I spent the weekend planting everything I've purchased locally and whatever online orders dwindled in. Then, I forgot I placed a Bluestone order on Friday (thankyouverymuch). I don't know where I'm going to put them! Achillea mill Red Beauty (I always wanted this plant) Echinops Platinum Blue (Just looked to pretty to pass up) Ligularia desdemona (Beats me) Monarda Coral Reef (L-O-V-E monardas; as least I removed the Jacob Cline (which I have plenty of) from my cart!!!!) Phlox pan. Dodo H Forbes (Very pretty) Polemonium Apricot Delight (Very pretty) w/shipping, $48.80. Plus, I'm going to a local nursery, probably tomorrow, with a few coworkers. I won't be able to control/contain myself. When is the next meeting, LOL...

Mine arrived in about the same condition as stage_rat's. I don't remember last year if they were in such tough shape. I'm not concerned; a yarrow will come back from the dead even if it were COMPLETELY dead. The dianthus was pretty tired; hostas were totally fine (Beam me up, Scotty- I got Captain Kirk and Frances Williams); the shastas were fine...the Campanula was also tired, but it'll live, I'm sure. Joe Pye! I forgot about that one; I ordered the short one; the name escapes me at the moment. Oh, and some heuchera- those were mostly fine, but still tired. I wonder if ordering earlier in the season...are the plants looking better? I've never ordered from them outside the sale. I'm thinking I'll order earlier next year.

I ordered 8 of these on sale and I could not have been more pleased. I had to leave them in the box on the porch and trust my son to water them for a few days while on vaca, but they looked great. I should have potted a few of them for the summer and planted in the fall, but I did not want to have to water constantly. All are doing great, except 2, I am still waiting to fill in the soil while the stems harden on a few, and the curious pups have broken two of them off(now fenced off). This is only my second year to grow clems, but they are so rewarding even if they are alot of work. I know I will be well rewarded by the third year. Last years Jackmani and Ernest Markham have bloomed profusly, after dead heading. It is a learning experience, but one so fun I can't wait to order more next year. I never thought I would be able to grow these so well, but digging the big hole and even adding gravel in the bottom in my clay soil has been worth the work. I purchased 4 Sweet Autumn (don't care, I love them) LOL, a Venosa Villacea, a Dutchess of Edinburg, Montana Mayleen, and Dutches of Albany. I also have a Nellie Moser and Elsa Spath from last year. I will definitely buy from Bluestone again. I am in the Texas Panhandle where is is hot, dry clay soil, but with the correct amendments these are really rewarding plants. Any suggestions for other varieties that would do good in my zone 6-7?

I went locally shopping (well 1 hour drive each way to greenhouses in Sanford, NC) and got anemones (3 colors), chelone, agastache (a new yellow), gaillardia (2 colors), red lantana and annuals for containers and bedding plants, several garden phlox and a few herbs. I had already gone to another local greenhouse where I got annuals (ageratum, fuschia, begonia, impatiens, Persian Shield). Planted a lot of containers today! So, I need to control myself and not look at Bluestone! :-) Cameron