Pretty Jessica is a lovely shorter rose--big fat, full blooms. It is hardy to zone 5b, according to helpmefind.com, but their numbers are sometimes much more conservative than other places list. Austin has eliminated Pretty Jessica from his line for some reason I don't understand since it is a wonderful rose. As a result, it can sometimes be a bit difficult to locate one, but I got mine from a nursery in Minnesota--so I'd think Pretty Jessica must be quite hardy if it comes from Minnesota. The other choices mentioned are great also, but I'm especially partial to Pretty Jessica. Kate

I'm so glad to see so many people want Snapdragons! Been looking them over for weeks and wishing for them since I haven't seen them in a garden since I was a kid. Now all of you have got me convinced I can WS them successfully and I'm going to indulge a nostalgic wish. Alyssum is another one since they're on the "rabbit resistant" list (as if) for NJ and look like you get a long bloom time as a reward. Poppies are another thing that's captivated me in all the photos on seed sites. Got to have them. Some sites say they're only in bloom for 1 month. Is that anyone's experience? Don't have anyplace to put them "inground" so have to figure out large container set up to get that "waving field" effect on deck. Is that 3 already? Geez, this is my first year and I only have 5 seeds ordered so far and my "wish list" is sooo long already. Thanks, Bakemom, for starting this thread. It's a real encouragement.

Oh yeah, and while I'm on the subject, and since we've just had the hottest June on record down here in Southern Ontario, and "I'm lovin' it", here is my latest 'pet peeve' in the expression category. Are you ready for it? It's "This is God's Country". It's said when one is referring to a stretch of land the speaker lives in or stakes some kind of claim to belong to etc. Well folks, I've got news for you: I've been damn lucky to have visited (and continue to search out) more places in the world than many people will ever dream of seeing, and all and each of them are capable of being called "God's Country" for many reasons. You may feel you're in "God's Country" because the air is fresh and clean, because you have rivers and wildlife and miles and miles of wide open spaces and you may have a point. But a country is what it is - just a "country". It's all "God's country" really isn't it? And anyway, wherever you are, isn't it the "country of your mind" - the place you live in every second of every day -infinitely more deserving of the expression? I don't know why I mention this but I felt like throwing it in. I have a suggestion for you - next time you have a toast, say "Here's to God's Country" wherever you may be, and get out and enjoy it and quit watchin' TV.

Traditionalgir, you are SO very wrong. For one thing, my feelings aren't hurt. Not sure where you got that idea. You have to have thick skin to be on this board, everyone's been treated this way at one time or another. And it's posts like your that keeps people lurking for years before they add another layer of skin. Too bad, really. Sofa table topic, I wanted ideas on how to decorate the top of it. That was all. Instead I got replies telling me to take it back to the store etc. Hardly any ideas on how to decorate it. Mantel topic, - Ditto. I need ideas on how to decorate the mantel. I got replies telling me to tear it down. THIS topic. - Ditto again. I wanted advice on COLOR ONLY, and look what I got instead. I did not ask for unsolicited advice, and that's when topics can get nasty. One of our long time favorite posters left because she did a topic similar to mine, and people were merciless with her and the room. She wasn't asking for advice on her room! I don't know why that's so hard for you and others to understand. If someone needs info on color, don't tell them to get rid of their furniture like was said to me above. It's not nice and it's crossing a line. So when I ask for advice on whether or not I should anchor a rug, I will TAKE that advice, but I did NOT ask for any advice on anchoring. So don't come telling me I won't listen to advice, when I was more than open on getting advice on COLOR only. Whew! Back to COLOR. :) You can't tell from the picture of the back of the room, and other rooms, but there are colors that will blend in with the new rug. I love the dark red that surrounds the rug, and I have a shelf of pink depression glassware in the back of the room, and other Victorian accessories I have in storage. The back of the room has a bit more feminine things to it, the front of the room is just a man cave. Now I can bring the whole room together. The Persian in the back of the room has some burgandy/rust designs in it with the muted turquois background. Love it! This new rug isn't a Persian, because it will get a lot of traffic and play time on it with the grandkids. Spills, etc. Now, If end up not liking it, I will ship that baby back, pronto.