Thank you! I have a city house, and the concrete planting bed in front of my house is a little boring - full of bee balm and sedums and penstemon that only occasionally come together to look eye-catching. I want to add some large planters full of drama next year. The Oleander adds nice vertical interest, but I don't have a place to overwinter it, and I suspect a large specimen would be quite expensive. I will grow some something that cascades down from the porch rail to meet the planters. Maybe grow bags full of something - maybe New Guinea Impatiens in hot pink. OR maybe I can put some tall cannas in a pot.

Jennyerin, I love to cut and give :). Would be glad to send you chrysanthemum Sfeffield, lambs ear, ajuga in exchange for your iris. If you are interested, please e-mail me. Thanks! Natalie

karma , i got that banana from banana jack , ft lauderdale area . he received a shipment of tissue culture musa. this one was a tad different so he kept it and grew it out in his back yard . the amazing part is that its pups show the same qualities of variegation . jeri and i were coming back from a show and saw his nursery , turned around and stopped . he was closed but we rang the bell at the gate until he finally came out .lol lol poor guy lol he told us he was closed but as you know i could not accept that answer .lol lol after begging and explaining i was from out of state, he took us for a tour . this guys place was fab!!! i have never seen so many rare palms , and banana clumps every where. just an amazing south florida garden !!! we became quick buddies and he shared this banana with me . he says that was the first one he has ever released . he is getting older and can not ensure a future for this plant , and asked would i make sure it had a chance for future generations . i will name it after him one day . sultry_jasmine_night, i do like the variegation, can not help myself .lol lol if i'm driving down the highway at 90mph , i can still see variegation in yards .lol lol i'm surprised i have not hit more people with my van, while looking at plants lol lol bob , i understand , work is a must in life !! i'm glad you have a job, lots of americans are not so fortunate . i will be coming and going to florida allot , the shows are just starting . jeri will FORCE me to go to all of the plant shows in the warm florida air .lol lol i'm sure we will run across each other one day . lucy , where is your daughter located ? you are welcome to join us anytime !!! jumping4joy , contact jeri , she has a ton of those alocasia .

-good, good, -you checked 'BOTH' plants on logee's called coral glow? I am only aware of the passi called coral glow....? I think I'll pass on it this time, I got confirmed that they won't bloom without extreme access to daylight, which I do not have, I am compensating with stocking up on the cactuses and hoyas. I cut down the passi already, I did that in dec I think, the bugs I am talking about are the whitish ones with strings of white fluff, I can never remember the name, hibiscus is also easily affected by the same.. white fly? Anyways she is on her way to take off again ,the passi. I meant with 2+2 in actauality 1+1 , sorry.. I have read so many horrorstories about how easy it is to kill off hoyas in winter.. I wanted to put two together so that the pot has a chance to fill up faster before winter. Not that I have killed any hoyas yet (one of few) we had the large growing hoya bella back home and it covered a wall about 20 ft long and 22ft high... I have the same over here and I barely remmeber it's existence in winter.. Maybe I got the training already? All I worry about is if these more exotic kinds are more frail.. hmm. I can't say I am looking forward to a bunch of tiny pots.. I would so totally pay a larger sum for a estblished plant.. However, In regards of gethsemane, They are starting to tick me off on a grand scale, to a point that I am blacklisting them.. too bad because they always have had my highest regard. WHY? Because I go in there with the intention on spending my hardearned money on a plant I very much want and they not only stow upon me a common salesclerk that has no idea but insists on that she DOES. I spent almost 50$ on the rhipsalis when I was supposed to get the damn e. anguliger! worse yet, just to add insult to injury, they refuse to let me exchange the plant. I rememeber well humbling myself walking in there, second guessing what ever scraps of knowledge I posses, all for the almighty nurseryman who turn out not to be a n nurseryman at all but just a hack hired on minimum pay. Actually, I consider my self being quite a reasonable person but I do turn in to a roaring tiger on occasions like these. oh, did I mentionn that the rhipsalis incident was the last of 3, all in the same manner. Like buying a jap. maple just to find out that what's blooming is crabapple. Borderline fraud I think. Buggers! Right now my favorite is paradise garden and I am waiting for my 1st large clem order from chalk hill. I am done with ghetsemane. arrgh! I am still upset about this as you can tell. New houseplants, since we talked last? hmm yes I But I have actually concentrated on giving up some.. My most notable new is a varigated philodendron, called 'Brazil' Most beautiful, its in different green shades so no white in other words, the little cases were the growing tip is creamyellowred and the whole plant it crazy nice in sunlight. I finally succeded with rooting a scented geranium from momin law, I have tried for a couple of years- and failed miserably, until now. I got a norfolk island pine that is doing well in the stircase, well that's all, Last year I was so busy to set up the perennial beds that little energy was left for the houseplants. You helped me with my f benjamina and when I did do exactly what you said.. -Not a single leaf lost.!! I am not kidding, I have not found one wilted leaf! Have you tried soilmoist? on hoyas? ahh yes, do know a nursery selling plants in say, quarts or such sizes? Well it is bed time for me now, talk more later T. k