Oops, Ellie is right. Senior moment, always been bad with names, I'm going to have to pay more attention. Here is my Lake Norman Spider The one I first posted is Loch Ness Monster. Thanks Ellie! Avedon, Royal Occasion can melt down here too, but has been good so far this year. We've had lower temps the last week or more though, under 90. When it gets to mid 90s it really breaks down. Tuscawilla Blackout seems to melt worse than RO. I moved Royal Occasion last fall, maybe it is where I planted it, between lighter daylilies, it really stands out this year. I planted Tuscawilla Bill Reed in my white garden, thinking it was very white. I may move it elsewhere, but it really is a good daylily. Nice substance August Wedding had its first 2 blooms in my garden yesterday, perfect blooms, just love the daylilies you don't have to wait for a good bloom. I guess everyone knows how I love Clown Parade.

They lived next door. My Mom and my brother still do. My Dad was surrounded by the people he loved and who loved him. It hasn't been as tough on me as I thought it would be. This is something I have been very afraid of for many years. But I'm handling it well, and my Mom is doing real good. That might change after all the family has left. But for now I'll take the peace of knowing he is finally resting. I would like to thank everyone here for the kind words and the thoughts and prayers. We really appreciate it. I need to spend more time over here instead of on Facebook. It just didn't feel right to post this on FB, but it did here. I try to come over here at least every couple of days. So even if I don't post and you don't see me, I'm still here. I appreciate each and every one of you. And I can post now without feeling like I need to cry. Pooh Bear

Thank you for all of the nice comments! The allium in the bottom left of the Rock Solid is not real, it's garden art - I bought them several years ago from Gardeners Supply, they were called 'Everlasting Allium' :o) I gave all of them a fresh coat of spray paint over the last year. Mantis, I looked it up and I've had Michael Bennett since Aug 2012. I think it's been growing pretty well for me. I'm pretty sure I had it in a pot for a year or two, then planted it in the ground and I moved it last year. I'm not sure how many fans I have, but it has definitely increased. I'm not sure about budcount on it. Youthful hands, hah! I sure don't feel youthful most days... I guess it's all relative - but I am under 50. Nancy, allium do not do well here at this house. They grew really well at my old house, which is just 3 miles from here, but there is major clay here (I don't know if it's native or just crummy fill dirt that the builder brought in). The alliums I planted here are petering out. I have a couple of other different colored echinacea that I like too (Sundown, I think, and a Cheyenne Spirit that is mostly reddish), but I just really love this Dixie Scarlet. I found it at a Farmer's Market last year but haven't seen it again this year. I'm not clear on how the Cheyenne Spirit is supposed to work - my mom and I 'argue' about this once in a while (did on Tuesday night on a garden walk, as a matter of fact!). She and her friend insist that there are different colored flowers on the same plant (and I know the marketing pictures show that), but I think it's just because there are multiple seeds planted in the same pot that grow together and look like one plant. Sherry, I just got Neon Flamingo last year, so really can't comment too much on it. I have only had two blooms open so far. But, here is a picture I just took of the plant, you can see how straight and sturdy the scapes are. They are around 28-31" tall, but again, the plant isn't settled in yet. Kay, I can see why it is one of your new favorites! The End (I feel like I wrote a book, sorry!)

Nice! I like your new rose. I'm such a sucker for pink roses. That must be a hibiscus, in the picture. Is is upright or sprawling? It looks a lot like the annual I showed above. I went to Lowes yesterday on the way home from the Dr. and came home with an impulse Kordes rose. Shame on me! Ingrid, our nearest Lowes had some lovely Dahlias all potted and blooming. You could try one right now, if you wanted to. Thanks for the lily name, Cath. The orientals don't normally do very well for me, not enough winter chill:( I think I actually tried "Hot Line" a few years ago, and it didn't make it. Thanks, Roselady. I hope your little band does well for you. My Louise Odier has downright shocked me with constant blooms. Here are some this morning. And the new buds just keep coming!