Well, I'm finally on my new Dell Dimension and boy is this thing nice. I feel like I'm finally in the 21st century. The last 2 weeks has been a rush to get everything planted. I finished planting the beans and okra yesterday. I got a jump start on my "dixie speckled butterpeas" by planting them in peat pots on May 1, 30 plants in all. Now they're in the ground and some are 4". I think I'll do that again next year. All other beans (5 types) aren't even up yet. My poorly looking tomatoes were planted a couple of weeks ago and I was worried that they wouldn't make it but they look great right now and have already grown quite a bit. I planted a few blue potatoes this yr 1t time. I got them in very late and they're just starting to emerge. Been harvesting lettuce/greens for several weeks now and planted a 2nd batch of seedlings over the weekend. The asparagus has been incredible. For about 3 weeks, I was harvesting a lb+ a day. It's slowed some now but still coming. By next week this time I'll be harvesting the 1st peas. The vines are hanging heavy with them. I have eggplant too but I'm forced to grow them in a pot 5' off the ground. D*med flea beatles are getting smarter! I planted more strawberries this spring. I planted a few quinaults last year. This year I planted 25 earliglows but haven't had one yet. Good to hear good reports about them. Also planted 20 tribute of which 10 died. Lowe's puts them out way to early and I bit...hoping for an early spring. oy_! Stupid me/: My fruit trees are looking sooo good. Looks like we'll get 5-6 asian pears (3 trees) and a couple of purple plums. The apple tree is loaded but I don't think we'll get many of those. I sprayed too late, etc, etc... I tried bagging some after reading a post by the Jellyman on the fruit forum. Blueberries planted last year are loaded w/berries. Bluecrop and sunshine blue in particular. Powderblue and climax are just starting to show fruit. I am so glad I planted blueberries and only wish I'd done so sooner. Oh well.... I planted a couple of paw paw's in Aug 01 and they're over 5' now. Planted a grape vine on the new "rustic arbor" we built this spring. As soon as I figure out how to use the new digital camera I just got, I'll take a picture of it and post it. Have fun in the garden! I'll go bag some more apples. ...hey, the temp is gonna be 90° here today........

Thank you everyone for coming to the swap.I think everyone had a great time. I know I did. I can't believe the food you people brought. It was gourmet awesome. I hope we get recipes . Those of you who left things behind, I have put them on top of the refrigerator and you can pick them up in the fall. I was out today starting to plant all my treasures. Lisa, I have put the coral bells in a shady moist area vey near my red astilbe. I will be giving it tender loving care. I also planted my chocolate joe Pye weed in a place of honor in my garden. It is just awesome. How tickled I am, Deidre, to have this beautiful plant. I also planted dahlias, sedums,jack in the pulpits, lavender,and butter fly weed all wonderful plants I will be getting up early tomorrow to plant the rest of my treasures I put some pictures on Facebook If you are not a member you can ask to be my friend and that should get you on.

I didn't bush-hog today.....DH thought my tractor sounded funny, so I stayed and got semi-caught up in the yard and garden. This was the year I mulched almost everything in the garden, even the sweet corn. You should have seen me (no, you shouldn't!) I crawled between the corn rows on my hands and knees to weed and thin the corn which is now about 36 inches tall. I kept thinking of snakes as I crawled along......We have seen so many this year. I am now watering and have been since 7 am this morning. It will take me 5 days to get everything. Christie, I finally planted all those old flower seeds I had and the zinnias came up overnight practically. I finished today with marigolds, more zinnias, cosmos, rudbeckias and whatever else I had. I am trashing the rest and starting fresh next year. The zinnias are saved from last year. Be interesting to see if I get flowers by planting so late and so hot. I know I will have to water them to get germination. Blooming now, more daylilies, a few shastas, larkspur almost done, two clematis (I think Polish Spirit and Etolie Violette), zinnias (seeded themselves from last year), gaillardias, petunias, stokesia, Annabelle hydrangea, melampodium, salvias, feverfew (I love this plant), monarda Marshall's Delight (and the delight of the hummers), a few geraniums, a few lilies, russian sage (I trimmed it this year and it looks pretty sad), asclepias, and who knows what else! Oh, I forgot my pride and joy: very dark blue delphs. These are from seed and I didn't know for sure the color. Hope they make it through the winter. Something came in during the night and pretty much wallowed my pumpkin patch....I could see dog tracks or something of that nature. Ruined some plants. I wish the garden was fenced. Yolanda, when you get to Ozark, you are pretty close to me. We live just northwest of Springfield. I have often told DH I would love to tour the old southern mansions in La. So far, he hasn't taken me up on it. The 1800's are my favorite period in history and my favorite novels are of the south during that time period and earlier. I sometimes think I was born out of my time. I could have lived the pioneer life. Let's hope for a cool down and more rain.... GD

so sorry jeanne and ruth. i totally dropped the ball on the communication there. my apologies for the swap mix-up. i tried to mail the package out before leaving for my trip but my son forgot it in his car. he sent me a screenshot on friday morning from the post office as proof that he mailed it! im so glad you got it in no time. i made a commitment to myself that i would do all of the swaps this year but the time goes by so fast and ive had a hard time keeping track. its so embarassing. just got back from my nieces wedding reception. let me head over to July and see whats going on there.