Hi Marcia and everyone *waving* Marcia, I haven't been checking here much either lately. Haven't had much to talk about on the planting side of things. But things are going to start to change soon. I have been looking for wave petunias at walmart the last couple of weeks, but they don't seem to have any in, only saw two kinds of petunias; a lot less than last year. I think I bought some extra packs last spring, so well have to look thru my seeds in the fridge and see waht I can find. I will be starting them soon so that I can take cuttings from them, also going to be starting my impatiens seeds and geraniums soon I guess. I just have to remember where I put the seedling mix. LOL I have been moving stuff around so much since last fall I have forgotten where I have put stuff. I put away grand daughter's pic for Christmas and now I can't remember where I put it. LOL My memory is getting so bad it's scary, I guess it is from stress or old age, don't know which. *S* It was 5C here yesterday and was actually melting! I couldn't believe it, it was great! Today it wasn't as warm because of the cold wind but it was nice and sunny all the same. I have also been doing some exercising and reading Dr. Phil's book about weight loss and hoping I can drop a few pounds. Am thinking about buying a treadmill too, have to talk to doctor first though. Have had some bad news about my kidneys. Have to go and see doctor about my stomach as something has shown up on that test too, so will find out about that this week. Hopefully the meds he gave me for my high blood pressure will fix my kidneys too. If i could get rid of some of this stress it would help too. *sigh* Getting old is a pain.... literally,,, but better than the alternative. *S* I'm getting use to the new computer, so that is nice and it is much faster than the old one. *S* Still have tons of stuff to learn about it though so son will have to come over and give old mom some more lessons. *S* Marcia, are pine grosbeaks the ones that are sort of reddish purple? They are pretty. We are suppose to have them here but I have never seen them. I thought we would of gotten some birds around the feeders in the past two days seeing as it was nice, but no sign of anything, guess they are still hiding in the bush. I haven't been in the fruit cellar for weeks and that is where my amaryllis are. They could be blooming their heads off down there and I wouldn't know. LOL To get them to rebloom U have to put a paper bag over top of them, so that they absolutely get no light what so ever, cause apprently if they do it breaks their dormancy and they don't bloom and u have to start the process all over again. That petunia that u brought in the fall is still growing inside? wow! That is great! Sounds like you are getting things growing at your house. *S* Couldn't u just show how to make an lasanga in a box? Have samples of all the stuff and just layer it in a box, would be less work for ya wouldn't it? Of course, I'm sure if u expanded one of your beds, just a bit... *G* you'd find something to plant in it. *S* Well take care and I hope everyone else is doing well and Jak, I hope u come in and tell us how the new house is. Debbie :-)

Thank you, Ian. When I first read your response, I thought you had misread my description, because I grow Verbascum and they are beautiful. But you are correct. This is a wild Verbascum, and that's why it's in my neighbour's garden - he has a meadow garden - only native plants. I'll try to find some seeds and I have a perfect place for it - behind my wood pile with my milkweeds - birds and butterflies!! Northerner.

That's the first thing i thought of when you said you took the garage down - more garden space! LOL Big job, eh? And yes i know what it is to wait for men to get things done. Lots of experience with that! When it's their own things, that's a different story, but when it's something you need done, it sits on the back burner. Boy, have we had the rain here. We barely have two days in a row where it doesn't rain. I've slowly been getting things done. Most of my containers are dumped, but i have most of my geraniums still in the mini-greenhouse. I want to bring them in, but dh has to fix something on the window where they're supposed to go - see above paragraph. LOL On the weekend, my son's gf's daughter and i potted up a bunch of bulbs i had bought for her and buried them in the vegetable garden. She was supposed to get a garden made for her this fall but there has been way too much other stuff that they've had to do. This way, they'll be ready for the spring. I told her i'd buy the ties, etc. to make her garden myself. I also just started raking leaves on Sunday. There just hasn't been the time, or the right weather for doing it. At least the vegetable garden is cleaned out. Dh wanted to till it, but it has been just too wet. The forecast now says it will be sunny for the next little while, but that changes like the wind - there's no sense in counting on that! You said you were "bagging up" your amaryllis. Most of mine still have green leaves. Do you have to wait until their leaves die back? And do they have to be put in a cool dark place, or does just dark work? I'd love to have the darn things rebloom for me, but they never do! Well, it's bedtime now (she said, yawning). Talk to you again soon! Marcia

This morning when I looked out from the second story windows, there were thousands of Monarchs. I tried to take the screens out to see if my camera could capture a bit of it and stirred hundreds of them into the air...the sight made me laugh out loud :o) There are literally thousands of them now but I can't get a good picture. I took a few of the closest ones with my zoom lense but they are pretty crappy given the distance the butterflies were away from me. I'll post them anyway... At first glance you see nothing in this picture but focus your eyes on the brownish orange and then you will start seeing them. It's a shame I spooked them opening the window b/c most of the butterflies from this branch flew into the air when the window made a loud noise. Sorry for the poor quality. I wish I had a better camera. It does pretty good for macro and regular photos but is crap for long shots. I wish I could go take pictures from all my neighbours upstairs windows too ;o) Barb