WHAT A GREAT FORUM...Isn't it everyone? The help, the ideas, and the experiences from others astounds me. Everyone here has so much in common with their love of plants.. It is very interesting to see how others feel and what you do... Larry b, your concern for hurting others was noticed. And yet you are discrete in sharing the truth of it all...You are a good person, as is all the rest of everyone here.. I will say this.. Everyone made me think alot about the way I view my plants. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I think my plants look great, and that's whats important. Toni will vouch for that...:-) I am sure that most of our plants feel the same about themselves too...lol When that experienced plant friend of mine came over that day and said, "most" my plants were telling me they have issues, need help, more attention to manicuring, because a "few" of their leaves were anything but perfect, some with even a little mark on them,it bothered me. He even called my soil anything but good for my tropicals, partly to blame for the way a few looked. But He didn't get me to question that one though!! I almost believed that I was not doing enough for them to look perfect, after I felt I was doing the best I could do for them, and having fun at it too.. I wanted to continue to experience the JOY of this hobby. So I came here for the right view of how our plants should look, and what each of you do to their imperfect look if any, and why? Isn't this a purpose of these forums? You have all picked me up. Encouraged me.. Showed me a balanced view. I personally LOVE to look at my plants everyday, I mean everyday.. I am one of those that does not ignore them, not for one day. I spend huge amounts of time in my plant room, everyday, because it is there where I find great peace for many reasons. I CAN and will still look past their blemishes, their defects, because beyond that, they are beautful, at least to me.. Some here have seen them. I never heard a bad thing of them, not yet anyways...lol. If there are any plants not "perfect" in shape and in every leaf color or form, it is not do to our failing our plants as my nursery "friend" suggested.. They are a reflection of our love for them, even if they have a few flaws, not manicured as often as suggested. I thought I was failing them and that their leaves were a sign of that. I am not perfect, so they will never be too I guess.. If there is a true health conditon that needs to be fixed, then I will accept. I think there is a balance between a sick plant that suffers for many reasons that we strive to find out why, and yet, as to one that just gives us an imperfect leaf or shape ,a blemished look, once in a while, no need to be overly consumed. A few of you continue to show me how to look at my plants in a balanced view, in ways I not thought of once before.I appreciate it. You are always learning something new in this hobby for sure. Yes, jeannie7 said something that really stuck a cord in me, and put a huge smile on my face. She made me see the reality of it all... To quote: "The leaves plants form are perfect...who's to say the plant doesn't know how to make a leaf according to its genes. It's the conditions that man gives the plant that causes the brown on the tips and edges. If you want to see the plant in all its splendour, then give it back to its natural home." It is the "nature" of plants, even in the outdoors, and I am going to continue to "ignore" their flawed leaves, unless it is a sign of negligance on my part..:-) I am not aiming for flawlees plants, just happy healthy ones! This is what my nursery friend should have appreciated in mine, or even his, but didn't. I guess I let his experience in nurseries almost change my view.. I hope he doesn't look at peoples flaws like this. Oh boy! Oh, just yesterday he told me he no houseplants of own..I wonder why...lol. He just asked for a couple of mine though. Why? He says they are so much more unique than the ones he sees at the nursery. What's wrong with this picture? lol I am going to agree with what Pirot girl said.... "I personally will not engage in lest it turn my pleasureable hobby into a burdensome chore which is not my idea of a pleasant hobby." Except for the insects, which I have accepted that comes with the territory and takes diligance, I find that when I do what I can for them when I can, it is a great source of joy! This is the nature of houseplants... We can do what is best to make them happy and healthy, and in turn they will do their best to make us happy too. If they show signs of pest infestation or fertilizer problems, that is a different story. But this is not what this thread I started is about. Thanks for seeing my point. Thanks, for making this encouraging forum happen.:-)

I will answer the qusestions asked but need to let you know I am a manicurist at an upscale salon. #1 No. I don't worry because I know how the manicurists I work with clean not only the spa but their instruments. That being said not everyone cleans according to Government standards. #2 A seal or other sign does not guarantee your salon is clean. I have had customers tell me they went to a "cheapo" salon (her words not mine) and watched the manicurist put a clean sign on a spa tub she had only wiped out with a towel. #3 Now about the web site. You can clean a spa before you have it tested but there is no guarantee it is being done after each client. Where I live I have been in the business for 15 years. I have only one time seen someone from State Board. Not sure there is a straight forward answer to this problem. When you visit the salon look around. What is the general cleanliness of the salon in general? I work on referrals. My clients know table is clean. They see me get clean towels for each client. They see me clean my implements and the spa. We do not take 1 client out of the spa and put another in before it is cleaned properly,which takes a little time. The requirements for cleaning the spa is posted in my salon and after each client we record that it was cleaned and how. This is available for all our clients if they want to see it. As far as contamination from polish if that was true State Board would require a separate bottle for each application. There is nothing in writing about this from State Board. I think we should all be concerned about this situation but I think we can make good choices if we investigate the salon we want to visit.

I wore acrylic nails for over 20 years, when my nail teck ( same one for all these years ) started doing the gels, I switched. I love them! I normallly do the french, but once in a while do the colored gels, there are many colors to choose from, just like diffrent polishes,these colors are not a surface color, so they do not fade or chip. I have a standing appointment every 3 weeks. I pay $34.00, I do not smoke or drink soda, so I rationalize this is money I can spend on myself.. My own nails are very thin, and would never have pretty nails otherwize. I keep them realatively short, but long enough to look nice, and believe me I give them a work out...I am always digging in the dirt, pulling weeds, packing rocks, and doing serious deep cleaning..they hold up just fine. Only once a a great while I will have one lift, or come off..I usually make it in tact for each appointment. They are just my treat to myself..

Very pretty. Never seen this before. Rock Hounds are familiar with this effect, as found in tiger eye. http://geology.com/gemstones/tiger-eye/ When the stone is tipped, the light band travels across the stone. It is due to tightly bundled asbestos fibers encased the the chalcedony stone. Its the same effect that forms a star sapphire although the 'fibers' are from a different source. Usually, the sapphire star is 6 rayed. Only a few sapphires will star. It has to do with the internal structure of the crystal and a sapphire has to be cabbed in the proper direction for the star to show. The star only shows when the crystal is viewed vertically to its "C" axis.