I host a garden party each year. This year, we had so much fun in the spring that my guests talked me into a fall shindig, which will take place on Sept 24, in case any of you wanna come. I've been clearing out the common stuff so I can grow primarily the unusual plants. When I invite people, I refer them to a website where I've set up rules for attending the party. And most everyone has followed the rules without any problem. No one has stolen anything. Everyone has been very respectful. One of the things we do at my parties is swap plants. I tell newbies that they can bring anything of value to swap for plants. They can bring jewelry, garden tools, soil, birdhouses, books, furniture, anything they'd put in a yard sale--anything they think they can trade. I am a much more advanced gardener than most, so they bring me Donna Dewberry books and supplies, sawdust, wooden bed frames so I can make garden benches, etc. With my first party, there were only about 15 people here. And I offered a "plant poaching expedition" thru my gardens. After all the trading was done, each guest was allowed to pick out one special plant they really really wanted from my gardens, and I'd get them a piece of it. Surprisingly, every guest chose something different, so I didn't have to tell anyone I didn't have anymore of a particular plant to share. Everyone left here with something they'd been craving. And most have come back for subsequent parties. With gas prices so high, I'm afraid attendance to this month's party will be limited. So I may again do the plant poaching expedition. It went over so well a couple years ago. Have a party. You'll meet fellow gardeners and make new friends. And man, don't you just long to show off? I collect unusual plants because I love them, but I also love to hear people ooh and ahhh as they come around the corner and spot something they've never seen before. You might also type up a little schpill about your gardens, when you began, how each section came to be, what plants you have in different gardens, what they mean to you, etc. A friend of mine did that recently when her gardens were on tour and people loved all the "history" of the gardens. I'm going to do that for my party this month. Have a party and have fun with it. NancyAnn

We are finally fencing in our corner lot. We've had it opened for the 9 yrs. we've lived here, but the neighbors we used to have are gone and I would feel safer with a fence. Now I'll be able to landscape the backyard and not worry about anything "walking away" like my St. Francis statue did. We've decided to wait till the fence is done to see what is left in the budget for our new backyard. Also getting a new AC system, so budget might be tight. Denise, I'm trying to keep it low maintenance, too. I just can't physically do it anymore. I'm going to let the plants in the front of the house stay there and be happy. No new plants there. I'm going to concentrate all my energy on the backyard, which we see and enjoy. We have a nice fountain in the front, which we are going to move into the back and try to get rid of as much grass as we can. Hoping to do something with pavers, but that might have to wait till next year. Carol, I was exhausted just reading your list!lol Good luck with it. Julie

I've heard that as well about waiting until Tuesday afternoon. I found the flight and airline I wanted, and just kept going back a number of times, and finally got it at the price I thought was reasonable and it was. I had the time to shop, no big hurry. Just waited until..... and I'm ready to fly soon.

A few years ago I smelled the 'Secret Garden Noisette' at the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden and ruffled its' petals with my fingertips, with affection for though tempted I would never pluck a rose from a public garden without permission. For more than an hour as I smelled other roses I kept exclaiming "This Hybird Tea rose is really fragrant" and "You gotta smell this Floribunda!" to my friends, until I finally realized it was the Damask rose and clove scent of Secret Garden Noisette that remained on the tips of my fingers, and was wafting up to my nose as I held every other rose blossom close to my face to smell. Secret Garden Noisette is a beautiful and floriferous pink Noisette with a bushy attractive growth habit. It is a great thing when another O.G.R. enters commerce. Thank you Jeri. Luxrosa P.S. In which state was the Secret Garden located?, and which other Old Roses if any, where found there?