Can anyone tell the difference in the different Jersey varieties? 4 years ago I planted 10 crowns of Jersey Knight, Jersey Supreme and Jersey Giant. I cannot tell much of a difference, though I haven't kept track of how many spears I have harvested from each plant, just looking down the row it looks about the same. I am thinking with just a few plants it won't make much difference, maybe if you had acres it would show a difference in volume. This year I wanted 20 more plants and the Garden Center I bought from only had Jersey Knight and Jersey Supreme so I bought 10 of each. I planted them March 20 and as of last night I can see 18 plants. I live in WI and it was 80 when I planted them but now we are much more normal with getting frosts almost every night.

I agree---pictures will help a lot. If the top is sanded enough to remove the original finish, you now have to determine whether a stain was used. Matching the new stain to the old color is not easy. Most finishes change the color of the wood---adding an amber cast(oil based finishes like varnish) and the mixing of stains to match the old color takes a bit of work. The nicks/blemishes on the front cannot be touched up with anything of which I am familiar. Dents have to be filled or sanded away. Damage to the finish must be sanded away. It will actually be easier to get an even color if you refinish the whole thing.

Denise, as I said, only my H. rupicola is in sand. In nature they grow amongst sandstone rocks where the only soil is weathered sandstone, ie sand. They need fast draining soil otherwise they rot. I had tried them previously in more 'normal Hoya mix' but lost them. David Liddle told me to treat them as I found them in nature, and they haven't looked back since.

I personally would not lower the drapes because it takes away from the beauty of the windows if the upper part is not included in the drape area, but do agree that the drapes should be fuller. Some antique Chinese plates and platters (mine are from e-bay )might look nice up there (unless you live in an earthquake area).