It is hard to tell from that picture since there isn't much for scale, but that looks like a pretty hefty Brighamia! Great present! I've only had mine for a few months now, but it just started putting out a flush of leaves after a really full set of blooms. In habitat, they grow all year, flowering in winter. If you can provide them with warmth, you can grow them all year in your collection too. I brought mine inside after the first round of rain last week. I don't mind it being wet, but with our cooler temperatures, I didn't want it to go dormant. I'm hoping to get it back outside after out current round of rain lets up. Like Mike said, they can be spider mite magnets. I talked to a few people experienced with this species, and they've all said the same thing. Always water these overhead, being sure to soak the growing point. I guess spider mites prefer not to take baths... Congrats again Joe! Be sure to post some more pictures when you get it potted up. Next year, when yours blooms, be sure to smell the flowers! They're lovely !

Jel48 your slideshow is great as is your hosta. Megaul your Liberty is showing off, as is appropriate. Yesterday was a beautiful hot day here in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Waited till evening to plant my Papou Liberty. I was checking this site all day and was very impressed and proud of everyone for the numerous greetings for Papou. Had just finished getting my Liberty in the ground and I felt a few raindrops, thought I had better shut the car windows. Went in and got the keys and turned the key in the ignition and on the radio was playing "Shifting Whispering Sands". Had to stop, turn it up,listen and sing along, it seemed so appropriate at the time. A real tear jerker. A quest for water, just what we hosta people have. If I remember correctly, we all thought Papou was the lucky one when he could just pump all the water he wanted from the lake. For all the youngens, you can hear Shifting Whispering Sands on U-Tube. (1956) When songs told a story. Betty

My biggest disaster was my tree. Instead of my fake pre-lit one,DH insisted he wanted a real tree this year. The Saturday before Christmas,ge was nowhere to be found so I went to the lot alone. Found a bushy round balsam pine for $40 and lugged it home but we couldn't get it to stand up. The tree stand we own just wouldn't work,it kept tipping over. So we dragged it out to the curb, and i went back and got a table top tree for $9. It looks very cute, I was able to put our electric star and two strands of light on it and about two dozen smallish ornaments. Can't post a digital photo, but it was okay. I'm tired of looking at it, I hope to get it down sometime this week. Other than that, Christmas was good, food good, ate a lot, everyone enjoyed their gifts. And Happy New Year. I have my champagne and roast beef ready for tonight. And Eggs Benedict for brunch Jan 1.

piper - Thank you for pointing this out. I am totally embarrassed about my tree. That's last years tree! Although I had trouble with this years tree, I now think it looks better than the last. LOL skypathway - I believe the article is focusing more on decorating ideas, than the looks of the trees. I had answered a question on a thread about how to put ribbon in a Christmas tree. The directions make me sound like an idiot... "Just stick it!" Oh my! Here is a photo of this years tree and the ribbon looks better, too!