I like the point you make about "when the plants aren't in bloom". So many choices are made we see something in bloom at the nursery and make an impulse purchase. Someone said the basic plan for an appealing garden requires variation in size, form and texture. A small conical conifer (dwarf Alberta Spruce), an azalea and a couple of large-leafed hosta make a beautiful, low-maintenance display. The flowers are nice, but not essential. Someone posted pictures of a dwarf Japanese Maple with blue hosta beneath it. The contrast was breathtaking. I've been buying Siberian Iris lately. SI provide an upright form with spear-shaped foliage which maintains its beauty all season after flowering. It combines well with any low-growing plant or something with large oval foliage. Or just an oval rock.

Hi Kabby, I agree with you a hundred percent. Since my first white butterfly ginger I have been in love. Quite frankly I didn't until a few years past know there were other hedychiums. then I came across H. coccineum by accident and refused to leave a distant cousins house until she promised I could dig up a clump, So I did. This year I went down to Tallahassee to see the gingersrus man and bought a really good start of a continuing collection. I do have a few curcumas and they are nice and of course those two common alpinias and another no name but nothing compares to the Hedychims for me Oh I do have some of the dancying lady's also. Jame Maloy

Thanks for the update. We hosted an exchange student from Italy when I was in high school, I was a sophomore and she was a senior. Initially there was a bit of jealousy on my part- but when I got over that we became more like sisters. We did not do much together socially, but got along well at home. I also was an exchange student to Germany the year after I finished high school. Homesickness is a big part of it, but having a caring and involved family helped me to overcome it. Letters from home were an important link, there was only snail mail, no e-mail or texts for instant communication. I think in some ways that helped me to assimilate to their way of life. Congratulations for taking in the 2 girls, I would bet that the cultural understanding and friendships that you gain will be well worth any expenses of having them with you. Best of luck-and please keep updated!

Incredible voice, the orchestra really made it have such presence. We both really enjoyed that. I too like a very broad range of music including some that not the usual for my age lol. I have to keep my rebel spirit somehow. I love a good kettle drum!