My DH is not into gardening, this is probably a good thing in some way, it's all mine to do with as I please. He will help me with the grunt work, build things for me and haul my massive dungings out to the dump. DH is into wood turning and has created some lovely pieces, that's his thing. I think he really likes how the garden has changed over the years. He came in last night with a smile on his face and said. (this from a man who thinks roses are only good for keeping lions out of african villages) you should go look at the rose on the other side of the house, lookin good. He will never be as passionate about the garden as I am, but hey, that's O.K. after 50 years of marriage we're still best buds. FlowerLady, I hope there wasn't any damage from the tropical storm, and the rain has done wonders for your garden. Gardens perk up after a good rain, you can never get the same wonderful results with a hose. Caroline, I will take a few more photo's later on in the season and post them if they turn out. Lynne, I love to have you stroll through my garden anytime. Nell, I grow a lot of different fuchsias, at one time I had 300 different varieties, now I'm down to 150+ and still trying to get it down to 100, we've got a new camera that should take some decent close ups, if I can get some decent photos I'll post them too. Memo, I think the biggest compliment one can ever get are ones they get from their soul mate. DH And I have been married for 50 years, we're still best buds, it just keeps getting better and better. Natalie, I agree, it's such a great feeling to talk 'garden' with friends that are just as passionate as you are, knowing that you are not boring them to death. Linda, some guys just don't think it's important to put everything into words, and sometimes when they do, it comes out wrong LOL, trust me I know. Vikki, do you think our DH's could be brothers, sound like they have the same genes:o). Hipchick, Hmmmm, could be another brother here LOL. Sounds like there's hope for that son of yours. Both my boys are great gardeners, just hit and miss with my daughter so far, she's got the bug but not the time. I've think I've mentioned before It was the book "The Secret Garden" that really left a big impression on me, as a child I had a lot to deal with and I could in a way relate to that little girl. My garden, not perfect and never will be, not finished and never will be, just a ongoing journey. My garden has until now been a secret hidden behind a tall fence, few have actually seen it, a place to get away from all that is wrong with this world of ours and breathe easy. Does this sound soppy, or does this sound soppy :o) Thanks all for strolling through my garden with me, I feel as if I was sharing it with friends. Annette

Well can that idea. Just got off the phone with the dept of environmental health (at(770) 836 6781) and they shut me down from the giddyup. They stated that I cannot reuse my grey water that it all has to go into my septic system. I'll probably follow up with them to get what laws that is in writing so that I can complain to the local government but for the time being it looks like basically you can forget it in Carroll county. Its a shame too because I contacted the Carroll County Water Authority and they said it was fine. Here is a quote from the email. "Good morning Richard. The exemptions are stated below. This rule (outdoor watering ban) shall not apply to the following outdoor water uses: (a) Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or storm water in compliance with applicable local ordinances (b) Re-use of gray water in compliance with applicable local ordinances I hope this answers your question. If not please feel free to call xxxxx ext xx and I'll do my best to interpret the regs. The short answer is gray water and storm water are fine. Have a great week. " So I guess I'll just have to figure something else out. Its sad too, my wife and I just got back from Disney World and while driving through their property there were signs posted not to drink sprinkler water as it was reclaimed water. So which is more Mickey Mouse our laws or Disney?

O.K. Kay I went and found most of my receipts... Boy I wasn't as organized with those as I thought that I was. If I have received my orders I will tell you and list the bonuses as well. With Blue J you pick your bonuses and I forgot to separate those on my lists. And let's face it if they leave out some there are so many I'll be none the wiser. lol The daughter (I can't remember her name at the moment) was so very nice on the phone. And I guess since I started with the largest order 1st I'll just continue largest to smallest. Also you will notice some duplicates, that was due to me trying to go by memory what I had ordered. That was dumb Denny! And then one order I made at 2:30 A.M. Well that was ignorant as heck also! lol One of the Iris I ordered 4 of and it is an Aril and I don't even know yet if they'll live or die. Aw well live and learn. Last year I ordered a lot of several and for what? I dunno, so I tried not to do that again but failed with one order. So now I have a binder with all the Iris that I ordered (and previously owned) listed alphabetically. It helps but I still miss and accidentally order sometimes what I own already or have on order. A result of having had more seizures than I can count I believe. But alas life is good, my health is grand now! Hopefully my memory will follow suit. Without further ado... Echo Iris Garden - Owner Ernie is so very nice also. He had open heart surgery earlier this year and not a month later he was already peetering around in his iris gardens! You just can't keep a good gardener down! Acoma, Amigo, Beaux Art, Blue Shimmer, i. germanica, Jean Guymer, Los Coyotes, Mayan Poppy, Melody, Mme. Chereau, Nigerian Raspberry, Nordica, Paper Doll, Six Pack, Cascade Splendor, Butterscotch Kiss, Kona Coast, Mulberry Rose, Puccini, Queen In Calico, Queen's Circle, Purple Pepper, Purissima, Red Polish (can't wait to see this bloom in person), Syncopation, Whispering Spirits, Tennessee Woman, Tennessee Gentleman, Street Walker, Total Obsession, Melted Butter, Hot Line, Hey Looky, Aplomb. Napa Country Iris Garden - Louisa's Song, Mister Flounce, Jurassic Park, Aardvark Lark, Chocolate Moose, Dance Hall Dolly, Decadence, Drinks At Sunset, Grape Expectations, Grizzly Gosling (this is the one everyone thought was ugly, I think it's the most beautiful flower ever!), High Master, Moonlit Water, Peekaboo Zebu, Who's Your Daddy, Solar Fire, Squid Squirt, Spiced Tiger, Upper Hand This is an order from an e-bay seller - rebloomirislover Her name is Sherry and she is so very sweet! Her little boy Conner helps her with her gardens. Zebra Halo (variegated foliage), Reincarnation, Curtain Up, Sundown Saber, Ring Around Rosie, Odoratissima, Sneezy, Zebra Night (variegated foliage), Tropical Butterfly, Hotdogs & Mustard, Grape Snakez, Tanzanian Tangerine, Cantina, Bonus - Juicy Fruit, Violet Returns, Bengal Tiger & she said "other surprises" I'm excited for this order! I think she told me she would be shipping July 15 His Iris Garden - Constant communication from this seller as well. Very nice people. Double Click, Tropical Butterfly (yep I see the duplicate order, sigh), Abundant Sunshine, Larry Gaulter, Bay Rum, Stairway To Heaven, Mary Frances, Cabot Cove, Zebra Iris X2 (any variegated duplicates ARE on purpose as they are my favorites!), Becky Miller, Charlotte Rose, Infernal Fire received an e-mail that my order will ship out July 15 also. Williamson Farm Flowers - I spoke to Alicia Williamson by phone and she was so sweet also! Send me a nice plant I might remember you BE nice to me and I'll remember you always! A plant makes an indention in my ground, kindness makes an indention in my heart. -Rena'- Japanesque, Little Freak, Schortman's Garnet Ruffles, Tiger Talk, Jungle Warrior I received this order already and received 2 bonus Iris So Grand & Castle Stronghold an extra Japanesque, Little Freak & Jungle Warrior. These are all growing strong except So Grand, it is struggling. We'll see if it pulls through or not. Willow Bend Iris - Oyez (an Aril) X4 (you guessed it my 2:30 A.M. order, lol) Cherry Glen, Drama Queen X2 Daylilies By The Pond - Sara is so very kind also! Most of my order was daylilies but I did have 3 Iris on the order. Candy Apple Classic, Birthday Greetings & Dandy Candy. Sara sent an extra Candy Apple Classic & Dandy Candy. Sunshine Annie's - Invoice is AWOL So this one will have to wait 'til I find it. Also I am putting together an order for Rockytops. But I have so many coming that I might wait 'til next year on that one. O.K. Kay I better get some shut eye as I have 65 daylilies to plant and 30 lilies tomorrow. Rena'

Hi everyone, Very nice, Ellie, that your county provides compost bins to its residents. Wish ours did that instead of spend money to collect yard debris. Alana, I love the sound of your orange-flowered garden. Orange colored flowers are some of my favorites. Shirley, great GLOW photo of the hot air balloons. What a shot that captures the moment! Jeanne, I watched the College World Series, too. I yelled enough to make myself somewhat hoarse. OK, so I admit to being a very "animated" college sports fan when I get into games... Although I am a die-hard SEC fan, I confess I was pulling for my husband's alma mater, U of AZ. Only fair, since he dares not pull against LSU. As for the cormorant chicks - When we band, we place a band on each leg. One is a small metal band issued by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bird Banding Lab. The other is a plastic, colored band that can be read from a distance using binoculars or a spotting scope. Throughout the breeding season, we spend several days sitting in blinds, observing for banded birds that return to that colony. That enables us to get much more info other than through someone finding a dead banded bird and reporting it to the Bird Banding Lab. We can determine breeding site fidelity, survivorship, age structure, and other population demographics. Last year we re-spotted more than 400 unique bands at the 2 islands we conduct our observations on. Here is a "digiscoped" photo I took of one of the birds. As to why we do it at night - that is a matter of reducing disturbance as much as possible. All the birds are calmer at night, so we try to only go on the island when it is dark. That means banding all night long. It also means on observation days, we leave the boat dock at 3:00 am and don't leave the island until 9:00 pm. Makes for a long day, and you have to stay in your 5' x 7' blind for the duration (and that is why we bring a "honey bucket" with us). Hahaha. Happy gardening, Katie