Purple..Do you find, Draecena surculosa..'Gold-Dust' or 'Florida Beauty,' slow-growing? Mine two are several yrs old, and rarely leaf..Why is that? How often do you fertilize? Maybe that's the problem. My theory about fertilizing is..slow growing plants need less fertilizer than those that take off like weeds. Therefore, since I believe Dracaena surculosa is a slow-grower, they're rarely fertilized. I also feel, surculosa and goldiannia/sp, are just plain difficult. Yes, there's a couple pics of Milky Way..Are they not gorgeous?? One Ebay seller had on on auction about 4 yrs ago. I made a bid, but the winning bid was way more than I could afford. But, it was a beauty! There's a Croton, 'can't recall name,' that looks identical to D. surculosa. I get the two mixed up. The spots might differ a little...I can't tell though. Your Dracaena's very healthy. Nice-looking. No brown which is great considering the time of year. I agree it doesn't resemble most Dracaenas, but if you look at stems/leaves of D. 'Song of India,' they're the same. So, you place yours outside? I'm afraid it'd burn. Maybe next year I'll place in the yard, on a shelf that gets mostly morning east, and behind other plants. Or would that be too much shade? Indoors, both are in a west window, sitting on a tray. No artificial light..Maybe I should place them under light to speed growth???

hey joann --- glad my post helped you out! i got a better look at my bees this weekend. i don't think they are carpenter bees. from what i understand, the thorax of the carpenters are shiny. the bees in the bedroom are fuzzy. so i'm somewhat certain that they are bumbles --- but we've never had so many of them in the house before. this weekend, while in the front of the house, i could hear this faint, constant humming/buzzing noise. i looked up at the trees (i think they are norway maples?), and could spot a bunch of bumblebees flying around the flowers. the trees are very close to the house, so maybe some of them are somehow getting into the house? they primarily end up in the bedroom. i tried to look around, but didn't notice the entrance. but our house is so drafty. maybe they can crawl in around the windows somehow? it did not seem to be as bad this weekend. i do capture and release them out the window, using a glass and an envelope. none of them have been at all aggressive. but honestly, it was starting feeling like they were somehow just circling around and getting back inside the room! sometimes it feels like each spring brings a new plague! :-) --robbie--

"LOL" well ravencajun just look at it this way you're such a busy person and your concentrating on a lot of things that can normally distract you. I've often thought about getting me one of those little recorders to remind me of important dates etc. I haven't done that yet and not sure if they still exist, since I've waited so long to look for one. I guess I've been to busy to go look huh? "LOL" I always try to come back to let you all know rather a suggestion has worked for me or not, but if I don't come back it is because I am unable to post back. Gremlins are in the GW servers! We definately need some pest removers to get rid of those pesky Gremlins. "LOL" I sure hope they get the problem fixed soon. zep516, I sure am glad to hear you are not having any issues here. I am hoping they get this fixed soon. They have posted above that there are problems so they are aware of it. I just hate not being able to respond back to those of you who have taken your time to help me. This is apparently something that is happening intermittently and when that happens I know it is harder to find. Thank you for your help, I do appreciate it. thirdfrt!!!

Our latest house wasn't a custom build, it was a builder's spec, but I can empathize with you. I spent about a year and half getting punch list items addressed in our previous home (which was a custom build), and have spent nearly six months trying to get this house completed. We did hold back funds this time, but it hasn't made any difference in the response time or interest in getting problems corrected. A recent plumbing issue entailed having to do research online, calling the manufacturer and obtaining replacement parts, and telephoning/faxing the builder (& later telephoning the plumber) for three months before finally getting the plumber here. That sort of thing has been typical, and it's why, like you, I've ended up taking on some projects myself. If we hadn't been so eager to get out of the hotel (our other house sold a lot faster than expected), we might have had better luck by delaying closing. Dh insists that we wait until after our one-year anniversary here, but once that date arrives I intend to hire a handyman to take care of my growing list of minor repairs. We'll be moving in less than five years, and I am seriously considering buying an existing house that is 1 - 3 yrs. old next time. That should be old enough for its owners to have taken care of all of its punchlist items but new enough to not yet need anything major replaced. BTW, something that has helped a little has been to fax or email photos of the problems, when possible, to the builder. I find they are less likely to discount my complaint if they see what I'm describing. Also, when the current builder has questioned me ("But Joe said he took care of that already!"), I insist that rather than argue with me, he come to see for himself whether or not "Joe" has done the job. He took me up on it the first time (& had to admit that "Joe" lied to him), but ever since he has backed down and promised to call the sub.