Everything for the whole year comes up at one time, like with a tulip. But the way yours has a big stalk off to the side with a sort of stubbly appearance to the main, center part of the crown there is an implication that something has been happening to most of the new shoots or overwintering shoot initials. That could certainly also explain the lack of a top last year.

Thanks for the replies. Alisonoz, it's not the herb you mentioned although you helped me solve another mystery as I had this plant I was planning on requesting an Id of after this mystery was solved! It doesn't have the oregano smell, when its slightly fuzzy leaves are rubbed it smells a bit lemony almost. The flowers were almost like lavender blooms and appeared on long stems with the flower at the tip, so not quite like a coleus. I may just have to walk past the same area and see if I can get a picture of the full plant!

writer's block. I CAN see the pictures uploaded from people's computers with my Droid Razr. That's is connected by 3G. Let me log onto my wifi/satellite setup and see if I still can...yes, using wifi on my Droid I can see the pictures. Turning off windows firewall on desktop and laptop, I still cannot see the pictures. Hughesnet has their own firewall. That's the only other thing I know to check and I'll have to find out how to (if I can) disable it.

We bought our land 4 years before we built our home. We wanted to build our dream home and were not in a hurry to rush into it and then regret decisions made too quickly. I was the designer on the project and honestly enjoyed all that it entailed. We also had a wonderful builder that made the whole process go seamlessly and stress free. After we chose a house plan and had it updated to include the must-haves on our list, I poured over those plans for hours and hours making sure each room was as ideal as possible. Now is the time to decide if you want an HVAC duct in that place or a light switch or outlet in that spot. Decide if you want floor outlets, special outlets in pantries or cleaning closets. Are the rooms the right size? Could a couple feet make a difference anywhere? I sure wish we had made our laundry room 3 feet wider. Choose as many products as you can before your builder gives you his estimate. If you want granite and he's giving you laminate pricing the cost will be more. Also, painting the interior all one color is less expensive than having several rooms painted differently. Are you going with pre-painted siding or having the exterior custom painted? Are you using brick, cultured stone or natural stone? Huge difference between brick and natural stone. Plumbing fixtures vary in price as do lighting and appliances. Make sure he's taking your choices into account with his bottom line. Think about any upgrades in insulation, soundproofing, radiant heating, etc. The best advice I can give from someone who's been there, done that, is to sit down and really think about how you want the house to look, function and feel....and cost. Are there things you can't do without? For us it was a 3rd garage, his & hers master's closets, a computer space off the kitchen area where we can monitor our son, and a particular type of kitchen layout. Break the house plan down room by room if it's overwhelming but KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. If you're unsure of that then you can be talked into a lot of stuff you will find out later you really didn't need or want. Almost all of us have to stick to a budget so the trick is getting what you want overall at a price you can afford. This website is a treasure trove of information that I'm sure will benefit you in the days to come. Good luck on your build and keep your chin up.