Thought I'd check in and report on my garden...it just boggles my mind how these plants can survive and even thrive in this heat! Being relatively new to gardening, it's so thrilling to have some success! 1)Red and pink Celosias: seemingly can't get enough of the heat. Love the whole spear-shaped 'flowers'...so unique. And how the red ones have red leaves, and red stems. Soooo cool! 2)Dark pink Vincas with white 'eyes': The hotter it gets, the happier they seem. They're blooming like crazy and I love the intense, deep green leaves...real champs they are. They are bordered by Dusty Millers which also seem to be doing well...the little monsters: I had to trim them back because they were starting to take over my sidewalk! But despite being a bit unruly, their silver leaves make such a great contrast against bright colored flowering plants. 3)Madagascar Palm: seems quite happy; it has a gorgeous shape right now with perfect green leaves. Hard to believe it was just a mere prickly stump 6 months ago. My only fear is, he is growing and someday I'm going to have to figure out how to transplant him! Slow down little fella, slow down! 4)Purple Leaf Plum: looks good, but I kind of wonder if I need to paint its bark to protect it as the summer wears on? I haven't noticed other Plum trees with bark painted, but maybe that's just me. Anyhow, my mom says hers is producing fruit right now, but she lives up in Cottonwood so who knows? Maybe it's just as well that mine doesn't produce fruit? Shrubs: The African Boxwood shrubs are doing much better than I ever expected...and they've been verdant in both winter and summer. I highly recommend them (so far). I think it's because, being close to the house porch, they get a few hours of shade that suit them well. I've also got some Ilex V. (Stoke's Dwarf) that are healthy-looking, but haven't grown one lick since the 8 months I've had them! I guess when they call it 'dwarf' they weren't kidding. Oh well, less trimming to do. 6) Chinese Pistache tree: tips of some of the leaves on the lower part of the tree are brown and crispy. I think I might need to do a deep watering? 7) Sunflowers: some of you may recall I bought a cheap package several weeks ago and just threw them in the border area next to my sidewalk. Already 15 inches! So cute how, even though they don't have flowers yet, their bodies are turning to the sun. Wish I could provide picks, but my old non-digital Canon EOS has finally given up the ghost. I might just have to stop being such a luddite and go digital. You all have such beautiful photos...I wonder if any of you are using special lenses? (I've got a Tokina 50-200 zoom...nothing special but it's functional most of the time!).

cut down a tree yesterday & am paying for it today: can't move parts of my body I didn't even know I had! so I'm updating my list (any excuse is a good excuse, right?) Here's what I have: ..................Has.....................Wants Deb: name tag...................crinum (I think the Vick's plant has returned to the earth, but if it shows any green, I'll bring it.) Donna.....................................crinum Rebecca......dog treats...........no entry-Did I miss something? Dorothy..... no real entry, but I have seeds from May's house for her cockscomb, don't know if it's dwarf or not, it's about 16" tall? Lin.....variegated aspidistra,................shade plants ........tall pink Mexican petunia ........aloe Alley......cannas.........................Turk's cap, blue mistflower, Louisiana irises April.....shea butter balms..........many mints, drought-tolerant perennials (I know I'll have Brazilian rock rose, lamb's ears, white yarrow, maybe yarrow Papriks, which is red). Tina.....lemon mint (lots) & cannas......pots! Tessa...tomato seedlings, loquat..............ginger Weldon.....pink or white kolanchoes........aucuba (just cut & stuck them this morning!) Danna....evergreens?....................tough roses Julie...yellow ice plant, pink mum.........lamb's ear, crinums, Bridal Wreath cuttings if they root, ginger if I can find, bulbs depending on what I can find Carrie......ice plant, tall cannas............mauve crinum If I've omitted anything, please let me know. off to take an aspirin... (Does anybody know a way to get columns to show up on the posts?)

dannab1 I have oodles of MG's in fact I have 16 or more little cups of them & more in the garden LOL (Donna wanted to make sure I had lots growing for her to see out her kitchen window so when we were yanking the old vines down she shook the vines to drop more seeds), and of course she thinks it's hilarious as to how over run my garden is. Ya know I just can't throw them in the trash so will be sending a bunch to school with the grands to share with their friends too. LOL I have a rooted piece of Hoya I can bring to you if you want it. Also spider plant, 2 varieties of mother of thousands & some babies from my burrows tail. Let me know OK. I would Love some of your Catmint. Also some of the Bee Balm (what color & heigth?) Sylvia, How many vines do you want??? A dozen or more ..... haha ... seriously. Donna & I will be bringing (some are just sprouted) 16 Morning Glories (mixed Lavendar & Grandpa Ott) 3 in a cup 16 starts of Easter Egg plant - 3 in a cup 5 Black Hollyhocks - 2 in a cup 2 Black Currant Datura - 1 in a cup 2 Yellow Datura - 1 in a cup 3 Ranunculus - 1 in a cup 7 Lambs Ear - 3 in a cup 3 Pink Dianthus - 3 in a cup several "lillies" (I thought they were Canna's LOL) If anyone wants I can also bring a clipping from my Lavender Lady Passion flower or an unknown variety of passie, or a clipping from my shell vine (let me know or my shears won't touch em) If anyone has moon flowers that aren't white I'd be interested in getting one. Sorry I'm so long winded tonight, Debbie

OK girls, I'm seeing more snow than I ever wanted to see again and they say more is coming...oh well, it's my mom and I'm sure she put up with unpleasant things for my sake, to I'll just suck it up! She had a bad spell last night....I think she might still be grieving, so I just hugged her. She said she told the Lord He could take her any time, that she was ready, but maybe He better wait awhile cause all the family just got home from this funeral and they needed to rest. Plus, my nephew, the funeral director is on vacation. She can be so funny. Rosa, Thank you for the compliment....I sure played with the lengths and widths a lot, plus changed them as I sewed when I got in little tight places, too. I live in what I consider a small town, too, but I think there are 5 lights on the main drag from one end to the other. I like this better, but it's the pits for fabric shopping. I'm with you, Sally. It's always good to get home...and in my case, be it ever so humble. Deanna, I know you're having fun using your new machine. You'll get used to it and it's settings, etc and be whipping those perfect blocks out in no time! Last year when I was up north, I gained 10 of the 25 I had lost and I haven't taken it off, so yes, I do need to be careful. I'll enjoy myself, but if I watch the carbs and desserts, I think I'll be ok. I do love bread! Everyone have a good day........ SharonG/FL-cold snowy MN