Your froggie fellow looks like he's related to my froggies! Mine have the same green head with the darker body. I just love having the water gardens so I can watch the frogs every year. Mine get very 'tame' and don't jump when I get near since theyre used to me working around the pond garden. They lay eggs in the watergarden every spring so I get to watch the tadpoles too. Your iris row is looking sensational. I just got into iris a couple years ago and some of mine are starting up. Your snow peas are looking very vigorous. I like how you utilize every bit of space in your yard to garden! I do that too....if I can't find a spot for another garden I just grow things in pots too. I'll be sure to post photos again this summer of Dad's veggie garden because I know you'll appreciate seeing it. Celeste

Hi! Becky, yes...the waterlilies I grow DO have a scent. I am glad that my ponds are small or else I'd have a hard time getting my nose close to sniff them! The scent is not real strong on these, but definitely sweet. I was also always fascinated by waterlilies as a child and swore one day I'd have my own! There's just something almost magical about them. Judith, I wish I could give you the names of all the waterlilies, but unfortunately some were cheapo, unmarked lilies from Wal-Mart simply marked by color. However, the first picture of Pond #1 with the white lily is a native waterlily from a lake down the road from me....that is a comical story in itself which involved me leaning over in a tipsy canoe to pull the tuber out of the bottom of the lake...and got soaked! The other white lilies in the last photo are Wal-Mart specials, but the 2 pale pink lilies are "Pearl of the Pool"...don't know the name of the darker pink one. If you saw my original posts, "My Garden is on Fire", the dark burgundy waterlilies are "Burgundy Princess" and the light yellow one is "Sunrise". And don't give up on your waterlilies...they take a few years to really start bloom production. None of mine bloomed in year 1; year 2 there were maybe 4 blooms; year 3...less than a dozen. Now they offer up quite a good supply, but they don't bloom for an extended period. Sometimes I have lots of them blooming, other times they are just pretty leaves. They are perfect hiding spots for the froggies! BTW, I have visited the Montreal Botanical Garden at least 5 times in my life, and to me it is the closest place to heaven!! I love Montreal, and have some of my happiest memories there...just a lovely, romantic city! I NEED to go back! Valerie, we decided we wouldn't use pumps in our pond for the reason you state....the ponds are too far away from the house and we don't want to add to our electric bill! Some people prefer the pristine-clear water and that is wonderful, but I'll bet they don't get all the tadpoles hatching out like I do....today, about 15 tiny, baby froglets were basking in the sun on the rocks around the pond...and there were about 6 big frogs with them....one big, happy frog family! Sometimes I get some algae, but I just use a net and skim it off. We throw in a few mosquito dunks (safe for frogs) in early summer so the skeeters don't lay eggs....Mosquitos are New Hampshire's state bird! LOL Thanks to you all, Celeste

I'm so excited to see so many people can attend! And so relieved Husky was able to chage her flight!!! (Even if she did mess up my name!!!) :) It's great to have all our repeat atendees as well as some new faces!! Let's do Sunday since a few people prefer that day...so it'll be June 4th then! Anyone have a preference on time? Maybe 11am? Let me know if that's ok for everyone or if people prefer a later time. I started some major garden renovations this weekend, so we may still be under construction when you all get here. I'm hoping to have them finished by then though!! We'll ready for plants at least!! :) Magicman and deprived wife and any other newcomers, if you have any other questions, feel free to keep posting them here or email me (or any of us who have attended previously) and we'll be happy to help you out. I'm going to start a new thread where you can post what you have and what you want. I would also strongly suggest listing it under your garden_web trade list as well! Looking forward to seeing you all in June!!

As I said yesterday, the plant swap would be nothing without all of you, so thank you all for making it such a great swap. We really do have such a nice group of gardeners here!! Thank you especially to those of you that helped me so much with set up and clean up. And a special thank you to Anna who was there every few minutes offering to help! I think for next year we definitely need to add sunscreen and bathing suits to the list of things to bring! :) It sure was super hot this year, but it was a lot of fun as usual! I so enjoyed seeing everyone and I can't wait to get all my new plants in the ground. I know several of them will be great additions to my new gardens!! :) I found a pair of silver/gray plastic sunglasses in the garage as well as one of the gifts from the Chineese exchange so if anyone left either of those things, let me know!! One last thing, I wanted to mention to those of you who attended the swap...Scott and I are having a cookout on July 2nd. It's a potluck, just like the plant swap, and we'll also have a bonfire and plenty of swimming, volleyball, and other general merriment. If any of you are free and able to attend I would love to see you all there! Please bring your families along! If you think you can make it, let me know and I will give you the details. Thanks again everyone!! Tara P.S. I will post the pictures of the Chinese swap as soon as I get a chance...will someone PLEASE remind me to take pictures DURING the swap next year?????? :)