Thanks everyone! A word of caution regarding the Smooth Blue Aster (Aster laevis). I wintersowed and planted out no more than 6 plants in a few different beds spring '07. This past spring thru fall I ended up with about 40 or so new plants; most of which I had to yank up. A quite a few of these seedlings were cropping up in the crevices of the rock/stone border that lines my NW/NE strip. The bonus about this perennial though is that it DOES bloom the first year as you can see from the last picture :) PS Brandy....I received the seeds yesterday! Thanks for the extras. Expect yours soon! Vera

Shawn I think the angels are blooming because they know they have a job to do. Making the wintery days of so many a little brighter. It is just amazing how LONG the blooms last now. On this one it seams that each blossom is different. I love it. I think I read that it is a slow grower but I could be wrong. Deb the little angel came in the mail yesterday from my sister. on the bottom she wrote...1000 kisses. I am homesick now. Everybody said I was angel and I really miss my co workers and friends a LOT. Thank goodness for all the angels that remind me of beautiful memories. Eloise I was hungry this morning lol. Since I hate to eat alone ...I figured I invite you all to join me ;-) Linda so happy you liked it. Theresa you are last. Cause I just do not know what to say but brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr it even LOOKS cold hahahahaha Now that is ONE thing I do not miss about my former job. Drving the mail through the snow with a bycicle or pushing a cart. Or them taking you where ever lol. Stay warm and safe. Lucy

Great pictures. Looks like you had fun. In your first pic, the sign says "Chinas". Good thing I wasn't there, I'd go nuts with all those china roses to pick from. Randy

It's sooooooooooooooooo lonely in this forum........ Someone open a curtain and LET SOME LIGHT IN!!!! The sun is half-heatedly shining here today. No snow. How 'bout those presidential candidate primaries? Huh? GUUUUUURL POWER.... and the good ole Mac boy network rides again. NHSuzanne, was your town voting center a madhouse last night? Back to packing....and juicing! I end all project in "and juicing" now...lol. I bought a couple of books on de-cluttering...I tossed my other decluttering books when I was decluttering last time...so I am re-inspired, especially since I am packing for the move NOW. It's time to really assess how much material stuff I need to operate in this life. So far, It's been pretty amazing how many pairs of boots I NEED! And I packed an entire box of books regarding death. I'm wondering how Feng Shui fits into THAT! I feel like I should have put a stick of sage incense or a flute cure in that box or something. Oh, I heard a funny thing in the island bookstore last weeknend. A lady went to the cash wrap to buy her books and the guy said, "Are you from here...or are you visiting?" She answered, "I'm from HERE, but just visiting..........earth." Now I know there are a LOT of hippies on the island, but this sort of took the cake for me. Whilst I was there, I bought a book called, "GIVING...How Each Of Us Can Change The World." Gonna start reading it tonight. What's everyone else HERE reading right now???????? I could ramble on quite a bit more, but I feel I should let someone else get a word in, eh?