Thanks, Kathy, for adding to the conversation about this. She actually tells a story about "Prince Charlie's Rose" which was told her as recounted through the records of Edrom Nurseries by Alex Duguid. I'll just quote: After the battle of Prestonpans in 1745, where Charles Stuart defeated the Government troops ... on the evening of that day a reception was held in the ballroom of Holyrood Palace at which the prince (Charles Stuart or Bonnie Prince Charlie) wore on his coat a double white rose. On the morning after the prince had gone the chambermaid found the rose left on the dressing-table in the bedroom. She took it home to her mother, a keen gardener, who managed to root the rose spray. Eventually the resulting plant was planted in the gardens of Carberry Towers ... where it flourished... In 1926 when the Misses Logan-Home moved the Edrom Nurseries to Silverwells, near Coldingham, the rose was planted there and soon developed into a large bush, increasing itself by suckers. Again when I came to Ballater in 1979 I took a plant of this rose with me, where it is spreading and flowering freely. Approximately 3 feet high, it produces many small double white flowers every summer. She says then that she still has a plant of Prince Charlie's rose which was given to her by this man named Alex Duguid, who worked for many years with the Misses Logan-Home at Edrom Nurseries.

In for sure... Barb (rosepedal) - Haves list posted Norma (bigmama4ever) - Lists posted Regina (ladygreensleeves) - Lists posted Chell (chellflower) - Lists posted Dawn (dtm1966) - Lists posted Mariann (galium) - Lists posted Dee (gardendee) - Lists posted Getting ready to cave/May be... Frances (fcoffill) Melissa (hazelnutbunny) - Lists posted Thanks everyone for participating so far in the "get to know each other" activity. It's so much fun to read everyone's answers!! Regina, that variegated lipstick is a beaut! (P.S. I have variegated lipstick on my wish list...lol!) I think I have my husband sold on the idea that we don't need electric for the pond right away. BUT, we will need to get electricity back there somehow for the winter if I want to overwinter my fish and plants in there. Here in MN, I think that the pond would have to be 6 feet deep or more in order for it not to freeze to the bottom! I'm not sure what the exact depth is, but it would have to be very large and deep. Thanks for all the info!! Your pictures make me so jealous!! Beautiful!! Mariann, I think that people probably hesitate to give technical advice because they may not know enough to explain it well. I've been in the business for 11 years and have worked with varying degrees of users, some with hardly any computer knowledge. I've also spent a lot of time writing lots of time writing detailed user documentation. I guess it all comes with experience. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! :-) I don't have a greenhouse, oh how I wish I did though!! Frances, great website and awesome art too!!! Art is one of my many hobbies too, but I don't have time for it now that I'm in school. Now I only do paintings when I decorate one of my rooms. I wish I could win the lottery and retire so that I would have time to indulge in all of my hobbies!! :-) Thanks for adding the extra tip, that's a great one!!! BTW, everyone is encouraged to include a tip if they think of one!! I will be posting another tip early next week. Oh, I almost forgot...after reading you talking about the bulb planter, I ran out and bought myself one last night!! LOL. I used it today to get my new tropical garden planted and it's AWESOME!!! Thanks!! Barb, renting a trencher is a great idea and hitting all corners of the yard is a great idea too!! Thanks for the advice. The only problem is that we have an underground sprinkler, so we may have to dig it by hand after all. We don't know exactly where the water lines run. If we cut a line, it's pretty easy to fix them. Just more work! bluespiritartist, why don't you go ahead and post your full list and we'll see what you've got. If nothing else, perhaps someone would want to do a side swap with you! :-) And yes, we will definitely be having another tropical swap before the fall...hopefully more than just one!! Hi Heather (divahethr), good to see you!! Hope you're doing well. Chell, looks like you got a great box from bigmama!! And your greenhouse looks great, it's really coming along! Your rooms full of plants look like mine! I have that exact same mini-greenhouse in our spare bedroom. BTW, what ever happened to Redheaded Stepchild? She was great! So, after I ate dinner tonight, I got up the energy to get my tropical garden planted!! it's mostly bulbs so not much to see now. I can't wait for it to start to produce, it will be beautiful!!! I took some new pictures of my other gardens last night. I will get some pictures posted soon. No time tonight, I'm pooped and ready for bed! I don't know what was up with the forum yesterday, it must have been something major though since it took them so long to get it back up! LOL, I was thinking that lots of people were probably suffering from withdrawals like I was too!! Dawn, I don't think that you will be disappointed with this swap!! This group has been trading for a few months now and everyone has been very generous so far!!! I am so glad that you decided to take a chance with us!!! Good night! Amy

1. What is your name?-------- Valerie 2. A four-letter word------------- vase 3. A boy's name----------------- Victor 4. A girl's name------------------ Virginia 5. Occupation------------------- veterinarian 6. Color----------------------------- verdigris 7. Something you wear---------- vest 8. Beverage----------------------- V-8 Juice 9. Food--------------------------- vegetables Something used in a bathroom --- vitamins Ok, had to "stretch" a bit ... V is tough!

Joe, the searchable 'Gardening Help' from the Missouri Botanical Garden should be useful for you in a general sense, and more specifically for estimating 10-year plant sizes, for example. Also, learn the botanical names in Latin as it allows for more accurate searches than common names. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener.aspx P.S. Determine your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone if you have not done it yet http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ Choose plants that are rated 1 zone hardier than your own zone if you want to avoid winter problems in a more reliable way. For example, if you determine from the USDA site that you live in zone 6, choose plants that are rated for zone 5.