I have one called Warm Welcome I got from Thomas for Roses. So far, it would fit nicely on your trellis, though it may not be your colour as it is orange-red. I just looked at Thomas' catalogue and counted a number of others listed as mini climbers- Telford's Promise (coppery salmon), Softie (creamy white), Rosalie Coral (bright flame), Pink Cameo (rose pink), Little Girl (orange pink), Laura Ford (yellow)....as you can see I have been working my way backwards through the alphabet; there are heaps more one could list. You can get a catalogue by emailing: thomashg@chariot.net.au.

Some great feedback in this thread - I only wish the GA people would read it ... OK, on to my crazy ideas re gardening and the media: 1. I believe that the time has well and truly come for a 'Tropical Gardener' magazine, covering the area from Coffs Harbour north. Apologies to Dee and the rest of the Southern contingent, but many of us live in areas which couldnt be *further* from the English ideal in terms of climate. Even within the area I've prescribed, there are huge variations in climate - the temperate New England climate vs the Sunshine Coast's mild abundance - but the majority of the region will support plants from the subtropics. What do others think ? 2. Les Hiddins has been absent from our lounge rooms for far too long. I know that he shuns the spotlight, but I think he has a lot more charisma than DB and his delivery is priceless. How about a 12-episode series which puts Les into a slightly different setting (everything from rainforests to suburuban gardens), documenting the many positives that natives offer in the noughties, for gardeners, conservationists and survivalists. 'Bush Tucker Man' was a great series, but it had a limited focus, IMO - I want to see entire native gardens, listen to their owners talk about the wildlife that they attract and hear Les recount the natural history of an area in his inimitable way. OK, enough of my fantasies - as DB found out, there is a lot more to putting a TV show to air than having an idea. I do believe that 'Tropical Gardener' would sell like hotcakes, both in Oz and overseas.

Hi Donna, Joey, Fred and Carl ( and everyone else ), Stella Lace came my way early this year as a mislabel from a very generous gardening friend of mine. Not the one I expected when it came to flowering, but most welcome. No seed was set this time round for me, but I have read of one other gardener having no trouble with seed production from this variety, but she didn't mention if the resultant plants looked anything like their parent. I will be happy to send over any self-seed or pollen produced on the next flowering- although I think seed would be the safer of the two. The plant looks healthy and happy enough, but I haven't had it for all that long, and I would hate to send any unknown problems along with the pollen. As for the other varieties- if seeds matures next year from the ones you like, you are welcome to it. I have more than I can possibly use. The Maguire's are very strong pod producing plants and germinate well ( except for 'Nana Parnell' and 'Margie Bruton'...I haven't had any luck with them so far ) . Maybe I could try sending seed over to a few of you ( if it manages to get through ) and you could distribute it among yourselves once over there? I know, Fred, had his eye on one or two of them :) Joey- I will look after that spotted one a little better, and try for seeds for you next October/November. Let me know what others you are interested in. Thank you for your generous offer- I'll keep an eye out for your blooms ( you never know! ), but to tell the truth, I think I have already over-done it here! The above is not a complete list! And then there are all the seedlings coming on! I really will have to do some culling over the next year or so.....but which are the ones that should go? Not a decision I can easily make!! The seedling table! These three pots are last year's seedlings. They grow quickly here, and it's easy to be over-run with hippeastrums in a very short time ( happy thought! ). Julie

Also is it illegal to grow small aloe vera in pots hung on a fence?