Karyn I bought the Varigated but I took 2 small clippings today and Im gonna try to root them. I hate buying plants I love seeds its so much cheaper. But I have to say Lowes here really outdid there self this year. Ill go broke if I go back so im avoiding them now. Anyone got any cool seeds to share feel free to speak up. I have some Purple coneflower, Hostas, Cosmos, Bell pepper, Egg plant, Okra, Crimson Watermelon, and Nastrium and a few others i can trade.

Ewww, rats - I'm sure you'll win the war, but YICK to have them in the first place. I love the 'Silk Road' lilies. I really want to plant a bunch of oriental and asiatic lilies this fall. I had some gorgeous ember-red-orange asiatic ones called 'Avignon' at the old garden, but that variety is hard to come by now - I might have to try another similar one instead. I also had a lovely oriental called 'Bergamo,' that I think I can still find. And the "tiger" lily 'Sweet Surrender' is one of my favorites. The bulb catalogs are starting to roll in - I'll have my wish list made soon! Laurel

What a once in a lifetime opportunity for you...I got close to it in 96 but so many people were all over it I didn't want to fight the masses...I wish I had now...especially for my kids sake!

I always prefer to sit in public places with my back to a wall, or failing that, facing the door. Here gun violence is extremely rare, but there was one time when we went to see an Irish band thart was performing here in the city. DH is a big fan of Irish music. Tickets said doors were opening at 7, with the performance to start at 7.30. Everyone was lined up waiting to go in by 7, but the doors didn’t open until more like 7.45. Then when we got in and took our seats…nothing. At about 8 or so a ”warm up” group who I have to think were hastily brought in when it was clear the main band was dragging their feet as they were clearly unrehearsed and just awful, came on stage and performed a couple of songs before they were called off stage and we were left to sit and wait. At some point, a slideshow of old photographs of the Troubles and other poor British soldier- Irish inhabitant interactions appeared on the large screen at the back of the stage. All this time the audience had free access to the bar and many took liberal advantage of this, so that when the band finally came on stage at about 9pm, they were well in the bag. We were close to the front and the front rows were clearly taken up by Irish immigrants or sympathisers who were rowdy (we’d seen them making many trips to the bar) and waving a large Irish flag which blocked our view of the stage. The band had played about three or four rebel rousing IRA support-type songs, all with the continuing inflammatory slideshow and the atmosphere was electric. It truly felt like it wouldn’t take much to trigger a full on riot. I have never felt so uncomfortable in a public place in my life. (By contrast, we went to a Pogues concert in a tent previous to that and everyone was literally jammed in touching each other, and the only thing that bothered me was that it was really hot.) DH stood up and said, ”Let’s go.” I was surprised as we never leave concerts early and as I said, he’s a big Irish music fan. But he (a policeman) was getting the same ugly vibes, that one false move and punches might well start flying. I had friends who I knew were at the same concert, and I asked them how it had been for them. They replied that they were right at the back, but they too were picking up the same vibe and were looking around for the exits in case a quick departure became necessary. It wasn’t fun. And ironically about two months later I had an email from the band’s publicity organisation selling tickets for another performance that was to take place in the coming year. Even if the atmosphere hadn’t been so riotous, the mere fact that they were an hour and a half late on stage without any apology from anyone at any point would not encourage me to attend another performance.