For areas of wet I am interested in: Swamp milkweed(rose colored) Veronicastrum Chelone cimicifuga Aster(moist) Eupatoriums(joe-pye-weed+boneset) marsh marigolds(early spring) for the wet areas where I don't have swamp saxifrages growing

Hi leafwatcher, and welcome to the forum. Warning: it's as addictive as the hostas! I live about 100 miles due east of you with similar conditions, and Great Expectations is my favorite of the 800 or so varieties I grow. This is a hosta that, unlike most, has some very specific requirements to grow well. And if grown well, it will be truly spectacular--my largest measures 32 inches tall, 5 1/2 feet across, and looks good all season. First and most importantly, GE must be planted shallowly. Too many people plant this one too deep, since it's going to be a large plant at maturity. When planted this way, GE will, over the course of a few years, dwindle in size and then simply disappear. You want the crown of the plant right at the top of the soil, with only a very thin layer of dirt covering it. Secondly, GE need plenty of sun in order to thrive. If planted in heavy shade, it will grow at a glacially slow pace, taking years to throw a new division. It needs at least half sun to do really well, and it will take absolutely full sun. Most of mine are planted in half to three quarter sun. The third requirement is lots of water, which this year just isn't a problem! But in a dry summer, make sure you water GE quite deeply and regularly. If give these three things, GE will be the most beautiful hosta in your garden. The same growing conditions apply to Thunderbolt, Dream Weaver, and Dream Queen, as these are all selections from GE. Your hosta list looks very nice indeed, not a bum plant in the lot. You do, however, need to add a Montana Aureomarginata to your garden as soon as possible, unless the one you have listed as Aureo Marginata is a montana rather than a fortunei or a ventricosa. If you can't find MA at a good price locally, email me privately--I have about 20 of these that I'm growing out. And then of course, you will want to get a few minis and small hostas--everything you currently have is medium to large. And then you will want to start digging up your lawn to plant more hostas, and raiding the kid's college fund to buy more hostas, and, well, you get the idea--these plants are majorly addictive. Enjoy!

I made it over to Tower Hill Wednesday evening as part of the exchange week. Can you believe it the gardens are fabulous even with the drought we've been having. I ended up going on the free tour at 6PM (lasted 90 mins) and got a great overview of how the gardens were constructed (purpose of each) and the guide highlighted plants as we walked through the garden. If you can go (even if you aren't a NEWFS member) it is well worth a visit this time of year. Some highlights: pot collections of plants arranged on terraces and throughtout the garden, garden in the back filled with perennials, flowering trees/shrubs and annuals. Lawn garden (and especially secret garden portion) very interesting plantings. And the most beautiful veg garden I've ever seen (rebar to hold up tomatoes!). It is great to get ideas for August plnatings when things are looking tired in most people's gardens. A big plus if you go during evenings hrs - no blazing sun or bugs! There is one more evening they are open (1/2 price admission, next Wednesday) Of course I took lots of photos. I'll post my photos soon.

Marie -- I forgot that we're not supposed to call you Idabean. Sorry.... I can't access your email address from your member page, so I'll post the recipe here, tho I fear it is OT? Easy Plum Torte by Autumn Hills Orchard in Groton MA 1/2 c uns butter 3/4 c sugar 1 c unbleached flour, sftd 1 tsp baking powder pinch salt 2 eggs 10-12 pitted purple plums, halved sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon for topping Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar in bowl. Add flour, bkg pwdr, salt and eggs and beat well. Spoon batter into 8 or 9" spring form pan. Place plum halves, skin side up, on top of batter in circular pattern. Sprinkle with lemon jce, cinn, sugar to taste. Bake approx 50 min, til center springs back and edges are lightly browned. EAT and enjoy!