the hippeastrum, naked lady...or sneak lilies as they are often called. I can trade many to make a very nice clump in your yard. Email me if interested, Chris

I would like to know what is included in the "more" AND what island you are on. I am working with native plants on Oahu but get to the big island frequently. John

Hazel, I am following the progress of your protea seeds with great interest. They are fascinating plants. When did you plant them? You sound as though you have been very careful in looking for signs of growth, so I'm sure no harm was done....I have a tendancy to do the same with seeds!! D/D No2 is off to South Africa in Oct to visit boyfriends family, hopefully she can bring some packets of seeds back for me to experiment with. Had email back from DEFRA with info on what is and isn't allowed into UK, so will print it off to take with her... she doesn't know yet! Ha! Did you go to the Gardeners World do at the NEC this year? Almost got tickets ourselves, glad we didnt though with me having the accident, would never have made it. How are your plumies doing? Celadine is so slow in leafing out, but the 4 seedlings are doing well. Keep us posted on the proteas? Regards, Gill.

Hazel, so pleased to hear the protea is still alive and kicking. Pity about the rest of the seeds having rotted, same thing happened with my Desert Roses, I am left with just the one now and its doing fine, so fingers crossed for us both eh? Why do we try to grow stuff that is clearly not native to our area? It's such fun having these challenges and gives us that bit of 'street cred' I guess! lol!! What with my plumies, Canary palms, Desert Rose, Mango Dragon Trees, vicious aloes that stab me and draw blood on an almost daily basis, my 5ft strelitzia (which is pushing out 6&7th leaf so far this year but no sign of those elusive flowers) I am fast running out of room! Oh, almost forgot, my Hoya from my Ozzie Aunt is in bud too! Needless to say I have emailed DEFRA and am awaiting their reply as to if daughter No2 can bring me some packets of seeds back from South Africa in Nov or not. If she can, I would be more than happy to mail you some....interested?? (You can mail me at gms53@aol.com) Regards, Gill. PS think you may like the little character below!!!