newbie_in_nj, Those are the flowers of Sedum album. You may not want this one unless you don't mind it taking over. It would be a perfect one to take over a slope but not garden friendly. I've been ripping it out for years, but the smallest leaf to hit the soil (and many do fall while being ripped out) will start a whole new bunch of plants :O The snaps probably had 'Black Prince' as a parent, but couldn't tell you who the other parent might have been...the flower color is different on mine. I collected the seed from the campus I was a student on. These particular snaps seem to be the most hardy for me, but have had others winter over as well... just not as long :) I started some Snap 'Red and White' this year (not yet blooming) and these were one of the original parents of 'Black Prince'...so now I guess we're having a family reunion LOL!! Vera

Well, I spent the entire 4th of July either outside harvesting lavender, weeding, or inside sorting and bundling the lavender while cooling off in the AC. I did stop from the lavender task long enough to pick onions, herbs, and squash and make the marinated veggies for the grill. Thunderstorms moved through in the early evening; so we didn't drive over to the town's fireworks display but instead watched the Boston Pops on TV and DH helped with the lavender bundling. THEN...on July 5th my hubby, son and I drove to Burnsville for a Lavender festival at a small agritourist organic farm in that area and met up with my niece and 3 of her friends. My niece and her friends are just starting into gardening veggies and herbs organically and they had a lot of questions. We were walking through the lavender labyrinth and I was identifying the different lavender cultivars and talking about the uses for each type as well as growing tips. I suddenly realized that I was surrounded by 20 or 30 very attentive people that I didn't know. Apparently word got out that a free lavender growing seminar was being held in the lavender labyrinth. LOL. I was hounded by tourists the rest of the visit; I had to keep telling folks that I had NO IDEA where things were located on the 24-acre farm as I was a guest on a first-time visit as well.

Chris, I would be interested in any tomato seeds that you may have extra of. My hubby and I were just talking about what to put in the veggie garden last night. My family likes canteloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, cumcumbers, and green beans. Would be interested in anything unusual, fun for the kids! But if you've got everything ready for Patty, or have it mailed, please don't worry about me!! I wasn't able to send to everyone either. I really wanted to though!! Patty, I'm going to have my daughter mail off my seeds today. I'll post when they've made it to the P.O. Have a good day everyone! Karen

Happy Canada Day! We've traditionally spent our Independence Days near the grill, before tailgating at the local fireworks show. This year, we are setting sail to a couple of Mexican ports with two teen children and a 3-year-old grandson in tow. It should be interesting, to say the least. I learned a long time ago that, although cruise lines serve lobster, steak, etc., it's usually just mediocre. They are, after all, cooking for 2,000 people. My goal, other than to relax and get plenty of photos of the kids, is to beat my wife at Cribbage at least half a dozen times; not lose at the craps table; and come up with at least 3-4 good food-related topics for my blog. I think I'm just as excited about my Sunday lunch plans. It seems there is an Alfie's Fish 'n Chips still operating near Houston. This chain went bye bye long ago. It won't be 5-star fare ... or even 2-star. But I'll get to revisit one of my (young) childhood faves and write a Yelp! review to boot. Have a safe and happy Fourth, everyone!