Hi Chris, Great viewing. I just love those silver spinies. Can you tell me what the one is in the second last pic? I hope that some of our attendees at the conference are thinking of bringing a few of these back to Oz! Cheers, Paul

Gorgeous!! I laughed when you spoke of wandering around the garden in the morning! Thankfully, I have succeeded in making my yard as private as possible. Surely, no one should see me wandering in my morning finest!! It's such a great feeling though, isn't it? A nice cup of coffee and a stroll through your own beautiful yard, borne of hard work and love!! Enjoy many more garden moments this season!!

Moccasinlanding, i am embarrassed to say I do not know if that is an English Dogwood .. it was here when we moved in, and I am very very new to any gardening other than mowing the grass. I really have just started to hobby garden 4 years or so ago. Ken, as to that one Great X under the shrubs, I will try to get a early picture of it this year. I thought I bought all five of my plants the same time and place. Also unless my memory fails it looks brighter at first, Anyhow I will try to get some early comparison shots, heck it will be fun to have a photo project for the spring... The funny thing is I had them purchased and in the ground before I found out they can be DIFFICULT, my first thought was DANG ! I really liked that type. So far they have been no problem (it pays to be ignorant) or so they say... I have heard of locals with hundreds of types that can't keep Great Expectations alive, or lose them over a winter. So I just enjoy them and hope for the best... they haven't come up yet ! fingers crossed. This post was edited by leafwatcher on Tue, Mar 19, 13 at 23:44

Hey Ken, I tried to respond last night, but the GW had a few problems...so it wouldn't let me post...after I wrote a whole long response to you....Argggg!!! Anyway...I was saying earlier that I do like Spanish Moss, but since I have been here in VB for a long time (born and raised) I have always heard that it smothers the host tree...I know that there is alot of pros and cons on this matter. I am open to others enjoying this moss...but I don't really have any interest in putting any in my trees. Since I travel to Savannah and other "low country" places like Hilton Head and I can't help from visiting and revisiting the same places (since I work for the airlines) and I have seen trees that are covered and then killed by the moss. I know that some say this is not true...but my eyes and through the years tell me the story!! So, Spanish Moss is great for some people...but not me! The person who planted that Windmill farm was a very wise man or women!!! I think the market for palms will take off in the next couple of years...especially Windmills, they grow so fast. I think this is a great business to venture into...I have shared my thoughts to a friend of mine...and they are doing a fine job... :) Those Sabals and Pindos (sagos) as well, will be fine to leave unprotected after 3-4 years...That way they can get established and acclimated to the area. The ones that need protection are the newly planted trees. Last week, when we had lows in the 20's during the day..I even was worried about my trees. They have been in the ground for 16+ years. The only people that had them back then was Jungle Golf at the ocean front and the Palm man in Pungo..A few others...but we were the first in the area to push the limits!! I even have to chuckle on they way we would wrap the trees back then...LOL.. I'm glad that you like the area so much!! We all love the beach and have seen such a huge change here in the last 10 years!!! You are correct in that this will start to look like Hillton Head some day or maybe Myrtle beach...Hopefully I will be here to see this some day!!! Please give me a heads up on when you decide to visit our area...OK? Take care Ken and I'm glad you made it home safely!! Laura in VB