Oregon, I'm sure your daughter wishes to pass on some insight into what she is studying and lets you in on a type of grass that isn't grass but is very low maintenance type of groundcover. But before you take her thoughts on the matter to heart too soon, do some research of your own; find out about the make-up of this special lawn. Containing clover, dwarf perennial ryegrass and other perennials of short size....namely English Daisy, and achillea, it does suggest your lawn problems are over. But do consider what exactly each of the additions does for your ground. Clover's been around for hundreds of years...and it can make for a great lawn area if you need something that will overcome obstacles that ordinary grass cant. But clover aint grass, it will not grow properly in any shaded areas. So that lets out growing under trees or in the shade of shrubs. It fills in areas very quickly and takes over grass. It needs never to be fertilized, it takes the free nitrogen out of the air. Do consider carefully before you leap from something that is what everybody else is using, to something that might not live up to your's or your daughter's expectations.

It's neat, being able to cut lots of stems. Like Bonnylynn, I was out of state when lots of mine were in full bloom. And the rain didn't help - seemed to be constant whenever I was home (I work full time), and then with the wind destroyed the blooms on my peonies. The roses opened while I was away, and many petals on ground when I found them opened up. But I've been having "bouquets" on my desk at work, as well as at home, since the daff's were in full bloom. We had a weather threaten to kill anything that wasn't brot indoors, so cut off some of the daff's. Was sure surprised when many others opened nice outdoors within a week. Tulips gone now, but had many. And the azalea bushes - wow! This year had LOTS of blooms, and cut some from stems "sticking out" from the rest of the bush. They mixed well with other things. This year also had some alyssum basket-of-gold (a perennial) bloom (winter sowed last year). Lots of blooms brot in to work. Right now I have a mixture: sweet wm., penstemen, bachelor button (w/s)(first bloom this year - but lots more buds about to open); alyssum - white (w/s), burgundy gaillardia (w/s last yr), and a cream color iris. Cut the iris on way to car to get to work this morning, and added to the others already on my desk.

Sometimes it just pays to stay up late and read the forum! Who cares if you're tired the next day? The hosta will forgive you if you get outdoors later in the morning, right? Mocc, you always say the kindest things.... glad you enjoyed the pics...then you had me laughing out loud about the comment re the bees standing on their heads trying to get at the uplifted flowers! LOL. That is just so funny trying to visualize that!...before that the turkeys...ahhh, so good to hear from you, thank you!!! YES, the hiding flowerscape on The Shining! It never got taller? Bummer...kind of hard to admire it when it's that shy! Lol. There are a couple more "shorties" around here too, like one last year...all weather related, methinks. Weird. S&S has one last scape on it (I removed the spent ones already) that is so short, it looks like I just put it there instead of it growing out of the plant. Odd but I will post a pic to show you all. It may be a short scape but the flowers are nothing to sneeze at. They are beautifully large. Thanks for the recall re Holy Mouse Ears - of course, it makes sense, doesn't it? Poor Baby Bunting is another forced one and is barely hanging on but I am determined that it makes it...although it's a day to day survival for the poor little thing...it's no bigger than a dime!...well, maybe a nickel.. Same goes for the gold sport of Frances Williams, 'Golden Sunburst'.... It put out those late shoots last fall, remember? This year the leaves are half their size..hard to believe it is the same plant. Used up too much energy last fall and petered itself out, didn't it? I hope it fares better next spring. It has been a very interesting growing season so far, and I'm sure there's more surprises/oddities before we are done for the season :-) Here's shorty-puff on S&S, lol

Ok. I just came in from taking the leap of faith & cutting back my roses which were trying to become rose trees. I think I need a cup of tea ; ) An earlier poster stated she was a timid pruner; I think I am a paralyzed pruner! I am normally fairly bold & brave, but turn to jelly at the thought of cutting back a rose in summer. We won't have frost here for probably 5 months, so my brain knows it's safe. I am ridiculous! Anyway, pinched back a couple of recently planted roses, & whacked Veldfire, Sugar Moon, Century 2 and Lasting Peace. Fed w/alfalfa tea & fish emulsion, then mounded w/mulch over crown. We had 1/2" rain last night & will have more rain this afternoon. Chris of Newflora, I hope I did this correctly!