Yes, the flowers are a bonus...but football, alas, is not. As a transplanted New Yorker, I bleed Jets green. Not much joy there this year. It would, however, be a bonus if the Pats did not get to the SB...again. Tom

Hello everyone. Thanks for all the responses. It is kind of fun to hear how everyone plans to store there trees. My dear sweet Laura, I do have a light set up. I have my 600 watt HPS light. It works very well for me but because it produces such intense light, and HEAT(the heat being the spider mite magnet), I do run into issues with the darn S.M. This year I plan on being very selective with what I keep under my light. This year it will be my ETLD, Rainbow 36(by the way has yours bloomed yet?) my gorgeous purple noid from that was gifted to me from Sonia, and the trees that are blooming...JJ Orange, and also Divine and Psycho since they are nicely budded. Divine is the furthest behind as the inflos are barely an inch long. Plumeria are tropical trees, but I have to say, they are a lot hardier than what some people think. When I turned on the weather before going to bed at 2:00 am, we were at 44 degrees. This morning at 5:00am we hit 38! OUCH!!! We are warming up now, but it need to stay a head of the game, I know that some of my trees will grow more leaves if I decide to leave them out longer than this weekend, which if may decide to do. Last fall, I waited to the last possible minute. We had an actual freeze and I had to bring all my trees, plus all my other tropical plants and fruit trees in all in one night. The people that have been a part of this forum for a few years know that I have had several back surgeries now, and I just cannot risk hurting myself, so I really am trying to make it easier on myself. Last year it took me about 2 hours to haul everything in, and my poor back felt like it was ready to go on strike. I actually was laid up the whole next day, and part of the following day! Andrew

Nice to 'see' you again, Carl. Should we assume that you've retired from the show's marketing committee? I did watch the video and it's lackluster. Maybe they'll include time-lapse growth films of plants and flowers, or garden development? But it looks like drama and romance films are the focus. Might be interesting to see what clever artists create to support that theme. I'm glad I went to the show a few years ago and I'm happy that this old tradition is still happening, despite it's evolution toward formal floral design. To maintain an event since its 1829 birth, in this fast-paced country, is a great achievement. I'm going to spend some tourist cash in Pennsylvania, but it will be at Longwood Gardens. (you're VT weather stick is waiting for you) Jane

JLC712, I know exactly what you mean. Most people complain about gaining weight at Christmastime, but Easter is my downfall because I love those Cadbury milk chocolate mini-eggs. Chocolate candy isn't even my favorite, but there's something about those mini-eggs that is addicting. I usually have to have one of the gooey centered version for tradition, but it's the mini-eggs I crave. I accidentally bought the dark chocolate ones last year and they went into the trash.