Ornithogalums??? Oh vetivert, you are bad, but Ornithogalum is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of spring chores and getting to work outside, usually in late Feb. Now I realize my question could have and should have been phrased a lot better. How about this? If the Bulb Forum members would submit their (own) pics of plants and blooms grown from bulbs for a new forum picture, what should it be? . Should it be open to anything grown from bulbs? Should it maybe exclude such things that have more 'specific' forums of their own, such as Lily, Tropical, and House Plant? Should it be an individual bloom, or as you suggested, maybe a still life flower arrangement of numerous delectable blooms grown from bulbs? Please 'scuse me for just having tunnel vision and tunnel thoughts of just Daffodils. At any rate, the folks who are having their spring now, can hopefully be trying to get some great pics. Ok...so when does anyone think we could/should start taking picture submissions? Should we wait until late 2010 so glads could be included by those in the US who grow them? Should we wait a full year (or nearly) so the members down under have an opportunity to have another summer blooming season, like for glads? hmmm...what is fairest? I guess before proceeding, I should check with the 'Powers that be' to see for sure if they would be willing to get the pic changed and updated with a pretty pic of our choosing. I hope lots of folks will give their input and in time, post their pics for entry. In doing a search here on the forum, it seems that Tulips and Daffs are the 2 things most often posted about. I imagine though that tulips are most frequently asked about, due to them having problems, or emerging early, or for not blooming a second season when they are thought to be perennials like daffodils. Here is a spring 2009 pic of a bouquet of Daffodil Show rejects. Hopefully in 2010, I can put together a much better arrangement and pic. Sue...hoping/planning to start daff planting today...maybe

The problem with flowers is that most of them bloom for only a short time and often not at the same time. So generally, going with the house is not a problem because the overwhelming impression is usually green :-) That's one reason why I actually don't worry too much about bloom colour when I plant perennials other than to be sure I like the colour. You're right to consider texture as well - you will be looking at that a lot more. Consider overall plant shape/structure as well. But also, common names are not that good a way to convey what plants you are talking about - I have no idea what some of these are without latin names. Karin L

@ Planto & Christine: Nope. Snow scale and mealies are two different, albeit closely related, pests. Snow scale is so named because the males are white/whitish. @ Jon: I'd have to agree with Planto & Christine -- looks like a major mealybug infestation, not snow scale. If the white stuff is cottony, somewhat tacky then it is definitely mealybugs. In some respects, mealies are much easier to eradicate than scale. However, mealies can take up shop in the plant's root zone (referred to as soil mealies). The crawlers (larvae/nymphs) can easily hitch a ride on clothing or skin and be transferred to other plants so take care. Soapy water or straight rubbing alcohol can take care of the adults and crawlers that are exposed. But to kill off any hiding in crevices or in the soil, you will probably need to use a systemic.

Yeah, I have to sometimes dust my real plants, but I just wash the leaves with a wet rag. They like it. Plant massage. :) I don't have a lot of house plants (year round garden outside, right now choking with roses). Although I own a fake cactus, it was part of an art project. I have an antherium on my bathtub ledge that is currently blooming. It usually gives me one bloom in July. It might be happier elsewhere, but it's been fine there for 14 years. :) It was a present from she who was the lady next door when I was a child. There's a garden window in my kitchen where I had a lot of plants before they got ants. They went outside. Now it has several phalaenopsis that were given to me in December. One may be beyond help, but two have spikes. There's also a little plant with red brachts and white flowers which perks up in the sun and droops at night, and a little red leafed plant I grew from seed, but doesn't seem so happy now that it's in a real pot. And one low light plant in the powder room, which I may need to move to more light. Plants die in the powder room, but they make it nicer, so I try to catch them before they die....