I succumbed to orchids when I went to a flower show and finally decided to try one. It was a paph. I stuck with one for about a year or so, moved to a new house with a new roommate. She bought herself an orchid, a phal from Ikea. It did alright. I kept eyeing phals at Whole Foods. It was inevitable. I got one. Then another. Then she got another one. Then I did. Then I started working 3 jobs, 6 days a week. Let's just say there were casualties. Since then, I've tried some oncidium hybrids, more paphs, then discovered species orchids. I got Phal equestris, Phal stuartiana, and Aerangis citrata. With Aerangis citrata, it all went downhill. I became an Angraecoid nut. Today, I primarily grow Angraecoids and Pleurothallids. I have three terrariums, and I do most of my orchid growing within them. I have tried growing seedlings from a flask, and it was great! Except for the part where I can't seem to part with any of the seedlings. Which is why I still have roughly 20 Aerangis modesta seedlings, whoops. Due to an infestation of bush snails and what I can only guess is immature bush snails, my original case is not quite as fun as it used to be, and will probably be cleaned out and rearranged if I ever find the time, but that is where the older angraecoids in my collection live. Two of my cases stay at about 75-80 degrees, 80-90% humidity, with air circulation via a computer fan in each. The last case I don't monitor too closely, and doesn't have a fan, as things seemed to dry out too quickly in there with one going. Most of my orchids grow under CFLs. I also grow about 65 African violets, and about 35 hoyas. I'm trying to cut back on the violets, but I'd like to get them to bloom at least once before I decide, and while growing from leaf cuttings is pretty satisfying in the end, it is also a little slow. Hoyas have been catching my attention a lot lately, because they like to grow! A lot! You can almost see some of them growing, when they get going. So I guess my growing niche is: Hoyas, African violets, and small growing mounted orchids in terrariums. I'm definitely interested in growing more from flask, but we'll see if I have the room.

Dave and Paul raise good points. One has to also be very careful of self-appointed "International Inspectors" who prey on children, the elderly, and the infirm. Sometimes they call on the telephone -- if you listen closely, you can hear the sound of other hustlers working their pitch in the background -- but more often, they spam people on the Internet. First, they claim to have access to "tons" of "prime organic compost" which their family inherited or gained through close association with a corrupt government. Second, they plead for your help moving the compost to a "secure and trusted" location. Then, they offer a 20-50% cut to any "honest friend" who will help. Truth is, there is no such compost. Gardeners who take these hustlers at their word soon find there are "customs fees" and "port clearances" which must be paid. These villains will stop at nothing. They have been known to take the last dime out of the bank accounts of decent gardeners, and still keep asking for more. Don't be a victim. Stick with reputable International Inspectors. None of us will ever demand a fee for certification -- it's against our professional code -- and we all follow established standards, such as the one gallon minimum required for thorough scientific testing. All the best, -Patrick from the CotU Compost Testing Facility (CCTF)

tcamp, my NJ Citrus are getting kicked out TOMORROW! So DONE with this Winter, our minimum was only 15 F. but Feb. had persistent deep snow and March was COLD. This weekend all will begin the great exodus..., Citrus, Cycads, hardier palms (Phoenix and Livistonias). Deer devoured my "deer proof"plants this winter (Holly, Rhododendrons, etc)..., HAPPY SPRING!!!

Silver-- dd and I got pedis yesterday. AND when we do 'girls' night and paint toes and nails, DS just doesn't understand at 3 why he can't. So I've painted his toenails before just for fun but we dont go out in public and show the world, look at what I did to ds. And of course my husband does NOT like when ive done it. I don't sit ds down and paint his toes, he usually wanders in and says 'I want my toes painted too'. And he is starting to say more and more 'boys don't paint their toes' because daddy says it when we paint his toes. I will not keep doing it until he is 13 but he is 3 and he is just partaking in the fun. My husband is very much of the mind set, boys dont cry, boys play football, boys play outside, boys don't need band aids and I have to say, that may be the most difficult part of parenting with him and having a boy because I don't agree. Boys can cry. Everyone has to be emotional at some point. Boys don't 'have' to play football and I'm pretty sure I'm not putting my son in football because I dont like the risks and yes he will get a band aide and a kiss when he gets a scrape cause that is my baby boy and my husband is just going to have to deal with it. My son loves to play tea party with dd and she loves having the company. My son loves to go to build a bear and pick out a new bear and clothes. He loves to steal dd's build a bear clothes(dresses and Girly stuff) and dress up his bear. But he also loves batman, star wars, cars and trucks and he loves to play inside and outside... I don't mind him guiding his own playtime but I do guide his clothes. It's my responsibility as his parent to make sure my child is clean and clothed appropriately and I like dressing him in boy clothes. I like dressing my daughter in girl clothes. Its easier to have a 'tom'boy girl than a girlie boy. Its society and I'm ok admitting that. Dd wears nikes and shorts and sporty clothes but also loves dresses and skirts and cute shoes, hair bows. DS has never asked to wear a hair bow and ive never told him he couldn't. So does he KNOW that bows are for girls or is he 'not' interested in hair bows? I don't know. Boys are boys and girls are girls and IMO that's how God made us to be. nothing more nothing less.