Wonderful! I love them all. I'm in agreement regarding Pistache. I think I just identified the only unknown hosta I have -- Fortunei Aureomarginata. It was such a beautiful clump, I couldn't get rid of it. I'm growing August Moon in full sun, nice to see one in the shade. Fragrant Blue is new to me this year, but it's another one that I got that was 10 or 12 eyes. gesila

So sorry this happened...yuck..I so would not want to see a snake like that! When bluebirds loose a clutch, depending on the time of year they do normally renest. It is getting late in the season now though so they might and they might not renest. However they rarely renest in the same box they have had a failed nesting in. Your nestbox is a prime and easy target for snakes or raccoons, they are both great climbers especially on a wooden post! Boxes should be mounted on slick metal poles like conduit with a predator baffle like stovepipe for raccoons and if you have snakes you need a kingston snake guard to prevent them from climbing up. If you want to continue to have a nestbox on your deck you should mount a piece of conduit there having the nestbox at least 5 feet up from the deck rail with both of the baffles I mentioned. Check out sialis.org for information about both of them. They are both highly effective. If you cannot add a snake and raccoon baffle I would take the box down to prevent further losses. Better yet would be to place a bluebird nestbox on a slick metal pole (with both baffles) on the ground at least 50 feet from your woods/brush (to prevent wren attacks) in an open mowed grass area and hopefully the blues will find it and renest for you. Good luck!! Donna

My Bluebirds had a very tough nesting year and disappeared for awhile, although I would occasionally see them on the Bluebird snag, eating some Elderberries, or using the bird bath. I missed them sorely, but got very absorbed with raising Monarch and Black swallowtail butterflies (which are almost gone, sniff, will miss them too). Lately a small Bluebird family has shown up again, at least 1 male with 3 females. The weather is cooling off and they come to eat the peanut butter suet. They usually stay around eating suet for the entire winter, at least they have for the past 4 winters. This area could be close to their northernmost range in the winter.

Funny... I had typed my thoughts and the only thing that appeared was "add a headboard". I'll try again! I absolutely LOVE your decorating style in this room. Since it is so close to what I love this is fun for me. Here's my suggestions. 1. Keep the blue. Too cute! The letters look lonely above the bed. This is where my eye first went. I'd frame the letters with a square or rectangle. Maybe white like your molding or red like the accent colors. 2. I'd move the one end table somewhere else and instead put two swing arm lamps beside the windows next to each bed. These are boys, right? I'd add a touch of black or navy blue, maybe a cute red/blue striped lamp shade. Pottery barn has many that would match this theme. 3. I'd fill up that bottom shelf of your hutch with plenty of books. On one of the other shelves, I'd give each child a blue or red fabric basket to keep their stuff in. Target or Bed Bath and Beyond have these. 4. If the boys are under 7 I'd keep the table. If they are older you may want to substitute something else. 5. Definitely add some bean bags! 6. Add a cool looking rug. Maybe under the window where the bean bags would go. 7. KEEP the blue. It is perfect! 8. Either frame the letters so in effect that becomes your headboard or move the letters and the pictures onto a ledge together (same spot as the current pictures) and add a headboard. That's how I'd do it. My four boys are all sports fans so I'd also have their individual sports all over their walls and baseball cap all over and things like that. It's looking great!