Hello! From the Fri, Jul 25, 08 22:47 post, all pictures of individual flowers are Persian Carpet (from both T & M and Park)in the first-shown block of four except the Swizzle-like Aztec Sunset in the lower right-hand corner. The others are Persian Carpet and Chippendale (the latter was described as such). I also like to store my seed in ziploc-type bags (the snack size), as well as big plastic cannisters (for my general naturally-crossed group) when totally dry. But now with my first planned crosses, I want to see my group organized and on display ;-). It's really important that they are completely dried for this though. HC, why don't you ensure that your flowers are pretty "old," (starting to lose color and drying down), then cut the flower off from the stem and harvest the seed right then. You can pull the petals out of the seedhead, then tear the colored part away from the actual seed. Then, dry the seeds down on newspaper or paper towels in a place that is room temperature or cooler, and dry. The flower is a whole microcosm of creatures. I harvest my flowers and sit outdoors at the picnic table separating out the seeds from the flowerheads. That's when you see all the creatures, who then will NOT come into your house. I think the maturing seeds can take plenty of heat while they are attached to the rest of the plant, but when they have been separated, they are then much more vulnerable to high temperatures! I think storing your seeds in the car may not be good for their viability! I've used paint brushes to cross day lilies in the past, just to ensure that they produce seeds that I then give to folks who want them. I have never bred daylilies for a planned outcome--just wanted to ensure lots of seeds! JG

Cindy: AB-SO-LUTE-LY loved your pictures. I am now officially jealous! ;) Our little GH is only 11X11 with a pond inside that takes up about 1/2 of that. So, there's room for the plants (it's tight) but no real room to have a chair and table. I too am a sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder, although, I think up here it's called something else, but it's the same. I have been using Full Spectrum lights for years and they really do help. But like you, when I'm really feeling the effects of the winter, even without a seat, it's unbelievable how going out to the GH and taking in the plants and flowers, really make one feel much better. I don't even want to get into the heater thing! LOL I've been rather *cough* LAZY this year and have not completed all of the insulating that I have to do. I even forgot a few things that need to be done. So I check the temps the other day and almost paniced when the temps where down to 7C (45F)! The one little heater, which usually has no problem keep above that temp, just wasn't doing it. So, I put another heater out in the GH and set it to only come on if temps drop. So last night, I went out to check on it and accidentally found out why the GH seems colder than it should be. While standing there, picking up the heater, I got a freezing cold breeze over my legs! The wind was blowing and coming in under the bottom of the door! I FORGOT TO PUT THE RUBBER STOPPER DOWN! hehehehee oh god, it ain't easy being blond! LOL Needless to say, this weekend we'll be doing the last little bits. Anyway, enjoy your nice GH and please, have a coffee or whatever beverage for me in your GH! :) Oh yeah, and please don't be afraid to post more pix throughout the winter. Perhaps we sufferers can all enjoy each others' havens. :)

Thanks everybody for the information. I'm really surprised the eggs can still hatch. Last year I had bluebirds incubating twice and none hatched. I have no idea why. I thought she was leaving the nest too much, but now I think she or the male were not fertile. About the red light from cameras - not all cameras have it. Originally, IR LEDs don't have any visible light but I think sometimes manufacturers add the "red glowing" option so you can see it's on. I have only one camera with the red glowing - it's an outdoor camera, used for yard monitoring. The rest of my cameras are completely invisible at night, including the camera in the bluebird nest. If the red light bothers you and you are good with electronics, you can purchase an IR board from ebay, china sellers have them very cheap - just a few dollars delivered. Then replace your "glowing" board. The only problem is that you never know if the new board will glow or not. From my experience, boards with less than 30 LEDs don't glow. The board I am using in the nest was purchased from ebay - 24 LED, $2 delivered (I purchased it because the camera was not infrared originally - I modified it :))

I purchased all Samsung kitchen appliances only to find my over the range microwave wouldn't fit, because it did not have a zero clearance door. I reordered a Frigidaire microwave. The microwave display is very bright white. Not only does the brightness of the display bother me, but the fact that it is a different color than the blue display on the Samsung range below it. So much so, that I'm looking in to the possibility of changing the light bulb or lense cover. I'm not sure if it's possible.. P.S I don't have the backsplash in yet, so don't judge me for my temporary fix to cover the ugly damaged backsplash.