So many interesting websites, to get inspired by, these days. I loved the Oudolf site as well. I wish I had room to put in a truly huge mass planting, and still be the plant collector I find myself to be. Maybe some day I`ll be able to do that. In the meantime, it is wonderful to live vicariously through others and their gardens. I agree, Gottagarden`s gardens are inspiring. The red garden she posted in 06 has always been a favourite of mine. I wish I had the space. Hmmm, I say that a lot. :) I just bought hot Papaya Echinacea and love it. I`m sure she`d approve. :) Gottagarden`s picasa site Yeona Here is a link that might be useful: Gottagarden`s red garden

Most of my family is spread all over America, so I take pictures and send them via e-mail and post them in PhotoBucket for them to browse through. I also send them seeds and plants and trees. When we do get together for family gatherings, it is a joy to take them on tours and talk flowers. The grandkids love all the paths, the Koi pond, and all our animals. Their favorite thing I grow is fruit, especially the peaches. :) I do see people slow down and look from time to time and that makes me happy, but our house is built on a hill high up off the road and there are large trees, so they don't see much. Plus, most of the cottage garden flowers are situated in the back and along the north side of our cottage. However, since my DH cleared out the front along the top of the bank above the road, you can now see up into the north side of the yard, and right now it really shows up with all the fruit trees, shrubs and spring flowers in bloom. I hope to one day have a big white gazebo out there to enjoy. It will show from the road and add beauty to that part of our property. Someday, when we add onto the house, it will bump out that way with lots of windows. There will be access to a deck on that north side through French doors, so we will be able to sit out there and enjoy the view all year round. In spring, the view will be heavenly. All the flowering fruit trees and bulbs and shrubs and green grass. In summer, it is partially shaded most of the day and will be a great place to sit and have cookouts. In the fall, we can watch the colors change on the trees and the fall flowers bloom. The Canadian geese migration and enjoy the return of winter birds. On cold, snowy days in the winter we can enjoy the view from the dining room through the new wall of windows and the French doors. On warmer winter days, I will no doubt sit out there too. Visitors Will Be Welcome. Someday... I digressed a bit there...ah hum! Sharing plants and seeds with others on the Garden Web has been one of the most wonderful experiences in my gardening life! I enjoy giving "gifts" from the garden and I have also received generous pass-a-longs from many of you and others on other forums, as well, and my gardens thank you all for it. Mostly, I have all of you with whom I share my cottage garden, and I am very thankful for the friendship and the bond we have on this forum. ~Annie

Hello, I have some American Bittersweet seeds I saved from a vine last fall. They have been stored in a cold garage. Can I just throw these in the ground to plant...or, is there a better technique for getting these seeds to germinate. Thanks for your time. Pam

I think the food is fun. All of our kids and now the grands would love something like that for lunch. Actually, they sort of create their own fun images as long as they're not told, "don't play with your food!". lol I believe we're all born creative. How that creativity develops has more to do with whether it's nurtured, or not. My DH is a good example. His parents discouraged creativity and turned every activity into a chore. Result? DH would not practice his music lessons. DH would not attempt to learn a foreign language and avoided majors in college that required such. DH would get angry when he tried a new skill and wasn't perfect right away saying he, "just wasn't creative" or not good enough. Etc. etc. I was raised differently. My Dad was strict but stressed creativity and patience. When I became too ill to play my piano any more, DH missed the music in our home. One day I said to him, "Rather than complaining about what I can no longer do for you why don't you learn to play yourself?!" To my surprise, he said, "I'd love it if you'd teach me." That was almost 3 years ago (will be in January). He has been diligent with his practice and there is beautiful music in our home again. Suddenly through his own effort he's become "creative" and has started listening to Scott Houston and learning to adlib his own riffs. I love listening to him, smiling, and remembering how he grouched, "I can't do that." Creativity is just a skill like any other. It needs to be nurtured, practiced, and used. Some are born a couple jumps ahead of the rest of us but I really believe we are all full of creativity. I lost my art supplies in Sandy. I said there was no need to replace since I can't even write now much less draw. He purchased new anyway. I see what's coming...DH wants to try charcoal. He's not fooling anyone! :) I've been planning how I'm going to encourage and teach him a bit about perspective and shading and ratios... (grin) A few years ago, I was watching one of my 5 grandsons play. He was fiddling around with action figures. He'd pretend to have a "war". But, I noticed there was a rhythm to the way he had each figure interact. He made "boy" noises along with his "battles". I told my DS & DIL - get that boy a trap set - SOON. Now, two year later he plays drums in church every Sunday. He's now 10 years old. My Yamaha Clavinova (the first thing replaced in our home after Sandy) can be set to become a full drum set. DGS pounds away on it whenever he's here. He's good. My almost 13 year old DGD is an accomplished pianist and uses the piano to express her emotions rather than acting them out. Listening to her it's easy to tell her mood. She's also getting very good with her violin. She started her own henna tattoo business a year ago. No lessons in music or art. I did get DGS a few basic drum lessons since I don't play and didn't have a clue how to get him started. I think it was six lessons and he's been on his own since. Encourage creativity wherever you see it. It's everywhere if you look. /tricia