Hi everyone! Here is an updated list of the plants I am bringing. Pink Swirling butterflies delphinium 2 plants Blue Butterfly delphinium (saved for Dessa) white lilac approximately 2 feet tall 2 plants Rose maidenhair fern 1 small plant Canna Crimson Beauty Purple Ladybells tall garden phlox 3 or 4 single plants double and triple kwanzo daylilies a couple of Iris "Starship Enterprise" Red stemmed rhubarb a couple of plants Catmint Tall one ot two plants glad bulbs - named Coquette Hosta one plant Choo Choo Train Hosta one plant I am still going through my gardens thinning them out, and re-doing a couple of them. So, I'm sure there will be more by the end of Augest. We are suppose to get some rain tonight, and only have a high of 82 tomorrow, woo hoo! Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer! Looking forward to the swap Dessa. Thank you so much for hosting it!!! Blessings, Tina

Bringing up an old topic: does anybody know if Steve and Carolyn Bertrand still are active with Perennial Farm near Ionia? In its glory years, that was quite a place for plant freaks. But we were there a couple of years ago, and at that time there were just a few interesting plants in the greenhouse, and Steve had been having some serious health problems and apparently was mainly just wholesaling seed from their garden. This spring I left a voicemail asking if they were still open and never heard back. Guess more than anything I'm worried about them (him). I have always had a soft spot for characters...

This thread is just too cool! I'm mostly on the rose forums, but I visit the Iowa forum once in a while too. I was born in Sioux City(maternal grandparents lived there for many years and are buried there) lived the first 5 years of my life in Ames while my dad got his masters degree in ag. engineering, then moved to the Illinois Quad Cities where I've lived most of my life. My DH was from Algona and we lived there for about 3 years after we married. We were married at West Okoboji ...my family has a cabin there that's been in the family since the 1920's...way before my time and we go there every year. (SooBee, you're right about the great nurseries in the Great Lakes area) My DH passed away almost 10 yrs ago and about 3 years ago I met a man, my present SO, who is from Clinton. He and I have a home in the Quad Cities and have some rose/perennial gardens. Good to "meet" you all! Ginni

Oh, NO! I think we may have finally found the KT Ax Murderer!!! S K LOL how many people are going to admit to be near any of those places now!!!! LOL