It is interesting in nature... Sometimes the lighter colors are the dominant. It is the same with Dobermanns. There the more common black and the rare brown colored ones... And who would think that the brown is the dominant color? I was amazed when no matter how we crossed them, if one parent was brown, all the puppies came out brown... I am sure though that subsequent litters from these puppies would give some black puppies, especially when crossed with black partner... And still the brown Dobermann is the rare one... How come, if it is the dominant color? Maybe because people prefer Dobermanns in black, thus, the breeders concentrate on that strain, and when a brown puppy shows up, it is usually bought as a pet... I know, it sounds weird. One of the most protective and dangerous looking dogs is actually a real lamb when it comes to its own family... But outsiders beware... Amazing doggies... blayz, what did you do to your seedlings? Do you still have them, or have you given them away? I love clean strains of hybrids, but I am fascinated by seedlings grown from seed by private people... There are amazing shapes and colors that emerge that way.

They're all beauties! I don't think you can go wrong regardless which variety you choose, Clare! Great pictures, Donna! They're both gorgeous! It not a wonder that so many people are struck by the sheer size and beauty of Hippeastrum blooms! Clare, if you can grow your bulbs directly in your garden, that's probably the method I'd choose... mainly because they'll have plenty of room to spread out good root systems, and Mother Nature is a great help. The one thing I would do, though, is use a systemic insecticide to prevent any possible NBF issues... NBF is Narcissus Bulb Fly, and the little suckers love amaryllids. They can potentially devastate an entire collection before you realize they've moved in. Bayer makes a good granule systemic that you sprinkle around the base of plants and water in. If you do decide to pot them up, it would be a good idea to research soils and container growing a bit... growing in the confined space of a pot is a lot different than growing in the ground, and you'll want to employ different tactics for optimum success. I'd be happy to point you in the right direction and hook you up with some good reading... the article I linked to in my other post above is an excellent starting point. I float back and forth between here, and the Container Gardening Forum... both are relevant to how I grow my bulbs and other tender plants.

"Heaven, I'm in Heaven" tap, tap, tap. . .(a little Fred and Ginger routine)

I have white cabs and blue pearl perimeters. I love the blue pearl. As the poster above said - it is very bullet proof. We have cut on it, set hot pots on it (although I usually use a cutting board and hot pad, my adult children are not so diligent), there is NO staining or etching. After nearly 5 years, I have one little chip in my ogee edge, which I have no idea when or how it happened. And it's not visible - I found it when wiping the counter down and I can feel it (now I can see it since I know where it is). The seams are great and not too noticeable. Our blue pearl is not as blue as some I've seen. I was new to the granite world and just went where my contractor told me to go. I wish mine were blue-er now - it's more gray/black. But I still like it. Here is my blue pearl before the island was installed. And here is the blue pearl with the island.