It has always seemed to me that clematis are the most frequently mis-labeled plants I buy. I've gotten some wrong roses and coreopsis, but the number of wrong clematis I've received trumps them all (Of course, I have more clematis than those other plants, but still). I have a Josephine I never ordered, plus one mystery one I've never been able to identify. Good thing I like almost every one of them except the Josephine, and she grows so well I can't bear to dig her up.

If you look at both pictures again you will note that it isn't so much that the colors are so garish in the first-the combinations of the intensity is wrong. In the first it is the light pink (Nelly Moser?) that throws the whole combination off. When using intense colors, everything has to be intense. The idea works well in the second picture because they used similar intensity of color, not just the colors they used. I always found Clematis to be quite fussy about PH of the soil, more so then any other plants. They also like their roots cool so planting something at the base of them or covering with a rock or pot worked well for me in my (then) hot, humid summers.

The chemical soup of love for my (dog) kids is pretty darn close to the joy I feel when I get to work on my new island...so the word 'love' seems to roll off the tongue quite easily, although I'd take my kids any day over anything kitchen (and lots of other things for that matter :). But, this space is exactly what I wanted, and I really didn't care what was in or expected. The work spaces to the left and right of the stove are perfect for tons of reasons. And i love the 18" wide elevated 'L' clear of my work space and large enough to be a useable space all its own. Facing our open space and looking out front and side windows while prepping and cooking (as I do all prep, except rinsing, next to the stove) is the best feature. I hated staring at a wall while working in the kitchen...I feel set free from a claustrophobic prison. (can you tell I have some intense reactions to being boxed in? ;-). As soon as we elevate the island hood, all will be perfect!

I have a sizable fig tree I need to move and don't really know where to put it...cuz it is near the house and the house needs new siding and painting. So if someone wants that ,,,could trade for that also. I would prefer correspondence with folks who are not far away (I am in Yonkers NY) cuz then I could drive to where ever and show my plants and trading would be less blind then (but I suppose some may consider that too intrusive). I have done this before and it seemed to work out well for both parties. I suppose it is possible someone out there may be silly enough to trade for my few not special plants I have hanging around the yard. This stuff I can get rid of include: Yellow archangel ground cover, vinca (purple)ground cover, some iron clad hostas (by iorn clad I just mean deer and bugs don't really bother with them), lily of the valley ground cover, I suppose I could dig up some forsythia, I also have a hydrangea I have been tying to get give away for years. I could throw in some daffodils and crocuses. I also an upright (I suppose the word is vastigate) apple (not sure of var) which seems to take well to cuttings attempts. Here below are some plants just to give an idea of some plants I am interested in: Really I don't care what format (bear root, plant, seed, cutting...) Clematis, Diamond Ball Hazelnut, any kind Pawpaw any hardy kind Passionflower, Maypops Hibiscus, Honeymoon Red Sedum, Firecracker Ice Plant Autumn Olive, Garnet Jujube, Shanxi Li Bare Root or Plant would be nice Currant, Consort Black Bare Root or Plants Honeyberry Collection Goji Berry, Sweet Lifeberry Plum, Italian Prune Medlar, Breda Giant Kiwi, Hardy Red or Kiwi, Hardy (whatever, normal type/var) Gooseberry, Hinnomaki Red Elderberry, any var Lingonberry, Koralle Cornelian Cherry, Red Star Creeping phlox, Emerald Blue Gotu kola Poppy, Allegro Plant or seeds Lobelia, Vulcan Red Sunflower, Double Dandy Hybrid Calamus Cypress Vine, Red Nicotiana, Heaven Scent Brahmi (Bacopa monieri) Poppy, Patty's Plum Salvia, Victoria or Divinorum Gaillardia, Goblin Asclepias, Red Butterfly Sunflower, Fantasia Mix Hybrid Tithonia, Sundance Also interested in Acacea (pref copper/chocalate collor) Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed