Mary, I don't think I would ever sp a rose after just one year. Mine seem to get better each year, and many don't do much that first year, even in my long growing season. Especially the minis. Many folks here would have loved to get your Ebb Tide. I really don't know how it will do over time in my very hot summers. But I looked to hard to find one to give up easily on it. Yes, Tuscan Sun did great in the heat, in a pot. It is now in the ground looking happy. Kathy

Isaball, I just love that golddust! It's funny, Mason's never been much of a toy dog. He likes to tug with me but his idea of playing with a toy prior to Jovi's arrival was to rip it apart as fast as possible and see if he could eat the inndards before I got them. (Tennis balls he can "pop" quite easily, powerful jaws.) As a consequence, he only got toys when closely supervised. Well, now there are toys all over the place. The first week I was obsessed about picking them up so Mason wouldn't have access to them. (It's not the ripping up I care about, it's the eating and possibly causing an obstruction.) I finally figured out that the only time he picks up a toy, balls included, is when he wants to "tease" Jovi. He really is a very special boy and I hope some of him rubs off on Jovi. Maire cate, I'm so glad you're enjoying the photos! I really like GSDs and Rotties too. I just like big dogs and if they bred smaller Dobermans then I'd probably have stuck with that breed. As it is, I wanted a smaller dog too. That sofa and loveseat are old, about 12 or so years old. Our dogs have always been allowed on them and we've never had a problem but I keep their nails very short. How often I do them depends on their growing stage. Whit and Mason as mature adults had their nails dremeled once a week. When Mason was a pup, his nails grew so fast that I did them twice a week. Right now everyone is getting their nails done every 2-3 days because I'm teaching Jovi to accept the dremel. She did very well with it this morning! I'll try to get some new photos later today. It seems that one of Jovi's ears is trying to change from semi-erect (flopped over tip) to fully erect. I've never had a BC before so I've got no idea if this is common or what....I've sent a question in to the breeder's Yahoo group. Anyway, my little girl has one ear up and one flooped today. Oh and Marie cate? Just because I understand what you mean about size issues with a Dobe, that doesn't mean I need to make it easy for you. :-) A few more "baby Mason" photos to keep everyone until I get some new Jovi photos.

Nice purple seedling Debra. Pistil length looks short, so it should be nice and fertile. My yellow is in a pot here, so scape height was not as good as it was in Texas. There it was around 28". Expect they will be higher here when I get it in the ground. Colors were much brighter up here with the cooler temps, which was nice. Bloom is over 6". Thanks Signet, glad you like it.

I just ran across this old thread looking for something else. I was surprised to see Steve's photos of lilies mixed in with Hostas. Who knew they would grow in that much shade. I have mine in full sun and another location that is part sun and I think the full sun stand up straighter, and I thought it was the sun. But Steve's are straight in dappled shade. Beautiful garden, Steve, and I agree, I really look forward to when the lilies are blooming with their fragrance adding another dimension to the garden. I ordered new lilies bulbs and planted them last fall and I'm excited to see how they will work out. And that's a gorgeous red Hellebore, Kailleana!