Howdy, Rose..a good excuse, but only two??? lol. Last night we went to HD and of all stores, Walgreens. Bought 2 plants at HD, Thanksgiving Cactus and bi-colored flower Cyclamen. BUT: We stopped at Walgreens for aspirin. Wouldn't you know it..adjacent the checkout counter stood a small table w/plants. At first look, they were common, but then, before I was about to walk away, there were two succulents. Ironically, while browsing Ebay yesterday, I came across a similar if not the same succulent as the one at Walgreen's. So, I bought one, though should have got both..Not a common succulent.. The outer ceramic, no-drainge container was made in Germany.. Oh, HD's plants were floating in water..A shame! Rose, I promise you..every room, even though there are plants, have furniture.. Last week we had installed LR carpet. Dh and DS hauled the desk, 'which used to hold a computer,' in the garage. Since we no longer keep a computer on the desk, I might ditch the desk. Might be nice for my tall, D. Marginata. lol. Hey Purple. Yep, Hoyas were Dead, Dead. I feel so bad. If it hadn't been for my knee plants would have been in a lot sooner. Yep, I learned a lesson...Hoyas cannot tolerate freezing temps and frozen rain. Although thick-leaf types did better, several leaves had dropped..many remaining are frost-bitten..so I have to remove a few leaves everyday..though not as many as before. Thank God! Mike..is the sun out there? Will your pics come out clear or dark? It's gloomy here, but temps are in the 60's. Still, too dark to snap a pic..I might try. Hey Purple, you and I have the same driving rules..speed unless the police are around..Great rule. I didn't know there were two people who had this right!

Thank you everyone for following up on my Iris' pics. I'm definitely new at this and to have some bloom first Spring after planting them and to be so BIG, well that just fascinates and tickles me! I wanted to post a follow up to my pictures. Those other pictures were taken yesterday and when I went outside at 6:00am today (EST), I had the most beautiful surprise waiting to greet me on my front stoop (porch), see for yourself....

Paula, I think the decision to overhaul the "jungle" was the catalyst. The Hostaholic was already buried deep inside me. Just needed some freshly tilled dirt to come out and spread its roots through my bank account. I am not new to botanical addictions though. My other passion is orchids and I have about 80 cultivar in a room upstairs under grow lights. It is a 3 year old collection and also growing. We can't afford real food in my house so we eat fertilizer and perlite . . . kidding . . . well maybe not after I get all the Hosta I have my heart set on. I have not "been" to Hallson's since I am in PA but I did call Chris the other day to see when the earliest was I could place my spring order. He was so delightful and courteous I felt so bad I kept him on the phone for like an hour just basking in his knowledge (I am full of questions as we all know by now). It was awesome talking to him. I will def be placing an order . . . and then another one . . . and another. I can't imagine actually going there in person. I would probably suffer mild cardiac arrest upon entering just at the sight. Your Fire and Ice is awesome btw !!! I am sure in time I will come to own one of those as well but I am a bit scared with my inexperience to tackle a fussy little guy like that at the moment. We will see how things go with Cascades first. Babka - I am already making arrangements to talk to the neighbors and see if I can rip all that Liriope out of the lower part of our side porch to make more room for Hosta since my garden is going to be filling up quick with all these giants. Was thinking about putting some of the spreading types that HH was mentioning to help with erosion control since as we all know it is much more pleasant to look at Hosta than Liriope IMO. Alexis - yeah I am a sucker for the big variegated types. I notice this when deciding what I want and am trying to balance it out with more characteristic solids. My whole thing with Guardian is I want to be able to see that beautiful spring variegation all year and the virescence would almost be like a tease as I watch the colors fade. Same goes with Warpaint. I forgot to mention in the earlier post: Raspberry Sundae Lionheart These two are also in the spring order list. Raspberry for the variegation and red petioles. Lionheart since it came recommended by Chris as a solid white leaf grower. Thanks again everyone for sharing, Ludi

Its 1 :25 am and I'm with the night owls. I was laid off at 66 and was dispirited. Looked for jobs, not much luck. So I accepted that unemployment was actually early retirement. Less than a year later a friend called about an opening in her agency in my field. It is a great fit: about 10-15 hours a week. I only go into the office (which is 20 minutes away) 1 x 2weeks, nearly everything can be communicated and documented by secure email and text. I miss the chatting life of more collegial time in an office, but I treasure setting my own schedule. As long as my patients get seen on time and my documentation and time sheets are on time no one 'bothers' me. I'm still contributing to society and (modestly) to family income. I have lots of time and flexibility for those ever increasing doctors' and physical therapy appointments. Gotta keep the mojo working if I want to work. My house is still a mess because neither dh nor I are neatniks and actually don't care a lot about "everything in its place". I mean, it would be nice, but it takes so much valuable time! Rouge, your days and nights will take on a shape of their own. You can nudge things however you want. Eventually a routine might emerge. My thoughts are: make new friends, keep up with old ones and participate in some sort of group activity: exercise class, bridge, book group, civic organizations. For me, they are a welcome change from being at home. I came across the seeds you sent months ago. Still in their little envelope, waiting for spring, like me.Marie