Thanks all for all the compliments. I am really goofy over Wynter. Mantis, she isn't a red head, but a blond, at least now. That iris is Paul Black. Sarahlee, this is the fifth year for the dutch iris, and all I do is allow the ratty foliage to die on its own after the blooming is over....nothing else. Probably like the weather or something. I have a daylily in a pot that has a couple of bloom spikes, but it was a Bill Maryott daylily which means they were probably left form last year. I have noticed that all the blooms are coming closer together. right now, All but one peony is blooming, the roses are in their spring flush, and the iris are at peak. And the iris are so pretty this year, I will have trouble getting rid of more of them, but I do have three of them to dig up. My pictures are not up to usual quality because I have not been out early to take photos.

That's great...I wrapped mine, but I'm going to have to rethink the way I did it as I have re-wrapped them twice already and the tarp is falling again...sigh... I'm going to build a frame to place around it next winter. I've already drawn it out and made the measurements necessary to build the frame. I just can't decide whether I want plexiglas or plastic. I've got time.... It won't be too tight as I don't want heat build-up I just want something that will protect and be less trouble than the wrapping I did this year. My indoor figs have finally *almost* lost all thier leaves. (1 leaf left) but they all look very good. ~Chills ~Chills

As Maxine says in her cartoon, 'when you get old nothing whistles at you except the tea kettle', so I guess it is nice when someone is still 'jealous' of anything I do. LOL Dawn, they also have a list at the cash register in the store so I do sign up there when I think about it. To most of the world it would be just a seed store, but to gardeners it is a fun place to visit. They have a bakery that always has nice smells and some good looking stuff, but since I bake all of that at home, it's not a big draw for me. I have eaten at the restaurant once and it is OK, not wonderful, but OK. If it were mine, I would serve soup, salad, and lots of homemade bread, and nothing else. That way they could showcase what they grow, and a limited menu would be easy to handle, and it's always going to be vegetarian anyway. It's nice to have a place to eat in the event you want to stay all day. I have enjoyed looking at the chickens and turkeys and such. There is a big garden in front of the seed store which I always check out, but a lot of the gardens elsewhere were covered with row covers the last time I was there. I think that is the way we all need to garden to keep it as organic as possible and not spray. Of course, if I had to spray it, I wouldn't grow it, so I am always looking at a better way to grow. On festival days they have local -uhh- talent, that come in and perform and they seem to be a big draw. I am probably too critical, but it just isn't my kind of music. Last year Al and I went one month in the Fall, stayed overnight, and one of my friends was furious to learn that we had gone and didn't invite her. We agreed to take her to the next festival the next month. Al got sick and couldn't go so she and I went back. I could have just sat there and listen to one speaker after another, but she could only make it through one. We did visit every booth, and every store, and spent a lot of time picking out seed packs, because it was her first trip. I think she bought close to 30 packs and she plants a small garden. I'm sure her gardener son benefited the most from that shopping trip. That was the day we ate there also. That week she became sick with H1N1 and I was just sure I would get it since we had spent hours in the same car just a few days before, but I didn't. Anyway, when you can build a business in the middle of no where and still draw the crowds that the Gettles do, then you are doing something right, and it's not his wardrobe that draws them (grin). It is miles down a dusty gravel road and you actual do have 'to go the extra mile' to get to it. It seems to be a very good business for them and in addition, they are able to see the world as they travel. They now have a store in Missouri, one on the east coast and the left coast, and I hope getting so big doesn't have a negative impact. Maybe we need to do a caravan road trip next year.

I had fun walking with you! Nice to get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors after being cooped up all winter. I know what you mean about taking a walk with a camera. I'm always stopping and looking around for a shot to take, never getting anywhere! When I go with my husband somewhere he is always turning around and waiting for me to catch up!Thanks for the pretty tour!