I just posted a bunch of lily pics on the Roses Forum on a thread about other plants grown with the roses. I have a lily obsession along with the Rose obsession... ive had polka for about 3 years now. It is own root and I live in zone 5 with a very short growing season. This year it is finally starting to grow and bloom well. In my zone, it probably would have done better grafted since I have such a short season. So far it has been very healthy for me in my humid summers. I would not call it a blackspot magnet.

1. If you were given a $100 bill to spend on yourself-what would you do with it? Probably buy Lego set for my grandson 2. What is your favorite brand of dish soap? Palmolive 3. What is your favorite brand of laundry detergent? BioKleen Free and Clear 4. Favorite candle scent? Don't use anything scented and don't burn candles since a friend's house burned down because of one. Also don't think they are safe in earthquake country. 5. Have you ever met a celebrity? If so, who? I'm the worst celebrity conscious person ever - I just don't know who anyone is. I can't recall meeting anyone, but on my frequent trips to Santa Barbara and Montecito, I've had some crossed paths over the years. I wouldn't have known, but for the awareness of my friends there: Ate sushi next to Rob Lowe (many years ago, my first sushi experience). I didn't realize who he was (West Wing years) but when my friend quietly made me aware, I realized he was just as beautiful as on TV. Had breakfast next to Harrison Ford (who I did recognize). Stood in line at a store behind Kenny Loggins (had no idea, but my friend again filled me in). Sat on a plane next to a young man the flight attendants were going gaga over, getting autographs, etc. I had no idea who he was, but his name was Shaun or Sean and was in a famous boy band (this was probably 20 years ago). My son figured it out, now I can't recall. (I just looked it up...Boyz to Men). Maybe not a big celebrity, but I did meet Roy Yamaguchi once at Pebble Beach and was treated to dinner at his restaurant there. 6. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Close but no cigar. 7. Have you ever ridden a)horse b)motorcycle c)helicopter? Yes, yes, no. 8. What is your favorite 'odd' food combination? Peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches. 9. What is the last movie you watched? The Book Club - I am not a fan of movies at all, so seldom see them. 10. If you could go on Antiques Roadshow, what would you bring? Nothing I can think of. 11. Do you like Pina Coladas? No, I hate coconut. 12. Getting caught in the rain? No, no, no. 13. Or the smell of the ocean? Yes, yes, yes. 14. Or the taste of champagne? Yum, yum, yum! (and now you have that song as an earworm!) And I guess I don't know the song, lol.

Yep. Three years of drought and searingly hot summers have decimated hundreds of shrubs and old established trees on my place. And please don't mention the vege garden. Heartbreaking what it did to my beloved Grevillea hookeriana...(click on pics to enlarge.)

Thanks for the kind words and welcome back. I was honestly expecting this post to not get any activity with people wondering "who the heck is this guy?" haha Prairie Moon- Out of sight out of mind, mostly. Several years ago I had this forum added to my homescreen on an old phone. So I'd tap the icon and be here instantly. When I got a new phone I didn't do the same and I came here less and less. A few phones later and I just plain forgot about the site. (My actual computer usage has been near nil except when absolutely necessary.) I haven't found any other sites worth mentioning. There are plenty of Facebook gardening groups I have been in but I've left nearly all of them after a while. When I find I'm spending more time sighing or shaking my head at posts/comments in a group instead of replying to them then it's time for me to leave. I'm still in the same general area of SE Michigan that I've always been. Don't have a garden right now due to life getting busy and recently moving so the only things I have growing are some houseplants. It was fun reading through some of the Veggie Tales posts here and it's got me looking forward to getting back at it next spring. Rodney