Aww... Lona, you are the sweetest! I remember seeing your fairy garden before. Yours was super cute and of course sweet :-) Wish you will have lots of colours in your garden soon. Meanwhile keep warm ;-)

Marimo is moss ball http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimo
It looks like a cute pom-pom. It's fascinating to see many marimos put inside an aquarium-like container.

Hello Mystic Dreamer, this one don't even bloom if I don't 'force it' to do so. Here is how I did it... step-by-step in picture...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=706901079338399&set=a.186165801411932.52039.183209405040905&type=1&theater

Hi Prospero,

The amaryllis plants that are growing in my garden, only the 'Mrs Garfield' flowers without any intervention from me.

Re Chinese Hat plant, yes I think it will do well at your place. In fact I think one of the reasons that this vine is flowering in profusion was due to the rare cooler weather we experienced few weeks before. However, there is some price to pay to grow this vine. Firstly, the vine scrambles to all directions and its roots grow vigorously. Mine, the root had grown out of the bottom of the container and lifted a few tiles off the wall in my garden! :-(

I remember you put a note last time about Oleander that it can be grown into a standard. I am trying to do so. Yes the plant is growing in a pot. Thank you.

I grew all my Amaryllis plants from seed (German hybrids) and maybe that's why they have adapted to their own rhythm.

Thanks for the advice on the Hat Plant. Planted in my yard, it sounds as though it may be invasive. I'm always on the lookout for that.

The Europeans are good at training their oleanders into standards and they look quite amazing.

Oh that's a good thought. Hmm... I really have to learn to sow better. Btw my friend who came and saw that Hat Plant when it was in full bloom last week, just disregard the fact that the roots can be invasive and quickly insisted to have a few cuttings. 'So pretty!', she said repeatedly hehe... Will check out those standards. Thank you.

Thank you for your greeting! Sorry the bird is really small. Smaller in the picture haha... Thanks for spotting!! Hope your oleander blooms quicker than you thought :-)

Thanks for your compliments! Those sunbirds come by often and like to fly around the Chinese hat plant :-)

Thank you for your greeting, sue catmint! Re marimo, I was surprised to discover out that it makes a great aquarium decoration.

You have a beautiful garden yourself Stiletto ElsieXie! I have always enjoyed visiting yours!! My Chinese Hat pant has not bloom so profusely before. This is my first time seeing so many flowers on the plant.

Hello Anete! Glad to hear from you and to know that you like my stories about my plants. Thank you :-)

Hello Vera,

You left me speechless haha... Amaryllis is one of my favourite blooms. I am happy that you like it as well.

Great weekend to you too!

<3 Stephanie

Thank you for your kind words, Perola! Glad you stopped by :-)