Hey g, I hear ya on no outside. It's darn raw here today. Was supposed to be warm, but you can't tell it by me. I've had a number of experiences over the years, but I'll tell ya'll about the first one I remember. When I was five my grandfather died. I had wanted to go visit him just before then but my parents wouldn't let me...long story. So, when he died I wanted to go to the funeral bad. They wouldn't let me, said I was too young. I was very adamant and really threw a fit about it. I didnt' get to go. Shortly thereafter, one night I was in bed. A storm was coming, something woke me up and I saw a figure of a man at the window putting the window down. I knew it was him. Right after that my mother came in to shut the window and was surprised it was already shut since I was too small to do it. I told her Grandpop had did it. That summer several times he came and shut the window before a storm. After that my mother wasn't surprised when she came in and it was already done. About ten years ago my father died. I live in the house where I grew up. Had moved back here to help him a few years before he died. Sometime in the first year after he died, I was at the computer in the living room with my back to the hallway. All of a sudden I heard his loud.. Hey.. It was how he always greeted us. My mother died before him and that was about the same time I kept feeling her around when I'd talk about her. Smiles. Guess he wanted to make himself known too. My mother and I learned when I first moved away from home that we could do the mental messages to each other. If one wanted the other to call, we'd just think of it and they would get the message. Then I started doing it with my aunt and later my best friend and I would do it. Still do it with my aunt and best friend. Friend lives across country and we don't talk often, unless one of us sends 'the message'. To this day I always can tell when my mother is around because we smell the cigarette smoke. No one has smoked in this house in twenty years at least.

I've been growing hippies for so long I don't even remember what drew me to them! I've been at it for as long as I can remember, but I didn't get really serious about it until a few years ago when I discovered the double flowered one. At that time I decided to get rid of all the ones that weren't happy and the NOIDS and keep only the named ones I had and start adding to the collection. Then came the wild idea about doing my own crosses, just to see if I could. I did have 50 bulbs at one time, the collection has waxed and waned over the year but recently has experienced a growth spurt: List of Named Varieties: 1.*APHRODITE (2) - Dbl 2.PHILADELPHIA - Dbl 3.APPLEBLOSSOM 4.*CLOWN 5.*HERCULES 6.*ELVAS - Dbl 7.PROMISE (3) - Dbl 8.REMBRANDT VAN RIJN 9.RED LION 10.*ESTRALITA 11.*CHICO -Cybister 12.*EMERALD - Cybister 13.*RUBY MEYERS - Cybister +1 new coming this week. 14.*BLUSHING BRIDE 15.*PINK DIAMOND 16.H. striatum seedlings (10) 17.CHICO X RUBY MEYERS (2009 cross) 60+/- * from GF spring 2009 ROYAL COLORS 1.LUNA 2.EVERGREEN - Cybister 3.RIO NEGRO - Cybister 4.CHICO (second bulb) - Cybister 5.MATTERHORN Â Lg single white 6.GIRAFFE Mini SCHEEPERS BULBS 1.LEMON LIME (replacement) 2.EXOTIC STAR 3.FAIRY TALE - mini 4.EMERALD (second bulb) - Cybister 5.LA PAZ - Cybister Blooming Bulbs.com 1.ALFRESCO - Dbl 2.ZOMBIE - Dbl 3.BRIGHT SPARKS 4.LEMON SORBET 5.FAN FAIR 6.LITTLE STAR = it has a pup! 7.NYMPH (normal clone) - Dbl 8.RILONA (Mother bulb) 9.SUSAN (Mother bulb) STILL ON WANT LIST: 1.PHILADELPHIA (second) 2.HARLEQUIN 3.NAUGHTY LADY Â Mini 4.WHITE NYMPH - got this one! I also have 2 mature and 1 pup of H. papilio, the Butterfly Amaryllis. That, I believe, counting all the pups brings the total up to 45 +/- pups I've either forgotten about or that aren't showing yet. This does not count the small seedlings though or the 5-6 blooming sized seedlings from that original cross I made with Minerva and White Christmas. And to think I am not done yet! Why do I love them so much? Easy top grow, dependable rebloom year after year, increase via off-sets so I can share and trade them AND wonderful color in the dreary days of winter before my "garden plants" wake up. Rebecca

This was the thread that helped me put a name to the style of garden that I love best. I have been working towards the cottage style for many years and never get tired of the evolution of it. Loved reading them all again today. Cheryl

OOH Leslie That was so cute and now my monitor is spattered with Iced Tea!!! Thanks for sharing and I passed it on. Deb