Thanks, gottagarden. I plan on cleaning up my grasses and perennials, too. I have one long border that is full of mostly perennials that is a raised bed that I can access most of it from pathways, without stepping in the bed itself. And the front perennial bed is bordered by the street and the driveway, walkway and lawn, so I can access quite a bit of that too without stepping into the bed. I thought I would have my pruning done by now, but the person who was scheduled to help me with it this year, has had a sudden health issue and he is still unsure if he can do it. So I may have to do the pruning myself, adding to my time crunch. I don't have a lot of lawn and can easily get around without stepping on it if I need to. Isn't that great that you have good soil. I think you are the first person on GW that I've heard say they actually are happy with their soil...lol. I'm not unhappy with mine. It is clay but on the loamy side too. I don't have drainage problems and it is not difficult to dig. Our yard, is rarely wet. I have one walkway across the back of the house that puddles from the downspouts, probably because it is compacted there, but it is a mulched walkway and it is quickly absorbed. Other than that I can't remember seeing a puddle in the yard. It has to be all the mature trees around the property that just suck the moisture out of the soil. My vegetable beds are raised too, and they are usually warmer and drier, sooner than the rest of the garden. It's such an unusual year, that I would like to try to get a jump on things. This entire week is supposed to be warm again and 60 on Friday.

Well, That was short lived. Today I found that the banana bunch had broken off. I should of had a support set up already. I wonder if all the rain we've had lately was a factor? Here is a link that might be useful: Agony of Defeat, Lost banana bunch

http://fknursery.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=432 This page lists two companion plants to the aster: Little bluestem and Snowy goldenrod. http://www.longfellowsgarden.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/550/index.htm This one lists Heavy Metal Switch Grass and Henry's Garnet Sweetspire. No mention of roses, but maybe they might be conflicting once the plant comes into full growth. Betweens 18 inches and 24, so it might overtower your rose.

Whee! That was so much fun! Thanks for hosting and organizing. :) Next year, I'll do better at labeling the things I know, and will definitely make sure to get there earlier enough to unload _before_ everyone is allowed to start picking things. It might also make sense to figure out some way to, say, limit people to 5 things in the first half hour or something, just so everything of one sort doesn't immediately vanish.