I'm sorry to anyone reading this but the above photos are no longer visible because of iVillage imposing new Terms of Service regarding copyrights of photos. I refuse to let them benefit from my hard work and hard earned money. You can click the link above to get to my homepage or the link below to go directly to my photo galleries. Please email me if you have any questions as I doubt I will be spending much time here in the future. Thank you, Trish Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.greenfreak.net/greengallery/

If you google canna virus you should get quite a few hits on mosaic and the other name(s) escape me at the moment. It would appear that the virus is transmitted by aphids and gardening tools that are not cleaned properly. It is highly unlikely that the virus can live in the soil. What is really intriquing is that it is now believed that the virus' have been present for decades but only recently recognized. It is purported that healthy soil, the equivilent of at least one inch of rain per week, proper soil temperatures, and excellent exposure to sunlight will mitigate the effects of the virus'. Mr. Bernard Yorke of Australia is also experimenting with a product called Seasol(?) that appears to lessen and overcome the effects of the virus'. There is no known cure.

I've never had a problem with too much moisture over winter. I think I mentioned in your post about the banana trees..using the leaves there. We have one large tropical bed which some of the cannas grow in. When we cut the banana trees down, all the leaves are left on that bed thru the winter. We have papyrus, brusmania, elephant ears and banana trees planted together. Whatever gets cut off goes on that bed. If I don't have enough to cover, I will add pine needles or most anything that is taken off the plants that we move into the greenhouse for the cold months. I used to cover the brugs with a tub, thinking that might be too much moisture..not any more and they have been fine.

No, this isn't my first winter up here. I grew up in the Rochester area, and moved away five years ago, for Florida. I lived in Tampa for two years and loved the beaches there! I then moved over to the East Coast for the last three years. I lived in Palm Bay. I have to get used to this 50 degree weather DURING THE DAY! This was the weather that we might have in February at night! So why am I moving here? My family all live here and I really wanted to get back to a more natural cycle than Florida offered. I guess you can't take the New York out of me! So now I can learn to snowshoe near Lake Ontario, sample wine in the Finger Lakes, and see all of the fall foliage at Letchworth! In my Florida garden I had a beautiful Bismark palm, several foxtails, bottle, spindle, triangle, queen and teddy bear! I will have to try a needle palm here when I'm more settled as I adore the palms. Isn't there a book out on "Crape Myrtles Won't Grow Here--and other myths"?? I think I have to get this one! DGordon...let us know about your crape myrtle here! At least they offer more year round interest than the powdery-mildew prone lilacs. It's sad to say, but I'm not impressed with the look of the lilac plants this year. What variety did you buy? Christinpalm...I will have to look up that sabal palm in my books! I just think, even if it's a slow-growing palm and not a twenty foot tree, it will be interesting to have that in the garden here! Thanks guys Mark