Thanks Kate--I guess I've been very much on the fence about whether they'll tolerate the cold here, will just have to see I think. The flowers look so gorgeous I think I have to try anyway, so I was going to put in 4-5 and see. I'm essentially zone 6 in the backyard, so maybe I'll have success with them if you have. Do you winter protect? My neighbor did lose some HTs from year to year but he planted the bud union above ground and didn't winter protect. My Austins always seem significantly hardier and I was hoping these, although marketed as HTs, were more mixed lineage and would be hardier too. The beds are a bit elevated, which hurts cold-tolerance but helps keep things well-drained. But I can bury the bud unions and throw on some bark mulch or leaves in the fall, which may help. Okay, Peter is officially on the list, and I think I MUST have Liv and Yves Piaget--the flowers look too wonderful to pass up. Every weekend the ground stays workable I keep fixing up the beds to accommodate more roses...so now I have room for another order from Roses Unlimited!

Hooray, my #2 fav geranium(after rozanne) is in bloom now. A.T.Johnson, a well behaved, 12"H saturated true pink(not bluey,mauve,cerise,or pale pink.) Swaths of pink pokered Polygonum bistorta superbum (which keeps on giving through June) have been joined by sib. iris,peonies,corydalis, anemone sylvestris, many clematis,Salvia May Night,many other geraniums. The first of many different lonicera have opened and the white and pink splashed kiwi vines are real showstoppers.Percy Wiseman rhodo is awash in peachy pink trusses.Deutzias- aurea and variegata-are covered w tiny white bells.Fringe tree and Korean dogwoods are ascending to their peaks. And now is when I am so HAPPY that i planted all those alliums over the years. Allium Bulgaricum, multibulbosum,etc. and the amazing Ornithogolum Magnum (a bulb but not an allium)with its eye-livening 3' spires topped with 6-8"cones of pure white.They certainly help me recover from the passing of the hundreds of blue wood hyacinths paired with our many many aurea perennials,shrubs and conifers .Those golden leaved woodies are so BRIGHT this time of year. The golden leaved tradescantia, carex bowles golden, campanula, hakonechloa,barberries, philadelphus, forsythia, and the Robinia Freesia and Acer Negundo Kelly's gold- are all practically neon, particularly on these magical grey days. While all these are wonderful, for me, the single best reason to come visit now is (bells and whistles) Calycanthus Venus !!!!! It's only been in since Sept.'08 when it was a $38 2 gal. specimen, but it is covered with 3" diameter bright white magnolia/waterlily type flowers with a red and gold center. YUM!!! ; introduced by U.N.C. and sold to us by those quintissential plantsmen at Broken Arrow in Ct. Its year older sibling, Calycanthus Hartledge Wine, is now 4 1/2 'H and covered with its 3" burgundy flowers.If you come hunting for them, Venus is near the Mermaids gate and Hartledge Wine is along the front fence. best, mindy

I must admit that while I appreciate Spring as the poetic season of renewal & hope, etc. it's never been my favorite time of year. I'm a native Californian and Spring in New England has always seemed cold & raw to me. I expect my bulbs to be in bloom in March and to be in a Tee & sandals by Easter and, of course, that's silly here. But, this year...while we've had our share of blustery, cool days my garden also has been a delight. Last Spring, I remember missing my azaleas bloom due to cold, rainy, raw weather. This year, it's only the first week in May and I've been gardening for six weeks already. Yesterday, as I was walking thru on my morning tour...the sun was peeking through a heavy cloud cover and highlighting the pastel blue woodland phlox in full bloom under my electric pink 'Olga Mezzitt'. It took my breath away. I stopped, stared and thought...Wow, that looks like a picture from a glossy magazine! Then, last night as I was waiting for my hubby to get home...I was taking my evening stroll through the garden and enjoyed a similar experience. The setting sun was almost entirely blocked by what I refer to as a "Mystic Pewter" sky. But, through one hole in the gray cover a ray of sun was hitting the Jap. hakone grass hedge that is surrounded with one of my carefully tended moss gardens. The interplay of light, texture, & color was breathtaking. I often wonder if non-gardeners ever stop and just appreciate the beauty that plants bring into our world? I ask because yesterday afternoon I walked over to our marina to visit with friends arriving at their boats for the weekend. We have just purchased a new-to-us boat & will be making the passage up from Annapolis beginning May 22 so we were talking about boating, in general. My friend, Linda, seemed almost angry with me when I mentioned at the end of our conversation how much my husband and I were enjoying our new gardens. She said something like, "So, your garden has priority over your boat?" I was dumbstruck...didn't know what to say. I responded with..."No, Linda...it doesn't have priority over the boat. We love both. Choosing would be like asking me to choose between my piano or my painting. I love both of those, as well." While walking home from the marina, I was wondering if she even saw the beauty in a garden or if all she associated with was as she called it...the "work" of a garden. We don't consider it work. Time-consuming...yes...but work...No! It's a pleasure to tend and reap the rewards of our toils. Her husband will "work" on his boat all weekend and consider it a hobby but my gardening is just "work". Bah, humbug! Last Sunday, our dockmaster Russ...stopped by with a division of his pink peonies saying, "I noticed you haven't planted a peony yet" pointing in the direction of an empty spot, "and I thought this was a perfect spot." I was THRILLED. There is no better gift for me than a "from my garden to yours" present. We immediately planted our shared peony in the exact spot he suggested and I'm looking forward to enjoying not only its blooms but the memories of a friend's sharing for years to come. Some people just don't seem to register the more esoteric parts of life...as my friend Linda demonstrated. She just doesn't "get it". I feel sorta sorry for her. IMO, she's missing something so beautiful about life as the season's progress. She would, I'm certain, think I was batty if I mentioned the appeared delicacy of a poppy bloom fluttering in the wind yet spoke of its strength and endurance.

Sue , I am so glad you DID come on friday.And I cannot thank you enough for taking and posting the photos. I just have to focus on getting a dig. camera,and I will make it a priority. However...., we have just returned from this long b'day weekend(Paul McCartney's was yesterday, and mine was today!)with a packed, and windows steaming, VANLOAD of trees, shrubs and perennials- from some of Connecticut's great nurseries(and some WONDERFUL gifts from Sue,Monique and George!)And we must get them in the gardens before the horrid heat hits. So far, it has been a very long process getting out the word about the gardens being open may through october 24/7,and that people DO NOT have to call or reserve; that they can come WHENEVER they want!!!i guess everything new just takes time to get known. Anyway, it pleases us no end that you and judy and others have come just recently, as Dudley and I both feel that this year is just the best it has ever been here. I really do feel that TIME is such a major factor in allowing one to reach a place of significant non-nitpicking satisfaction with one's garden. We are in our 17th year here,and it has really been just the past year or two, that I have finally felt more satisfaction than dissatisfaction. Honestly. So please everyone, come ahead, and bring friends! The quote over our street-side gate entrance is "The Way to Have What We Want Is To Share What We Have". So we look forward to seeing you(or not-if we're not here!) when you come. best, mindy Here is a link that might be useful: Cotton-Arbo retum blog and info