Chelone - it sounds like the construction is making great progress - but not so the nursing home and your mother's care! A pissy mood is entirely justified in that case - and it sounds like you are putting it to good effect (the photos...) Hang in there! Marian - it sounds like you had a great start to the week. I hope the trend continued the rest of this week.... I'm definitely glad the brick project is done :-) Weather permitting, I'll probably be spending a few days next week at the long term care place trying to beat back the weeds. I haven't been able to do any work there since the brick project began and, by the looks of the garden, no one else did any weeding. I keep asking Randy if he's asked if the potassium and Vitamin D has helped his mother. He keeps forgetting to ask but she seems to be getting out and about more often so I'd guess that it has probably helped. We're trying to convince them to come here for Christmas but they haven't agreed to that yet. They don't like traveling in winter now. Next Wed. I get the results of my routine blood tests to check on cholesterol. I noticed the doctor also ticked to check for potassium, iron and B/foliate. I've been tired a lot lately. I wouldn't be surprised if maybe I need those B12 shots too. Kathy - that listing for the house in Napa suddenly doesn't look so crazy. Things have got really outrageous around here lately. A small bungalow behind us sold this summer for over $600K and another one up the street sold for about $570K and is going to be demolished to build a new place. Ultimately such prices aren't sustainable - who can afford to buy them?! The value here is largely the bigger lots in our 1960s era neighbourhood. All the new houses that first-time home-buyers are buying in our town are built on very small lots north of the highway. Our town is effectively splitting in two - the older areas between the highway and Lake Ontario and the new areas north of the highway. Michelle - a stained glass window (with Deanne's brugmansia design...) would look great in the shed. Go for it....! That sumac is impressive - does it sucker like the common ones? Your brick edging looks great. (For some reason, I now think brick makes the best edging... I wonder why I reached that conclusion...:-) At the rate you put down brick, my garden would have only taken you a week or two! Do you use screenings under them and any barrier between them and the grass? You really need to send some of that rain my way! We were supposed to get rain today but we just got a few sprinkles as all the big clouds slid by to the north lake they've been doing all summer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tonight and tomorrow but I'm not too hopeful. Deanne - fabulous sunrise picture - both the original and the doctored one. It immediately made me think of the 'red sky in the morning, sailors take warning....' saying - what was the weather like on Wednesday? My herb bed rock wall is a baby one compared to yours! I will be using flat rocks instead of rounded ones like yours. Flat rocks are what 'grow' around here. Some of the older houses in town have foundations made from lake stone. Apparently there is a lot of stone in the lake and the early settlers 'mined' the lake bottom with dredges to get stone for foundations. Mary - like you, I think Annie's friend's parents are making a big mistake. Their approach sounds like it has a good chance of putting her off music while making art (the forbidden subject) more interesting to her! They may find their approach has exactly the opposite effect to what they intend. Martie - a luscious purple rhododendron sounds very attractive :-) Have you been to Hidcote? I've only seen pictures unfortunately. I have been to Sissinghurst though and that was pretty memorable! I think the white garden there probably had the most impact on me and may help explain why I use a lot of white in the garden. I had to look up Caprilands. It looks like an interesting place - their web site needs more pictures and a 'history' because what's there is only a tease and it would be nice to see more. Long-term maintenance.... ah, yes... an important issue and the driver behind my brick project - hard work now to minimize chores in an older future :-) What plants do you particularly plant for fragrance? The two that are outstanding in my garden are the Blanc Double de Coubert rose and Blue Wave petunias. The petunias surprised me the first time I planted them because I didn't exxpect the fragrance. In early morning and in the evening, they have a powerful spicy clove-like fragrance that I really like. I plant them in the pots at the foot of the steps to the front porch. My garden has lots of paths through it because I find the best way to see things in the garden is to be IN the garden. I think we have quite similar attitudes towards our gardens...:-) We've had Liam (Border Collie) here for a week. He's Misty's special friend. She allows him liberties that no other visiting dog gets - like joining in morning cuddle time on HER (our) bed! My typing hand has given out. Hi to all.

Springroz, twixandud, gardenofeden777 - Thanks for your nice comments about the seedling! Nancy - A lot of the daylilies that are not performing well were ones that I set pods on last year. So in addition of having lots of buds and reblooming, English Lavender was a successful pod parent last year. Debra

I think that it's fascinating that you hybridize some yourself. That would be so much fun to see what you can get. The last one you show is, to me, a particularly stunning new rose!! Does it have a good scent since Intrigue is one of the parents? Congratulations!! Betty Boop is a rose that I've often thought of getting, but I always pass on it. But your full bush shot shows how lovely a bush it is and how large and vibrant the flowers are. I just might have to get this one! Carol

Your roses look great, Sara-Ann! Thanks for the cheer of your lovelies on a rainy late Winter day that has me itching for Spring. Agree more folks likely to see them here than the gallery. Couldn't hurt to double post there if you like. Longtime fan of America, too. Firefighter landed here last Summer as a band, sought for the positives you list & strong blackspot resistance in this no spray garden. Spent last season growing & branching out with foliage unmarred while I nipped the buds to encourage initial form. Thanks again for encouraging me to try this lovely rose!