OK, here is my list of what I am definitely bringing to the swap tomorrow. I did all this digging today, someone remind me next year that I really should dig over the course of a month and pot stuff up, trying to dig everything in one day was probably not the right way to go about this. I dug until my energy and my back gave out! Belinda's Dream rose (for Greening) This I did pot up Ferns (for Adam) Baby Heucheras (for Adam) Pink coreopsis 'American Dream' (one bunch for Greening, and four more up for grabs) Two mature coneflowers (for AlicePalace) A bunch of yellow threadleaf coreopsis (up for grabs) Fairy rose (up for grabs) I didn't get around to digging up my daff and crocus bulbs, but I AM going to dig them this fall, so if you are interested in getting some, please let me know at the swap. (I have already promised some to FGirl -- waving hi to FGirl, who is watching from the wings). I didn't find my allium bulbs either, but I have seed from it. I also didn't dig up my coreopsis grandiflora, but I have seeds from that too. I'm bringing my seedbox. I hope I'm not letting anyone down by not bringing everything I said I would. Anyway, I am going to go take a nice big dose of ibuprofen, and then maybe go eat an ice cream sundae for supper. Oh, I still have to cook a blackberry cobbler tonight. No worries, that I can do. Alison

Any "GOOD" nursery will order in items that they don't necessarily carry. If they want your business they will do it for you. I have only 2 nurseries within 1/2 hour of my house and both are willing to order me native plants, shrubs and trees even though they don't carry them. It usually takes my nurseries about 1 week to get the items in from their supplier.

Not too late at all. Keep in mind that if the area had been that neglected and overgrown, at least some of the lost trees were very probably weed trees that you would have chosen to take out at some point. Your chop-happy helper may have really done you damage. Or he may actually have done you some good, despite himself. If you have some of the large trees still there, and are putting in shrubs.... Well, true woodland areas are layered. Large trees. Smaller understory trees. Shrubs. Herbaceous things. Small ephemerals. Etc. Yes, nature will forgive you [grins]. Look at possibilities for some understory trees, [witch hazels and such like] in addition to the shrubs you have been looking at. Check out what *serious weeds* to look out for in your area, get to know them, and pull them out. [Some may actually migrate from the adjoining woodland area. It's good to know what potential problems might be.] Let other things grow until you know what they are, and then decide whether to pull them or keep them. It will be terrific, I promise! Definitely not too late.

Larry - BLE is Broad Leaved Evergreen. In the States the word 'evergreen' appears to be generally used for conifers so they distinguish between them and other evergreens. This is partly, I imagine, because in many areas BLEs are not very common being generally less hardy than conifers. I had to learn this term on these forums since it isn't really used much over here. There are so many BLEs here and they are so much more popular in gardens than conifers, that 'evergreen' covers them.