Ok everyone! I had a quick sec to stop by and post a couple of pictures and what I think I found out for myself with my growing conditions and your guidance. I will be back with more pics. I was at an Orchid store yesterday and was talking to a girl who just so happens to grow the same 'Siam Jade" I have and told me she never has trouble with hers. In fact she has been able to get it to bloom twice. I went back and showed her the roots to one of mine and she told me to do emergency treatment now@!lol She said she uses just fine and medium Coco husk chips, something I have always been against,lol. Ok I thought I would give it a try since I had nothing to loose anyhow. It just so happens I had a block of it from previous years. I soaked it good and rinsed several time even though it was the original 'Sri Lanka' one and did an emergency pot on just one. Look at the difference today on it. This is what they both looked like before I started. I did rinse them off before this pic was taken so they look wet, but anyone who knows the roots of orchids real well can only imagine what they looked like dry! Notice the roots barely alive and very dehydrated. This is what they both looked like. This is what my orchid looks like after just one day of a better mix! Notice how the roots filled out and look hydrated. I have not seen this plant look this good since I have owned it. Now I need to repot the other before I loose it. Here is an extra seemingly doing better than it was in just one day:-) Ok, gotta go, but I will be back Thanks all Mike This one's roots plumped right up after one day and the leaves feel fantastic after days of trying to get them to look good!

Thank you everyone. Your thoughts mean alot to me. Jackie, the garden is coming along beautifully except that the cane borers are at my roses again. They burrow into the new growth turning it black and ugly. It didn't ruin everything last year so I'm pulling off the dead stems and hoping for the best. We're behind you in blooms here. Pompon de Paris will start soon then I expect the Ceciles. Other things like Candituft, Ceanothus, Daffodils, Tulips, Rosemary, fruit trees etc. are blooming. Fortunately I was really ahead in my work before getting the siatica so the garden looks pretty good. Ofcourse there is always tons to do. I've been forbidden to dig but have sneaked in a very few digs. Yesterday I planted perrienels sitting down. Michael bought me the most beautiful flat of Blue Bird Delphiniums. I'm really so much better. I just can't go out and try to be wonder woman, which is why I hurt myself in the first place.

Hello Everyone... Cactusmcharris...yes, that is me behind that huge Agave!!! We were on vacation down on the Outer Banks fishing that day...I really didn't want to post a pic of myself...but I wanted to show the size of the Agave!!! "Great Hair day after boating all day!!!" LOL... I know you have many palms up in your area (Kamloops) : ) beacuase I have passed through your area several years ago on my way from Banff to Canum Lake near 100 mile house!!! Beautiful area...lots of snow, but missing the palms!!! If you ever get the urge to hug an Agave...make sure the points have been removed!!! LOL...or else you will have natural piercings all over...this is a plant that demands respect!!! That's why I had to give this "Mac Daddy" a small hug!!! It has to be the biggest one that I have ever seen growing close in my area... Hello Josh...That is one beauty of an Agave!!! You are very lucky to have a friend that would let you dig up a beauty like that!!! Great find!! You must have been thrilled!!! How is it doing now? Thanks for all of your help... Hi Mike!!! That AGave came from a friend of mine that is no longer here with us...so it is very special to me...I call it "My Jack Plant" A coworker of mine had it growing in PA and sent me a pup to grow...It has taken off and loves the climate here in VB. I really need to plant it in the ground because it is so root bound, but I am afraid of losing it...hopefully next spring I will plant it somewhere in my back yard...my son gets very tired of moving it around for me...like I said to catsusmcharris..you get pierced all the time!! I use fingernail clippers to trim the points off of mine!!! Yes, that is my mug peeking through the leaves of that beautiful Agave... Take care everyone!!! Laura in VB

I am "just me" as well. Here's what I do....and eat for 2 meals and freeze the rest. 1/4 cup chopped onion 2 T chopped green pepper Sautees slowly in 1 Tbs olive oil When starting to soften, add 1/2 pound lean ground beef and a large clove of garlic sliced thin or chopped. Sautee and stir until the meat is broken up and no longer pink. Add one large can ( think it's 32 oz) of whole canned Italian plum tomatoes. Break them up with your hands, and add 1 small can of continadina (other brands are bitter) tomato paste, and fill the can with dry red wine and add that too. Add herbs...1 bay leaf, 1 tsp dry oregano and 1 tsp dry basil and 1 tsp of dry parsley. Cover and simmer at least an hour, stirring occasionally. Serve over cooked pasta. Makes about 3 to 4 servings. Or....this is more likely to happen in the summer. In a 10 inch fry pan sautee a small sweet onion, half a green pepper and half a red or yellow pepper in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When slightly softened add 2 small zucchini cut into chunks, or one zucchini and one small peeled eggplant, 2 cloves of garlic, several mushrooms...4 to 5 small ones, and 3 or 4 fresh peeled cut up tomatoes. add a handful of fresh mixed basil and parsley with a little oregano or thyme is you have it fresh... Cook fairly rapidly stirring often until most of the liquid has evaporated ands erve over pasta....top with Fresh grated parmesan. Oh my....I love summer!! Linda C