Very interesting information. Having another zonally challenged hosta gardener will be a benefit to us all. I keep thinking the hosta growers must know something, if they are beginning to ship more of them to the southern market. I'm on my first go-round of hosta fascination, Walnutcreek! I did not hold back on my selections, and I think in all I WILL have (when they are all delivered) somewhere near 78 different named hosta. Finding the right containers has been a challenge too. Most of mine will have the commercial potting mix, since I have 2 small truckloads of it on order, half bark, half the potting mix I think it is. Supplementary shade is another thing in the works also. By that I mean, tenting shade cloth between two pecan trees where I plan to loate the hosta garden, once all of them are spreading their leaves. I have about three hosta which I'm concerned about, they are not peeping as nicely as I expected, and those three are White Elephant, Dick Ward, Victory, and maybe Brother Stefan. I thought I'd lost Brother Stefan, but I found this one pot which had a stiff sharp pointy eye not yet up, but I could FEEL it barely above the soil. I'm hoping it is the original Brother Stefan, even though I ordered a replacement for it. One thing I'm discovering is the really heavy substanced hosta can endure more punishment in temperatures. I might be jumping to the wrong conclusion, but the more tender leaves get limp quicker, they feel so fragile, where the toughies hold up pretty well. If someone can say whether I'm wrong about the importance of substance when choosing hosta for southern locations, I'd appreciate it.

Aw thanks everyone for the warm welcome back. I missed chatting with you. I used to have kind of a "meh" attitude about Florida and now I can't for the life of me figure out why. It's so easy on the eyes. And really nice folks there - although maybe they're just so nice because they're living in paradise. /Eileen. I hear you about the furry babies. I have been out of town so much lately that my cat is punishing me. ._.' So great that you have 3 sisters down there! I definitely hope I get to retire near my sisters someday. /Poseidon. "I agree, joni is one of those people that you just do not forget meeting." You just could not have put it better. That's what I keep trying to explain to people about her. I can't quite put words to her, but she's one of a kind. /Pug. It is exactly like that. I felt like Homer in that episode of The Simpsons where he is in The Land of Chocolate. All those little planty faces staring up at you, and their moms nearby so you can see exactly what they will look like when they are of an established size. It should make it easier to decide what you want, but really what happened to me was that I suddenly saw the appeal of all the plants I'd previously vetoed when merely viewing them online. Unfortunately Kelly has been busy addressing some health issues. We recently heard she was making some progress and I'm sure she'll be on here again eventually. I miss her too. /Renee. Whoa a vacation with both Bulbophyllums and Hoyas?! That's pretty posh. :) I hope you're able to make it out to Sarasota/Siesta Key. My sister really wanted me to drop her off in Siesta Key while I was visiting Joni but unfortunately for her, she slept in and I wasn't going to wait any longer! :P /Ima. It's a really pretty area, so I think it would make a fun day trip. If your daughter takes you, maybe as a thank you gift, you'll be faced with the same conundrum as I was: what a person's First Hoya should be. I went with polystachya, but Joni's suggestion of merrilli was a really good one, I thought.

Happy New Year to all my gardening friends. PEACE on earth, including Gardenweb. May the New Year bring love, happiness, forgiveness, joy, Wisdom, and Beauty beyond what you hope for in your gardens. Here's to New Beginnings. Cheryl

Little acts of kindness are the best and I'll say it again....many of you are like my family. I have a couple of really cool brothers!!! You KNOW who you are!!! And...I'll ask one more time...has anyone heard from Devon? All attempts to contact him via email have gone unanswered and he has bulbs from last year waiting for him.