Thanks, david 5311! I really do love it...and it began my quest for more doubles...not realizing how hard that was going to be (I realize now). It was one of only maybe two or three pots there, btw...the labels were jumbled and I wasn't confident, to tell the truth, that it was what it said it was! I decided to take a chance...and I'm glad I did. Occasionally, we get lucky! The thing is...I was perfectly happy with my other hellebores...until this double started...lol! I found an online place where you could look up hellebores (and other perennials..I guess a wholesaler?)...and there was/is this double white...not quite this type of double, if you know what I mean, not as many petals, but still neat and interesting. Anyway, I put in my zipcode and have now called all the nurseries listed in my area that are supposed to have it...none do...and none have heard of it...so much for that. I like that idea of national collections, too. Although I can't begin to think of how it could be done in a country as vast as ours. But, I'm sure there are great minds who can! Also, who really owns them? Well, just curious. Enjoyed the chat! Got snow here last night but by now, it has mostly gone away. Just when we think winter is done! March, always a tricky month!

I wish I was. Same writer has gone on to become garden columnist. Local newspaper(s) now has multiple locally written garden columns in some issues. Provides plenty of opportunity to read other dum...er...uh...interesting comments. Must mean this area has become a hort. hotbed, anyway. Certainly like that idea. Do see some fun gardens, here and there. Not so much up my way, as in parts of Seattle. Big part of problem likely 60 percent rental occupancy, means 6 out of 10 yards not owned by occupants. Landlords may not want renters to improve property, even when renters take an interest. Especially if they've read that piece in 'Arboretum Bulletin'.

As a member of the PNHC board, I was invited to the Media Event hosted at Hersonswood garden by Burpee on May 9. Ciscoe Morris and I arrived early, and George Ball spent about 20 minutes showing us through the garden. The garden was in much better shape than we thought it would be; we learned later that it had been heavily weeded and spruced up a few days earlier. Ciscoe commented on how he'd like to get his hands on those piles of "weeds!" Me, too. To be honest, driving in and walking through the property felt the same as visiting the garden of a dead friend. There was a lot of sadness, some felt anger and all of us were frustrated that some of the beautiful plants might never be available to us in commerce. The garden near Dan and Robert's former house was referred to as The Potager by George Ball and is being used to trial "high end vegetables." It's too soon to tell if the flamboyant plantings are gone -- that will be evident in July. The gardens around the house were less well maintained but still better than expected. George Ball mentioned several times that he liked a lived-in look better than Dan and Robert's (he searched for a word but didn't finish the sentence) ... he meant, however, Dan and Robert's meticulously high standards of garden maintenance. The area around the house appeared to need some watering. All of the hoop houses are empty and the paths between weedy. It looked like a ghost town. George Ball emphasized in his talk to the press (a very poor turnout) that a condition of the sale would be that the garden would be preserved although not necessarily open to the public. Those familiar with the problems and technicalities of preserving the Dunn Garden, Miller Garden, Chase Garden, etc., know that this is very very complicated undertaking and the audience was skeptical. We went up to Windcliff, home of Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones, after the event to pick up Robert for dinner and the contrast of that garden to the Heronswood garden was a painful reminder of how beautifully maintained Heronswood was and where it is now. Heronswood will be open to the public via the Garden Conservancy on July 21 along with Little and Lewis and other gardens in the area. The PNHC board will meet again in June to discuss our next step. It is the consensus that purchasing the property for the current asking price is a very poor business decision. There are many alternatives to consider, and thoughts and ideas are welcome at weloveplants.org Diane Here is a link that might be useful: Heronswood Garden Conservancy Open Day

Great ideas, great collaboration. Very interesting concepts. The desert straw bale home you posted was a key inspiration picture for us for our "in progress" straw bale home. Some may be interested to find more info about your picture at simple living today. I really compliment you on mastering Sketch up! I gave up. As you say it gives you placeholders, but with straw bale construction and clay plaster you can be so creative with materials like adobe brick and cob. I wish I knew the source of these pictures from Google. Both show thermal mass around a wood burning stove as you propose. The one above is on the funky side of design The next much more sophisticated but two examples of all that straw bale and cob can offer. I know you are in the early design phase and not focusing on details like these yet, but you will have so many options. Enjoy!