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Greg Quinn's Thought for the day: There is always a lot to be thankful for, if you take the time to look. For example, I'm sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.

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DEAR GREG, I HOPE THIS REACHES YOU . I ALWAYS HEAR YOU ON THE RADIO (whud), WHEN I'M IN THE CAR.THERE ARE ALWAYS VERY INTERESTING TOPICS BEING DISCUSSED,BUT NEVER ANYONE WITH ANY VIOLET QUESTIONS. THE AFRICAN VIOLET THAT I'VE HAD FOR 2 YEARS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN BLOOM,NEVER FED, ALWAYS WATERED WITH TAP WATER AND IN A WINDOW WITH NO HEAT NEAR IT IS FACING NORTH. I'VE NOTICED RECENTLY THAT ONE OF IT'S FLOWERS HAS A GREEN CONE SHAPE GROWING FROM IT'S CENTER.THE FLOWER IS 2 INCHES ACROSS,THE LARGEST I'VE SEEN ON THE PLANT.COULD THIS PLANT BE SETTING SEED, DO AFRICAN VIOLETS DO THAT?ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS, BY THE WAY GREAT PIC ON YOUR BIO ONTHE WHUD WEBSITE. TRACY D. SMITH

Dear Tracy, Thanks for the compliment. Actually I used the photograph of my identical twin because I was too shy to post my own. Yes, African violets can, do and will from time to time produce seed pods. It sounds like that's what you have going on. By the way, you are doing absolutely all the wrong things with your African violets and since if asked, I would have recommended just the opposite in each case. However, since it is working for you I always say never argue with success. Maybe you should be answering these questions......

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Greetings and Happy New Year, Greg. I have some beautifully blossoming paperwhite bulbs in my kitchen window. How do I care for them once they've stopped blooming? Do I cut them back once the tops have browned, like I do with my outdoors bulbs, or is this their swansong? Thanks, Rebecca Salerius, Highland Falls I

t's usually almost impossible to bring paperwhites back without a greenhouse because you can't provide enough light after they bloom, but you can try. When the flower is spent, cut off only the flower spike and leave all the foliage. Give them as much 8-10 hours of direct sunlight and / or supplemental fluorescent light at a distance of no more than 12 inches from the growing tips until the foliage turns yellow. Then clip it off and keep the bulbs growing with a 15-30-15 fertilizer for at least 4 months. Cool them down for 60 days and try again. Good luck.

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Hello Greg, In the early spring of 99 I purchased a Red Japanese Lace Maple tree. I planted it and it has taken well. Recently two branches were broken off the main . In order to help it I have tented it with burlap for the winter. Is there anything else I could do to help the tree ? Thanks in advance. I love hearing all your tips every week on WHUD.

I'm not sure what you mean by a burlap tent. You not have the burlap resting on the branches and it must be removed before the buds start to swell which could happen any time from late winter to early spring depending on temperature. The stubs of the branches that have broken must be pruned properly. It's impossible ti explain without pictures so consult a good pruning book for guidance. Good luck. Thanks for the kind words.

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For the past two years (2) of my rose of sharon have provided my with many buds, but they never continue to develop into an open flower. Eventually they dry up and fall off. My third rose of sharon has grown very well but has never produced a flower or flower bud. What am I doing wrong? In addition, the dark green leaves start to turn a lighter shade of green ( like yellow-green) on all three. Please help!! Thank you, Bernadette Sbarra - bsbarra@aol.com

Hi Bernadette, Prune you Rose-of Sharon by about 1/3 in March before any new growth starts. Feed it with a 5-10-5 fertilizer. at that time and make sure they get 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day. If they are planted on a slope or in a sandy soil, make sure that they get extra water.

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Gregg I have two geranium cuttings that are rooted, in water, and one is blooming, as I type. I want to pot them, but have had any luck in the past. So I was wondering if I should just leave them in the water until April or May or should I try to pot them now? I know this is their dorment season, I have 9 potted ones left from last summer, wintering over in the basement (western exposure, same as kitchen window). Thanks for your help

I normally don't like to root my geraniums in water but since you have, I would pot them up in a soil mix with a lot of peat in it and reduce the watering little by little until they adjust to their new environment. Dormant seasons are dictated by temperature and light and inside the house there are no definitive times.