Dear Jovy1097, I have Osmanthus fragrans Lour. var. fragrans in my garden in Tokyo. I have had it for 2 years and it blooms only in autumn. In fact all the osmanthus i have seen around blooms in autumn, but there are some types I think that bloom all year. what kind of osmanthus do you have? thanks in advance. You have a very nice blog, maybe I have to start a blog too.

Rita, It is not that they don't bloom at the same time, just this is the first time they have both bloomed so heavily at the same time. They are in a back corner that I could never keep watered before but now have installed an underground sprinkler system and both plants are loving it. I hope this is the first of many good bloom years. Julie, Persian Pattern is new to me this spring too. Well, almost everything is...LOL. You'll love how she almost looks you in the face. I'm glad you enjoy my photographs. It is so nice to be able to share them. Isn't the internet great? I never would have imagined 20 yrs ago that I'd be sharing my garden photos with people all over the world this way.

Cindy: When your SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS blooms, do post a pic. I've got that one too from Curt but it is not a star performer here yet. Debra: This many blooms this late has to be due to the amount of rain we got over the past month. I don't recall this much showing at this late date. Mantis: yes, earlier pics of GEECHEE were better but just shows how much a late opening with cool temps can do to a daylily. Celeste: I've admired your pics of COUSIN SUZANNE. The race is definitely on here too! Linda and Kay: I'm so thankful to get these blooms this late in the season. I'm always on the scape hunt because I just never know what will show itself. KIOWA SUNSET has always been a favorite of mine. It is registered as a EE but here, it doesn't start blooming till early July and the scapes are taller than 23" as registered. Well, the weather turned and we are already up at 60 degrees F here this morning. Rain, rain, rain so I guess that is why our temps moderated. Julia

With all due respect, ncrealestateguy, considering the definition of a troll, that is somewhat redundant. ;-) I will grant you that it was less than kind for me to tweak him like that, and it is true that his lack of manners does not justify ours. At the same time, if he is not made aware of how he comes across, how can he (hopefully) correct his behavior? Perhaps he was born in a different culture - that would be easier to let slide. Yet even then, he still would need to learn how to assimilate & he doesn't come across as the type of person who will accept a singular gentle correction - more like a plurality of bluntness - maybe. :-D At any rate, moving on to a more constructive line of thought, I not only do *not* disagree with your opinion about internet business for PB's, I would assert that it is already happening currently since I have been able to communicate successfully with at least one online about our interest. But note that this part is about the potential customer seeking out the PB who has put his internet shingle out rather than vice versa. The one point where we seem to differ is on the suggestion that good PB's are going to be cruising help wanted boards looking for pool jobs. If you want to grow your business, you are going to target the areas that will make the most of your advertising time & dollars rather than trying to hit up every possible avenue - because not many have that kind of time & money to spend with so little potential return on investment. Even if internet usage on that point changes in the future, it still seems on par with putting an ad in the paper - I can't see most people being willing to hire someone for a job like this based on who responded to their ad. There will always be those who prefer to go as cheaply as possible and cross their fingers, but I believe most of us would rather seek out the best and the brightest to increase our prospects for a quality job with greater longevity.