Back home already, sorry I couldn't stay for the delicious food, but I had a great time and it was pleasure meeting you all.. well those who were there before 1pm. I'm a little mad at myself, because I forgot three of my trade plants near the curb by the walkway to the backyard. The sweet corn is the one I'm most sad about... oh well..there's always next year right.. Thanks again to everyone for making me for welcome and to our lovely host and hostess for opening your home, yard and driveway to us all. hope you all enjoy your holy basil.

Some local honeybees are attracted to a damp local city park water fountain again this year. Also, someone last year posted about honeybees on damp soil in a hanging basket arrangement. Nice picture, bees at the trough.

As usual, so well said by gardengal and I agree with her appraisal about people frequently getting the cart before the horse with plant selection. I see plant picking as part of landscaping and don't mind people asking about it, but do think it is the portion of the design process that can many times be handled better in the regional forums. While usually I shirk it, I sometimes make exceptions and dive in. I also agree with violetwest that people sometimes wish not to think, preferring to have a solution handed to them. (What a danger that is ... not understanding what you're doing and why you're doing it!) I wish people would be interested in putting more effort into this part, as it's one which they COULD do, with Google making it much simpler than it used to be. Regarding GG's comments about offering design advice (since I am one the frequentl perpetrators!) I will clarify that I don't view the offerings as a finished product like a paying client might expect. They are suggestions that almost always need to be converted into a plan which takes into account the ACTUAL conditions on the ground. Many times there are decisions to be made, details to be worked out, and all manner of things to be perfected. In spite of the shortcomings of the process, I think that much useful information can be imparted that helps lead an inquiring person in the right direction. What more can be expected of a forum contribution? I view the current state of common, everyday landscape design as fairly awful, with many mistakes being made over and over again as the DEFACTO STANDARD! Even professional work is mistake ridden. It is mainly these common mistakes that I am attempting counter in my small way. Graphics make it much easier to explain.

Actually there are 5 endangered or threatened species. A. meadii, Mead's milkweed, A. engelmanniana, Engelman's milkweed, A. lanuginosa, A.ovifolia, and A. stenophylla. All of them except A. engelmanniana are, or were present in Illinois. A. engelmanniana occurs further west starting in Kansas and Nebraska, but close enough to probably be hardy here.