I'm glad you aren't letting your move derail your plants, James! Keep it up!

Matt hates it, because to him its just a nuisance, but to me, they're my 'pets', so not much is going to get between me and all of my plants. One or two may be sacrificed along the way, but I will never give up my 'babies'

That's how most of us feel, James. Does Matt like seeing your blooming things?

Oh yeah, he loves looking and smelling. He just doesn't understand the work and care. I think it's his military brain. Enjoyable as a passing beauty, but too much effort/care put in, because "they can't love you back". I've tried to tell him that the flowers and healthy growth are the returned love.

Absolutely, James. Hopefully you will win him over with time. I'm glad he enjoys the flowers and smells. That's a good beginning. I've noticed that military people are often that way.

plantmanager said:Absolutely, James. Hopefully you will win him over with time. I'm glad he enjoys the flowers and smells. That's a good beginning. I've noticed that military people are often that way.

I must be the exception to the 'military people' then Karen. I spent 22yrs in the Army, '68-'90 and if it wasn't for all my health issues (thanks Agent Orange) I'd be outside constantly working with my various plants.

Apologies if I got the whole gist of this conversation wrong.

JamesAcclaims said:I think it's his military brain

On my end, what I meant by this was that most servicemen that I have encountered, including both Matt and my father, are more mechanical and analytical and have found/listed various reasons that gardening is a waste of time or fruitless. Sorry if it came across as implying all military men and women are the same. Of course they are as varied as any other group, I merely meant to express my experience. Probably could have been stated better on my end. And thank you for your service, Chris

You're welcome James, glad to have served. I think I'm with Matt and your dad. After I retired I worked for 23yrs on the military firing ranges at Ft. Hood, Tx. I was an electronic tech there and had to have both mechanical and analytical skills. Mechanical to be able to fix the equipment and analytical to be able to figure out various wiring problems with the ranges as well as the equipment. But about 3yrs ago after I decided it was just getting too expensive to collect vintage glass I dove into gardening. I've found out that this is the best way for me to relax and get something out of the fruits of my labors.

I keep telling Matt that gardening can be both analytical and mechanical, when you get down to it. Very practical, yet challenging MOS. My dad has worn a lot of hats over his 30 years enlisted. He currently designs, configures, and builds training ranges as well as mapping of bases and certain locals--Very mechanical and analytical. Matt is a pilot (P8-Poseidon).

James, my hubby thinks and acts the same way, my worst critic actually, sometimes so frustrating. Eventually I have learned to ignore his comments, and point out to him what happened when I followed his thinking. He did manage to kill some of my plants when I was away one time, he does not comprehend the variance in temperatures and dormancy stuff..in his mind all my plants needs direct full sun and daily watering. I constantly remind him, I do not bother him with his computers and gadgets..so don't bother my plants..a good compromise. He does enjoy seeing the blooms of my plants, especially the orchids blooming indoors during winter and early Spring. He used to lament it when I start bringing in my plants for winter, or when I have to position some plants near the window, thinking it blocks the window..it was a batter of wills indeed!

I have taught him to appreciate the plants more by attending plant shows..and eventually he is the one reminding me to schedule our trips at this time in Spring.

Spring has definitely sprung in Southwest Florida!

That's just beautiful, Hetty. You are about a month ahead of me. I have some inflo., even a few of the newly rooted cuttings have inflo., but nothing is close to blooming yet.

JamesAcclaims said:I keep telling Matt that gardening can be both analytical and mechanical, when you get down to it. Very practical, yet challenging MOS. My dad has worn a lot of hats over his 30 years enlisted. He currently designs, configures, and builds training ranges as well as mapping of bases and certain locals--Very mechanical and analytical. Matt is a pilot (P8-Poseidon).

Coincidentally I helped test new ranges at Ft. Hood while I worked there. Most of that was done with the government folks from Rock Island, Ill who were responsible for new range certifications.

Hello everyone
I also "lost" 3 Plumeria to the freeze that we had which started this thread; I'm in The Woodlands, TX, Zone 9A. However, last week in a fit of frustration, I pulled my biggest Plumeria from its pot, planning to give it a proper burial. This guy towered at 7'. When I finally got the root ball jerked from the dirt, I noticed 20-30 hair thin white roots growing from one side...😮. I cut away the dead trunk to the root ball and buried it in a big black growers plastic pot and stick it in the sun. Who knows if it can survive, but I'm going to try.

@Chris1948,

My son is currently at Ft Hood. He is a 13F Specialist. I am praying every day that the good Lord keeps his butt right there, but I don't think that will happen. He is set to deploy this summer...☹️

TWallace
TW TX

I spent 1/2 of my career at Ft. Hood. The other half in Vietnam (of course), Augsburg, Ger, Berlin, Ger and Seoul, Korea which was my last assignment before retirement where I spent 4yrs there.

My 'Wishy Washy' plumeria has fifty inflos!!!!!! Soon it will look like this all over (photo from 2015)

Dutchlady1 said:My 'Wishy Washy' plumeria has fifty inflos!!!!!! Soon it will look like this all over (photo from 2015)

That's one is beautiful and 50 inflos is awesome. I think I got my magnum opus from you about 8 years ago. It is about 7' tall and has about 30-35 tips now and a couple huge inflos. It was one of the lucky ones that came back from the 2010 freeze.

Oh my these are beautiful! I hope my sticks stuck in the pots surprise me with a bloom!

Emersons Pink nova taller than my 6' fence (pic today)

Love it.