Thanks for that visual feast, Mike! I'm keen to see what precious one you won at the auction. If you keep going at this rate, I expect to soon read about your travel itinery for your Amazonian expedition! Is the "error" the Guzmania minor, instead of Guzmania lingulata var. minor? I agree with Lisa that the aechmea looks like A. Foster's Favorite. I was also very taken with the N. silvomontana - and yes, I have mentioned it before on this forum. That is one of the three relatively newly-discovered species by Filho and Leme in the N. pernambucana complex of N.pernambucana, N. silvomontana and N. gigas. Leme officially described them in "Fragments of the Atlantic Forest of Northeast Brazil" (published April, 2007). They grow near each other (Pernambucano region, Northeast Brazil), and apparently at the time Leme "discovered" them (2000 and 2001), he was unaware that N. carcharodon and its variants had already been discovered, named and circulated. He does make reference to its affinity with N. carcharodon. There has been much debate about this complex of neos amongst a few enthusiasts here in Oz. I wonder about where N. Macho (R.L.Frasier) and N. carcharodon Tiger and Rainbow fit in the (new) scheme of things? Unc Derek says the true carcharodon must have white flowers. Here are a couple of pics I took at Olive Trevor's nursery of her recently imported N. pernambucana. I don't know from whom she imported it. Leme says of the complex, that they more closely resemble a wittrockia than a neoregelia. Just stunning! N.pernambucana pup And just to confuse the issue, here is a pic of what Olive thought was N. carcharodon Rainbow, but is not like those so named that I have seen on this forum, or elsewhere from O.S. It is now believed that this could be N. gigas, but it was imported into Oz by John Buchanan in the early 80s, as just N. carcharodon. I think I'll be studying that book more closely tonight! The photos in Filho and Leme's book of N. silvomontana do look the same as that magnificent specimen photographed by Mike. Does anyone else know more about this issue? Cheers, Kerry

Honestly, I think the tax/insurance issues in FL is killing the market here. Hoping the state government will do something about the taxes but I guess we'll find out more next month in the special session. As far as insurance, so far, nothing's happened as promised. Buyers aren't willing to put themselves out there with all this uncertainty. I am in the same position - listed 3 weeks ago. Nineteen others in my neighborhood (maybe 220 homes total) that are currently for sale, some being FSBO's. In this time period we've had 1 showing and apparently the buyers looked at everything in my neighborhood but are about 6 months out from buying. We discussed open houses but decided against it. Our agent's other marketing incl flyers at sign, postcards, newspaper (she says doesn't work though), some local magazine with homes for sale, their office marqui, and the internet but do not subscribe to the enhanced listing service for Realtor.com. Found this part out after we listed. We also offered a 7% commission (3.5% to each agent) thinking this might get more showings. So far don't believe this has helped. Not to mention in our price range $600k plus, there are even less buyers. We've decluttered the house except the garage has yet to be done (storing items for new house there), removed most of the family photos, paint touchup, repainted front door, remulched & planted flowers. Not really sure what else we can do. I think it will just be a matter of timing - right buyer at the right place & right time. Hopefully soon! I wish you all the best!

It's that time of the year when he places his order. Forgive the plug, but he's one of the few that sells roses on Fortuniana at an exceptionally reasonable price ($16 last year). I'm giving him my suggestions soon. Feel free to help out with your suggestions: About Face Abraham Darby Anna Olivier Beverly Cecile Brunner Chicago Peace China Doll Cinco de Mayo Clotilde Soupert Crimson Bouquet Distant Drums Don Juan DOuble Delight Ebb TIde Elegant Beauty Flo Nelson Franci Mailland Gold Medal Good as Gold Grace de Monaco Granada Grande Dame Heirloom Hot Cocoa Hotel California Iceberg Josephine Land Marco Polo Margo Koster Mayor John Land Medallion Miss Congeniality Moondance Mother's Day New Dawn Pinata Pink Promise Pink Summer Snow Pope John Paul Pristine Prosperity Queen Elizabeth Rock N Roll September Mourn Sugar Moon Toro White Summer Snow

There is going to be a rose show the same weekend as the Mounts Botanical garden spring plant sale. These rose show is open to the public and is FREE. The plant sale there is a charge to the mounts, but if you are interested in entering or just seeing the roses it is FREE. SoFl, MBzone10, Kublakan I expect to your beauties there :) along with many others. Hopefully we can meet others that enjoy growing roses. There will also Here is a link for more info, and a phone number if you have questions. http://gpbrs.org/events.htm