THANK YOU to all my forum friends for your nice comments. Marg...yes that is a japanese maple, one of the laceleafs. I have two in that bed. I actually made the bed first, then planted the maples. I have other japanese maples around the property (another of my plant addictions, of which I have many). I actually make raised beds because the ground is so full of rocks and roots and it's impossible to plant. My whole property was forest when I moved here. Rita... I have unearthed probably thousands of rocks over the past few years. New Hampshire is named the 'Granite State' for a reason....LOL. I am running out of rocks so now I am getting them from my father's property miles away but I don't have a truck so I gather a few everytime I visit my dad. My husband isn't too crazy about the car always being dirty from the dug-up rocks...Haha. Edward & Ellie...Sorry, I don't know the name of any of my peonies. I have never bought any since over the years people have shared them with me, the same with the iris and many of my perennials. I have a lot of pass-along plants started from divisions. Folks don't usually give me a name so maybe they don't know either? I did see one at Lowe's the other day that looked just like my white one, but I didn't check to see the name. Sorry I'm no help. Missylin...I am pretty sure that peonies are colder-zone plants but I don't know how warm a climate they can tolerate. It seems everyone around here grows peonies and they do very well so they must like the cold. The same is true for tulips, lilacs, rhododendrons, spruce trees, birch trees, etc. which flourish here. (There has to be some positives to living where its really cold, right?). We do have glorious summers but it is so short-lived. Julia...yes we are 'rock-miners'...teehee. That is a very good word for it! I am told that I have not only a plant addiction, but a rock addiction. I can't stop making rock beds and taking over the lawn and entire property with rock garden beds. I figure, the rocks are there and they are free. And digging them up keeps me in shape! THANK YOU, Nancy, Kay, Nat, Brittie and Jean! Christine, you know exactly what I'm talking about having lived in Connecticut! You simply cannot put a spade in the ground without hitting ROCKS so raised beds are the only way to go. Celeste

I was straight out all day deadheading the roses because the japanese beetles are destroying all the pretty blooms, so this is the first time I've had a chance to THANK YOU all for your comments. The forum is moving so fast these days that I want to comment on every post but it's hard to keep up. Just wanted to thank all of you who are posting photos also because I know how time-consuming it is to upload and post. Nat...yes I grow hostas too and have for years. I often overlook them because they are so low-maintenance but I have quite a few. And I haven't dared to count how many daylilies I have acquired in just 2 seasons, but it's enough to fill 7 raised beds that I had to make. Thanks for the nice comments about my 'boys' too....of course I think they are the most handsome guys on the planet...LOL. Celeste

Yes that is Daphne. I have had several bloom for me like this and on very short stalks. All the ones in the house now will be blooming in my yard next spring as I plant them all in my flower beds after I buy them and let them bloom for me in the winter.

I tell you how much I liked looking at Linda Sierra over the years. I bought one. I doubt I'll get the gorgeous color I've seen so many have, but you and others always make me drool with it so what the heck. I've scaled back by half, but that was one I just had to try.........Butterfly Moon is gorgeous too.....Sorry about your drought. We still are dealing with people who have lost their homes due to flooding and tornadoes around my area. It will be weeks before I can plant anything in my heavy clay soil and by then we will be knocking at the door of the triple digit summer heat. But that's Ma Nature for you. Doesn't want anyone to get over confident in the garden..........Maryl