Well, maybe some forum members have orchids to send you Eileen. I usually do some give-aways in the fall and spring when I realize I don't need duplicates. We have to get you past the sadness!

Hi guys, just got this notice via email about these cubit changes and my eye caught Jim's lanai conversion effort. I read through the tread from the beginning. Interesting to say the least. I have a feeling that it'll be a bit hot though despite the exhaust fan. We shall see when the project finishes.

While I'm here. We're alive and well but have gotten over last winter's devestation. Luckily I now have a large greenhouse where all my tropical palms and orchids stayed warm with a heater in place. This greenhouse is also polycarb but gave me too much light. I painted it with white UV stuff made for this purpose. Now, of course the thing is an empty hotbox. I need to repot all my orchids which is a task I keep putting off as other more interesting things take precedence. Been rather active on FB plant groups where all the new stuff first shows up in my mailbox. I find this better then logging on to some other place to see what's going on. I guess that is why both cubits and DG have not been visited in a long time. I have over 400 bromeliads now and this is sort of my latest craze.

I'll try to be better though and look in here more often.
Fred

Good to have you here, Fred, and appreciate your input. I am worried about the heat issue as well but am determined to make this work. My thought is to close all windows except one at the far end and let the exhaust fan create a draft. Between that, ceiling fans and the pool, I think I have a chance. I expect the long awaited ceiling panels to arrive at anytime. It should only take two or three days to get them installed. The contractor told me this project would be finished by the time of the Master Gardener tour and that was May the 5th. It has been disappointing to not have my orchids around for such a long time. I know I have lost a few but others seem to be doing just fine without my care, which is just as troubling.

Jim

This is a picture of the back of the house. Note where the green house panels are in place and then the big gap to the shaded sitting area. Word today is they should be delivered by the end of the week. Then they will have to take off those already installed and start over again, working right to left. That is because it is a different factory run and there could be minor color differences. Each panel is 4 feet by fourteen feet. One slopes up the front, another down the back and then the peak is covered with a crown.

Jim

It must be maddening but you must be thrilled it is happening soon.

You have a hell of a pony Tail in back of your place. How old is that baby?

I bought two small pony tails in three gallon pots and planted them on the back corners of the lanai twelve plus years ago. They are both taller than the house now. I've had some cracking in the large bulbous foot but am told this is normal. They are finally beginning to branch but neither has bloomed yet.

Jim

That is a Dream in Progress. Beautiful and will be very enjoyable....

The new panels are in town and will be delivered Friday between 1 and 3 PM. The work crew will be here next Tuesday to begin the install. At least that is the latest word I have.

Jim

Jim I went through all that crap last year with our pool. I lost about 30 grand in the process as they kept wanting more money over the estimate. I finally fired the main co as they were hiring all subs anyway and hired my own crews to finish the job. It was a mess and suing was hopeless as the guy was already in bankrupcy.

We need a "fingers crossed" emoticon!

For sure!!!!!

Jim, I went with a salt water pool (no it's not really salty). The thing makes its own clorine as needed. No smell, no chemicals what-so-ever. This is my setup. It runs itself pretty much automagically.

It sounds good, Fred. Let's see the pool. It wasn't in yet when I was there.

Jim

Btw I put all that equipment into a separate house far away from the real house. The pool is 48' long and I made the lanai and deck big enough for any party I can dream of. ☺ I think the cage is 60 x 50 or so. Forgot already. I know they had significant engineering problems with the county to get approval. .

Here's a shot along with a look at my poor screw pine

The pool looks great, Fred. Those pavers look like the same ones I put in. As for the screw pine, at least you still have one. The winter of 2010 put mine in the compost pile and I swore them off. I love them so that losing another would be too much.

Jim

It's living Jim but barely so. If we get another cold winter it'll be all over. It needs a year or so to recover and grow new leaves.

Just had a Fed X delivery of my newest toy, a power sprayer. I have one of those battery operated ones which fails to start pumping and it costs as much for a new pump as a whole new system. I think I may not have clkeaned it properly and left som chemicals (roundup) in there. It must have frozen the pump. Anyway, I wanted a more professional model anyway and bit the bullet and ordered one off the net at FIMCO in SD. Now to asssemble the sucker in this heat.

What a great toy! Truth is, I don't spray much now that I changed out the hybrid tea roses but then you have much more property than I do. I can see where it will come in handy.

Jim

Fred, I have been having problems using a backpack (hand pump type) sprayer for orchid fertilizing. My back seems to go into spasm the next day after I use it pretty consistently. I was wondering if in your researching, you saw something with a power sprayer I could roll and spray that's not too heavy to move. Any ideas?