Hi Kristi! :D Yes, I do like the colors very much, and I also like the shape of the flower, it is a proper trumpet form; not so much a trumpet as I would imagine 'Amputo' or 'Germa' to be (and they are of different type otherwise too). I have had Gervase. It was wonderful. Unfortunately it got rot near the basal plate and I decided to get rid of it. I'm very unexperienced in treating bulbs with pesticides and don't dare to take any risks. - I have no idea of the cause of the rot but these things just happen sometimes and to the ones we really like, unfortunately.

Today is my gdtr's fifth birthday. Her parents rented a ballet studio for two hours and invited 20 kids. Afterwards, the family will gather at their home for dinner. The day will cost them at least $500. They have three kids. $1500 a year for birthday parties. Every time the kids go to a party, they spend $15 to $25 on a present. Currently, two of the kids go to at least two parties a month - the third is still a baby, but she'll start going to parties, probably next year! That's an additional $80 or so a month on presents. My gkids have so many toys and junk it's...well, I'm at a loss for words. Personally, I think it's ridiculous. We are always outdoing each other with presents and venues for kids' parties. This started long ago, when my kids were little. We had cake and pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey at home, and parents said things like "Oh, how cute." Then they rented halls for their kids' parties. I know I sound like an old crank, but I like to think that gifts have meaning beyond the WOW factor that lasts a few minutes. You never know what's going to tickle a kid. I am absolutely thrilled beyond words that my 2 1/2 yo gson latched on to the sweater I was wearing one day as his cuddle blanket several months ago. He sleeps with it. I can't possibly give him anything better than that.

Hi gang: Well I have been out of town for a few days and believe it or not between the rain and being out of town, I have yet to take my first swim. The kids on the other hand have to be extracted with great force at the end of the day. My sons party went as planned, one short rain shower, but otherwise great. The water is now fairly balanced, they started the polaris (thank goodness..the dust was insane!), they plan on starting up the salt system in about a week. birdbath, I see you have been absent also....must be living in that water....thank you for the compliment, but yours is still the coolest pool I have ever seen. Moo....thanks....we are planning to build up the area behind the waterfall, make it into a berm with plantings and lots of color. We are also going to use river stones in that area....and behind that will be the completed extension of the wall. Should be starting that in the next 2-3 weeks. Smb....agreed our colors do look alike, it still amazes me how it changes throughout the day. I think we ended up somewhere between midnight blue and tahoe blue. Thank you, love yours also...are you getting to swim or does it still belong exclusively to the puppy ;) Well, I have the weekend off...so I think today will be first swim...its 89 out there and the water has warmed up to about 82....here are the pics in full sunlight for Birdbath. oops...heres the waterfall on....

Mama pinky, since you live further out from the city, you are in an excellent position to see fantastic things in the night sky due to the lack of light pollution. You find Orion by looking for his belt which is made up of three stars horizontally, Here is his belt: Here he is with all of his components labeled: Star Date is how I learn about what to look for, like meteor showers, in the night sky. Your boys will love this website. https://stardate.org