My mapleleaf viburnums have cross pollinated a 'Blue Muffin' two years in a row. They are all very close together and bloomed at the same time. Prior to my purchasing the 'Blue Muffin', the mapleleaf viburnums had blooms but no fruit so I do believe it is the 'Blue Muffin' that effected that change. Of course, here in Georgia, all that happened a couple of months ago!

Hostas Lady's mantle "Stella d'oro" daylilies Flanders poppies Zinnia lilliput mix (started from seed indoors) Stock Lavatera Dill Coriander Eggplant, tomatoes and chilies are all in bloom Coral bells Roses ("Ambridge rose," "Fair bianca" and "Molineux"; all the others have finished their first flush) Echinacea Canna (I overwintered in a pot) Zonal geraniums Cranesbill geraniums Sweet peas Clematis "etoile violette" Hydrangeas - annabelle and nikko blue allium chives catmint privet snapdragons And I think that's it.

Belle, hope you're enjoying Pisa. We spent some time there a couple of years ago and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Away from the tower, there were few tourists and the city was very nice - I think I liked it better than Florence, because it was quieter and felt more "real". I meant to go around with a pen and paper and make a list, but ... you know how it is. Too many weeds to pull. So, from memory, I've got Shrubs and vines: fairy, new dawn and bonica roses, slender deutzia, various clematis. Most of the Hydrangea - Annabelle, I think, it's got huge white flowers and pale green leaves, is in full swing, Preziosa and the blue mopheads are just barely showing color, except Endless Summer which has been going for a week or more. A big old kousa volunteer has really earned its keep this month - it's beautiful. Oh, yeah, Mountain Laurel is almost done but still looks good, along with Nandina, which blooms for a really long time. Perennials, bulbs and subshrubs: loads of lavender, hardy salvia (a volunteer, unknown variety), a wonderful pink snapdragon that wintered over, shasta daisies and some "wild" daisies too, several types of thyme, black-eyed susan, lance-leaf corepsis, peach-leaf bellflower, tunica, soapwort, various dianthus, many kinds of tender salvia, hosta, balloon flower, allium (several varieties, including a smallish, pure blue that's new to me this year). Red valerian, good old hellebores, and various daylilies. Low nepeta is still going, along with several low-growing types of campanula. Oh, yes, foxglove is everywhere, and so is rose campion! Queen of the Prairie is just starting to bloom - that is about it for flowers. Sounds like a lot; if I could just get it all organized it might actually look like a garden. Patty, you can also tell a lot about the kind of gardener each of us is. I've got a lot of plants that most people would not allow in their yards - wild things that pop up all over the place. I'm just a sucker for anything that blooms well.

I dug one garlic today and was a little disappointed. The garlic was small. I don't know what I planted, I just got odds and ends I had around here, and bought a few at the grocery store. I am thinking about removing more garlic and a bunch of walking onion tomorrow. The walking onions will just take over your place if they get the chance. When the sun drops a little lower, I plan making a spot for cucumbers. The cucumbers are more plants we don't need, I think we have a bunch of them in the wildlife garden also, but if I have a couple of plants here at the house it will be easy to just walk out and get them, plus I found these two plant in the junk I had left over, there are some peppers that I need to put in the ground also. I need to quit starting seeds, I seem to always wind up with plants running out my ears.