My Mauritius is about 3-4 years old about 5 ft in height. It also gave out a lot of blooms this Spring and some of the blooms even set fruit, but unfortunately before the fruit had a chance to develop, they all dropped off in stages. Now, the tree is going through a growth spurt. It keeps sending out new leaves. I've read some of you here mentioning trimming. Does trimming back help to promote more growth this growing season, or is it more for the next year? So, you trim off a third of all the branches? It must be hard to do so, but if it helps for future growth, I guess it must be done. So, when is a good time to do that? Now or end of the growing season? My Brewster which is about 3-4 ft has been fossilized since more than a year ago. If you haven't seen a lyche statue, I've got one here. No growth, no nothing at all. I heard that they should be protected from wind when young. Unfortunately, this plant has got some beating earlier on because of the spot it's at. Is it too late yet to do something about it and if so, what actions should I take? I bought a sweetheart this year, but haven't decided on a spot for it yet (running out of space). It's about 5 ft tall now. I wonder how long I can keep it in a pot and what kind of care I can give to it? I haven't applied any fert on it yet. If I apply the slow release fert, how often should I give it? Other than it, it seems to be doing fine, sending out some new shoots and the stem is kind of getting lanky and bending over. Would appreciate any suggestions offered.

punamy--thanks for the close-up and how-to! looks just as good up close as from afar. I'll definitely have to add that to the to-do list. Texashottie, your cushions are even cuter looking at them again! Great looking area and the plants really bring in life there.

@ sena01 - Thanks for the personal experience with this kind of thing. It always helps hearing from people who have been there. And for your vote! @island - Aunt lives between Naples and Ft. Myers. I haven't been down there yet, but it sounds beautiful. The pics are great. They have a floorplan I would love, with the whole house centered around the back in a big U. That would so not work in Alaska, given you need every inch of sun here you can get. But, I just love that kind of floorplan. Now that I understand what you are liking, I can mock some things up. I do want to make the point, though, that those 18" cabinets are slightly over 1/2 the size of the 30" uppers. Isn't that what you said you preferred? @mpagmom - Well, I gotta say, that's a pretty cool sink. I don't know how hard it would be to find a sink like that or how much it would cost. Also, not sure if it really works with what I am doing here? I can sure look into it, though. I assume you are talking about the greenish kitchen when you say dark gray? That is a nice kitchen. You know, Marcolo used those exact words on me - "think slate". I'm just not really finding one I like - except the one on the back of that peninsula in the pic I posted again above. And, my neighbor friend directly across the street has a slate BS and I don't really want to do the same thing... Good question, Deedles. I know we don't have any current problems with that, but the cabinets are raised up. I want whatever is in the punch bowl, though. Monday morning or not. My partner mocked up what it might feel like at the sink last night by clamping up a board. I'm not having any problems with it, being short. He wasn't loving it. We are going to leave it up for a while and see how it feels over time.

cindaintx, Wow, thanks for noticing the windows. Quite a lot of thought needs to go into these things, doesn't it? We brought home a couple of tile boards, and think a 3X6 tile would fit there. Maybe a 1/4 round on top?? It will be a few months before we do anything. We really like the look of NO BS, and since we don't actually live at this home, we can be careful not to get the walls dirty. We'll see, and I'll be sure to post, when anything else happens! Window treatments are next! Probably just horizonal mini-blinds. Can't put a valance on that window because the corner cabinet almost meets the frame! Peach, I'm still liking that dark brown for the bottom row. It's not too "dated"? Thanks, ALL, for the kind comments. I posted on HGTV (rate my space" once, and got VERY critical remarks. Won't go back there! LOL