I like plants and bulbs, anything for the garden, things to hang plants from. Knick knacks, I collect cookbooks, cup and saucers, flower vases. medium or large in the glove dept. Love trashy romances, the Regency are the best and Nora Roberts favorite author.
I really don't have room for houseplants, though I wouldn't turn one away. I have always wanted a start or seeds of a banana tree or lemon tree seeds.
I have a german shepherd "Hosannah" and a nasty Maine coon cat who hates the dog and me. "Agatha" does like catnip or toys but will never let me see her enjoy herself. Guess it would ruin her image. It's put the blasted food down and go away!
I like scarves, and costume jewelry like I used to buy from the shopping club, but they are no longer in our area. Alas!
In othear words, I am a confirmed pack rat. I love anything that is neat or interesting. Hope this helps as I do like surprises very much too!

Just ONE day to go in July, the time has really flown by. Then comes the passing of the torch, er, candles.
If August is as hot down south ( Anyplace outside of AK is SOUTH right now) as July has been.... coupons for Baskin Robins might be a nice BD gift. LOL
We had a week of showers and misty days here. Today it is sunny again and trying hard to get up to 60 in the shade. Makes me wonder how well plants are traveling and transplanting in the heat??? Any comments, ideas or suggestions??
Sue, thanks for setting this up it is a great idea. Glad to read that you had a good month.
BB

Hi Doris :))
Just sent the candle off your way this morning
hope you enjoy :))
conf # is 0304 1070 0000 6608 5125
get them beds ready :))
{{gwi:1290093}}

Standing here, slightly dazed, with the candle in my hand!

When I came home this aftdernoon, there was this humungus box sitting outside the door! I'm still overwhelmed after opening the box!
The biggest thing was, I don't know what to call it, but I love it! It's like a big potpouree vase and inside are little tiny lights mixed in with the scented things. It plugs in and what a delightful aroma.
I also got a wind sock, which since we are expecting cold front and some wind, I will hang it out right away so I can watch it blow.
A lovely porceline candlestick holder, which I plopped a red candle into it. (has a little Xmas design). there was a squeeky toy for Hosannah, so I had to tear myself away from the box for a few minutes while we played "New Squeak Toy" Also some chewies to go with it, and nasty old Agatha was remembered with her own catnip plant! This is a blessing as she has been eating the flowers that I have in a vase! By now, we gat down to the plants. Huge size Summertime hardy geranium,and h. geranium Elizabeth Ann. I had neither and these I had hoped in the future to have one day. Then there was a clump of lily of the vallies which at this time I didn't have anymore. They, (mine) traveled under the fence into the neighbors yard! These I will put in a different spot. Love their aroma! Then there is a larage clump of spiderwort, which was another "someday".
I was also glad to meet you, in the picture of you in your garden. I thank you so very very much! I don't know how to thank you for all these wonderful goodies. This really has made my day! I am still overwhelmed. Hugs, Doris

doris
you are very welcome for all the goodies :)) & I'm glad you had a candle for the candle holder for the candle I had for it is still sitting here :(( I forgot to put it in the box .
I just couldn't leave out the Miss kitty ,hope she likes the kitty nip :))) the popourri is made special by a friend of mind it is peach & vanilla . she has many different types & I love them all :))
well i hope your month is very special .
sue

I love the smell of the peach and vanilla! It is so pretty! Yes, the cat made an instant dive for the catnip plant! She just happened to be downstairs munching on a vase of flowers when the package came. Did she ever go for that! I'd often thought of getting her a catnip plant, but never did. I've potted a piece of it for in the house. It does keep her occupied.The dog loves her squeak toy. She took it out this morning into her pool and just laid there squeaking away. thanks again for the wonderful box! doris

I had just gotten home from a luncheon, when I saw this big box sitting at the front door from ShelbyRayMom! I was rather dazed, while pulling out one thing after another! There was:
1 good size orange canna
african violet.
unknown grass (looks interesting).
chocolate mint
spider plant
wandering jew
purple fountain grass
lucky bamboo. I was just admiring this type plant at the local chinese buffet last weekend! They had them in different types of planters all over the place.
sunflower hand towel
windchimes
jobs fertilizer sticks for plants
10 dutch iris, purple
6 anenomes
6 freesias.

Thank heavens it is cool outside, we actually had rain!! Not enough to break the drought, but very welcome. I also got a beautiful card from Tammy also. Thank you so very very much. My evening is cut out for me potting all these wonderful plants. But what fun it will be. Doris

Hi Doris, I have a box ready to mail at last. I'm going to try the theory that boxes mailed on Sat AM are delivered on Mon and Tuesday. It always takes at least a little longer from here because everything has to fly from the island to Anchorage before it even gets started on it's way.
This thread has been going a bit slowly. Hope that means everyone is out enjoying their gardens and sipping iced tea. Summer will be gone soon. enjoy while it lasts.
A friend from Fairbanks is visiting and said they had a frost a couple weeks ago and now it is back up onto the 80's. Gardening is just full of challenges and surprises. Beth B

Wow, frost! It's hit 90 here several times in the past week- too hot for me. No rain for nearly a month, I think. Not enough anyway. Our creek which provides free water is so low that the intake pipe was out of the flow of water and so were we, so the regular water bill will be stellar this month.

I am watering,watering, watering. But I intend to get a package together for tomorrow's mail. Hope we haven't missed your true birthday Doris. And if we did, Happy Belated.

Where is everybody???

Been awfully quiet, probably everyone staying in and trying to keep cool. I've been trying to keep the flowers watered, but seems its not enough. The whole state is under a severe draught. I have already lost some plants even though I sprinkle at least twice a day. Must be something in rain water that really brings everything back to life, and they are saying there will be rain this afternoon. (They have been saying that for the past3 months ) Hah!

What a lovely birthday box came today from Beth in Alaska! Along with a lovely card that was in a bag with a Nora Roberts book and some tea bags. Guess what I will be doing tonight! Included was Achillea "The Pearl" (That was on my want list"), a bundle of assorted columbines, some primroses, ajuga, foxglove and saxifranga. They will be planted in the morning and are now sitting in some water revitalizing! thank you so very much, I love them all! Doris

Daughter just came in with another box that mail truck just dropped off. This is another delightful box! Two in one day! It came from Joyce in S.C. There is Datura white moonflower, autumn joy sedum, japanese hibiscus, unknown plant from her sister. (Coleus?) unknown daylily, and a climbing vinca plant (blue). There was a saucer size garden seed plate, with a wee little teapot, sugar bowl, creamer and 2 other rectangle pieces, (placemats?) In a bag with a lovely card was a beautiful bookmark ( which is going upstairs to go in the Nora Roberts book that Beth finished reading and popped it into her box and what I am going to start tonight! It contain a tiny little goldtone pin that says, "Love never fails". There also was a pack of assorted seeds and a black pot hanger that mounts on the wall which will be very handy to hang several plants from. Thank you so very much, Doris

Another one is on its way Doris, likely Monday arrival. I am sorry for the delay, but at least I'm still in the right month for your bithday! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy all your incoming treasures.

Today a lovely box came from Poochella! Where to start first!
A wooden box of strawberry bon-bons, a cannister of crystal lite (strawberry). I have a glass of it next to me right now.
A box of cute note cards, some excellent gardening gloves. they fit your hand snugly, yet are thin to pick up the tiniest thing! Then a neat smelling bar of french soap, with my initial on it!, a memo pad with pencil, a Lite delite cookbook, a St Huberts Paraish cookbook. I can hardly wait to settle down and go through that one! (love church c.b's), a very large rawhide bone for Hosannah, which she grabbed from my hand and has been guarding it all evening! Plus a lovely card with 5 "tickets" inside, each one good for a dahlia tuber when the time comes.
There was also a sprinkling of mints in the box. I love mints! Thank you so very much Poochella, I can hardly believe all these wonderful things ythat you sent. Thank you again! Doris

Hi Doris
I just wanted to say hi and let you know I haven't forgotten about you!! I am working on your box today and will finish it up soon and get it mailed!! Happy Birthday!!

You are very welcome dear Doris. Enjoy the rest of your birthday month!~ Can hardly believe September approaches- I am in denial as we waited for summer weather to arrive well into July. We used our furnace in early July! perhaps a nice prolonged summer is in store?

Hi Doris,

I, too, wanted to let you know that i haven't forgotten about you. I have been ill and not feeling up to doing anything. I will get you a nice box mailed Monday morning. I am so, so sorry I am so late.
I also wanted to thank you for the awesome card you sent me!
It is so beautiful :-)

Enjoy the extended weekend.
Blessings, Tina

ok doris I hope you have enjoyed your month
please let me know if you have recieved from
everyone . as you know you had joined late so may not recieve from 1st 2 unless you sent them a box :))
so let me know & oh we already know there is one tail dragging yet :))) right tina :)) ?? hope she catches up by xmas love ya all happy gardening :))
susie

This has a most awesome month. I received five packages and I have gotten such wonderful gifts and plants. It was a really nice month. Thank you for setting this up, and taking me in as a replacement after the robin had started. Hopefully we will do another round? I now pass the candle to Beth!

Forgot Monday was part of the holiday weekend. Will mail out Tuesday dear friend.

Yes, dragging my tail. I do feel so terrible. Thank you Sue for being so patient with me hun. You can't imagine how much I appreciate that.
The mailman is going to hate me come Tuesday morning. I have not been trading these last couple of weeks, so that will help to get me caught up.

Enjoy the holiday weekend, and be safe.
Hug's, Tina

Found a box waiting on my doorstep Saturday! A beautiful garden sign that I already hung up on the patio. I'm bringing it in when the weather gets cold!! Also some potholders with panels of flowers on them. How did you know, I had just been looking at my old ragged ones, thinking I should pick up new ones, and surprise! New ones and a bundle of lovely gift cards which I am always looking for. Thank you so much Jan, (PlantladyJan) for your thoughtfulness!

Oh I feel so old....
But suddenly, the invorgating flow of youthful curiosity arose in my veins and burst forth til I actually clamped my jaw shut from its agape position and opened the huge box awaiting my arrival home today.

Sue! I can only assume you are getting your birthday boxes out really early and what you crammed in there is just astounding! Did you buy out the whole store?
There is a blooming BLOOMING bromeliad in my living room, like it just came off the shelf, yet it travelled halfway cross the country. So pretty. A gorgeous clump of Dracena in a deep reddish green. I have some plain green that I am always welcoming back each spring because I use the leaves in vases for tall greenery: red/green will be equally welcome and go great with my red dahlias.
A new hosta for my new shade bed: "gold Standard" green with a strip of gold. Perfect. A host of tulips and crocus- my Spring garden will have reminders of your kindness! A bulb planter to plant them all! You think of everything.
There was a dahlia with roots and a bud. A BUD travelled cross country. It is labelled "yellow Floodlight" but I wonder and will watch eagerly to see if it's 'Kelvin Floodlight' next Spring, or maybe this year, but we are so cooling off entering into Fall that I don't know if the bud can develop enough to show its stuff. I am thrilled to add to my collection, Sue! If it's Kelven Floodlight, that will be a bonus as I lost my only tuber of it this spring.

In addition there is a lovely maroon and yellow hollyhock, the healthiest I've seen in ages as ours always get rust. I will try to find a spot where these won't. Love the blooms on those.
There is a wonderful woven/tin basket with cute little stars cut out of the tin, a set of pot feet in blue and white which will go well with a little white, blue and yellow ceramic pot I have and a mini address book to keep me organized. Last but not least a small pot of mums, yellow and lavender, my favorites in bloom and a jar of "Almost Raspberry Jam" LOL! It looks delicious and we'll try it on almost toast very soon.

Sue you are a gem among women and generous to a fault. I am awestuck by how well you packed everything into that box. I celebrate my birthday early and tip my birthday hat to you!

Pooch
So glad everything arrived in good shape & that you could use all that was sent :))
Yes I have tried to get all my winter birthday boxes out to everyone that has shared their gardens with me ,I felt
I had to share mine with you, & yes I did find a few sales with many house plants & also lots of perennials :))
& when I find the sales I do go over board as most of you
do too I would guess :)))

I hope that rewards1,hummingbirddaisy,shelbyraymom,&creekmom will be able to enjoy all their's also .
thank you all for playing in the birthday robin .
it was fun .

Don't forget we are still going to do a xmas box
in NOV so please get the xmas spirit rolling ok .
happy gardening
susie

Let's hope I can post.

Sue, I got your lovely box 2 weeks ago. I had no way to post or email.

My daughter quickly adopted the stuffed dog. My son thought the wind sock was a kite. hee hee. It is proudly displayed at the front walk way.

MY OH MY. The plants. I had to have DH go get me more compost to add to my store bought dirt. I think I had nine pots to fill. All but one look great.

I ate the candy at my desk & the card was beautiful.

Thank you! Thank you! It was a great day.

Tammy -- SRM

Tammy you are welcome & to all I hope your birthday
boxes arrived safly .
All of you was so kind as to share your gardens with me
and & just wanted to share back before the snow falls.

I will post your birthday each month as always :)))

OCT IS A free month to all of you & I'm working on
NOV "S XMAS for us ok ??
If you want to opt out of it please let me know .
here are our players as it stands .

Mellen - APRIL
earthly - MAY
Plantladyjan - June
Skohler - July
DJM906 - AUG
Beth_b_Kodiak - Sept
FREE -OCT
XMAS EXCHANGE NOV
Creekmom - DEC
Hummingbirddaisy - Jan
Sunnysurprise - Feb aka Shelbyraymom
Poochella _ March

if you need the info on any of these players please
email me .
happy gardening to all
susie