Hey poisondartfrog, Thank-you so much for the follow-up. I've taken starts like this before on some of my other house plants, and when I've broken plants outdoors or wanted a start and couldn't get one. My landlord cut back a lilac bush clear to the ground a couple years ago; I was in shock. It was the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, cut to the ground. (Shaking my head in disbelief.) Since all the starts are coming from the very large roots, it's hard to find a start. What I did was broke of pieces and took them inside to a vase of water. I've done this with many plants. I am going to try your method with my best plant this year into some perlite. Wish me luck! It's nice to finally know how to get starts from them; they are one of my very favorites and I would just love to keep the original. I'll try to remember to let you know how it goes. (I'll be honest. : ) ) Again, thank-you and Happy Gardening! Brenda

Oh my goodness I thought I died and went to heaven looking at all your WONDERFUL photos. And to think you said your only there 6 months out of the year??? I just don't know how you do it. I can't stay on top of my things and I'm here all year long. I loved EVERYTHING and felt like I was in the tropics somewhere on an island. I have been trying to get some different starts of bromelaids to go in my huge oak trees here in East Texas. I got lots of neat ideals from looking at how you had done your place. All I can say is it was very relaxing and I wouldn't change anything. Do you use the torches in the gardens or are they there for looks? Oh one more thing I enjoyed was the little group of Rare Exotic Birds you had. I love all the suprises tucked in here and there to add interest at every corner. Now I've just got to find me one of those HUGE Elephant Ears like you have. I have about 5 or 6 different kind but I do not have any near that large. What do you feed your Elephant Ears and how often? Thanks for sharing all your wonderful photos and ideals with us. I've never seen those verigated impatients before and I just loved them too. I think they would be beautiful even when they are not blooming. I'll have to try to find some of them to plant around here next year. I now have alot of trading I've got to do to get starts of some of the plants like you have. Happy Gardening and thanks again, Marian

Thanks for responding. I'm excited to see what color blooms also. I still think it's really strange that it came up variegated since I've never seen one before. By the way, I checked out your website the other day and was absolutely blown away....Some of the blooms look just like orchids to me. You really have an awesome collection, and I love the informative website.

Your lobelia is doing well and the single imps are doing well but your doubles aren't? Impatiens can actually stand some sun. I have found doubles to be a lot more difficult than the singles. They will drop blooms and blossoms readily with any change in environment. 90 degree weather is tough on impatiens as well. If the lobelia, singles and doubles are in the same pot and the lobelia and singles are doing well then I would just keep doing what your doing. Doubles are a lot more difficult - it may be too damp for them... Every year I get pulled into the doubles because they have a beautiful varigated double bloom imp I can't resist - but it never does as well as the singles. I notice you posted this a while ago - what have you done and what have they been doing since?