Maybe we all need a little intervention once in awhile, but that is what winter is for righy?

All joking aside, I sure do hope your son is doing better and bounces back quick!

Thanks Kim. It's been a wild couple of weeks. 10 days ago he was rushed to the ER with seizures from a reaction to meds and now his appendix. I feel like I aged 10 years in 2 weeks! lol

he's doing better but can't be released until Friday (at the least) due to his appendix being ruptured). Poor guy, he's only 12 and been thru so much. But he'll bounce right back.

Thanks for your kind words.

Wow, Monica, that's a lot to deal with! It's scary to deal with emergency health issues with a loved one. My husband had an out-of-the-blue seizure a few years ago while driving. My brain and nervous system went into over-drive for the next several days and once things settled down, I felt like a mess. Take care of yourself as well as him. Hoyas can wait!

Denise in Omaha

I can't imagine how scary that was for both of you while driving.

right now Hoyas are a good distraction for me. :-)

Thanks so much.

Sending you and your son positive thoughts and energies, Monica. Gardening does a person's body and mind good in times of a crisis. No pun intended, but it grounds one back to themselves. I saw a picture on Facebook I shared once that says: "Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes". You also get beautiful flowers, too.

What were the Hoyas you were eyeing on EBay?

Brad AKA Moonwolf

I used to have a sign in my garden that said garden in big green letters and beneath it, it said time spent in a garden is time well spent. Here's another one from my idol, the late and great Dottie West (look her up if you've never heard of her): "You can knock me down, but you better have a big rock to keep me there!"

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Thanks so much Brad aka Moonwolf - I really appreciate your kind words.

I was "watching" Obovata variegated, Subquintuplinervis and Merrillii. I'll keep looking though :-)

You're welcome. Good choices! I have Merrillii and I LOVE the leaves. It really had a growth spurt this past summer and then some of it died back over the winter. She looks good now, though.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Yay! I just bought Hoya Clandestina and Hoya Wilbergiae. These make up (a little) for the ones I missed. I did miss out twice on a Mathilde though :-((

Mathilde is one I think every grower should have in their collection. It's so dainty looking, but it's tough. It's a favorite for foliage, but it can be very floriferous. The one I had never bloomed but did have peduncles on it.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Brad, my Mathilde hates me. It barely survived the winter, but finally has some new growth. I just repotted it into a different mix, but would appreciate care tips.

Monica, nothing like new plants to cheer you up. And sometimes, the hunt makes it all the more satisfying when you do manage to get them!

Now, I must scamper off to google Hoya merrillii...

Kim, my Mathilde bit the dust this winter. I think I kept her feet too wet. I looked up the care for it and it says to keep her slightly moist and somewhat shaded.

Here's my Merrillii this past summer. This is IML 0465. LOVE the leaves! I forget who I obtained the cutting from, but if they see this and chime in, a big thank you for this lovely plant!