Thanks folks! I can't believe how much the rain the last couple of days has helped everything along in the garden. Jroot - I'm having fun piddling around trying to layer and root a bunch of new things for a fall swap...hope you're up for another. I like being able to put faces to names that pop up in the various forums from our spring swaps. By the way, something - (maybe earwigs?) ate the tops off my daliah's - tops looked like black nibs so I cut back abit and see some branching - will they flower on these branching shoots (I'm a rookie at growing these and didn't appreciate the nibbling that took place by whatever critter - because the tops were fairly tall, it's not likely to be rabbits or voles because they would need to be pretty big to reach the top and there are tasty tidbit plants closer to the ground for any bottom rodent to feed on that's why I was thinking earwig) - I am impressed at the size these daliah's have gotten to. Just praying I end up with flowers dispite the early nibbling of tops that happened. Muttsfan - I was actually cutting back the Nelly's tonight - must have picked off 100 flowers from the two stately ones that grow up the circular pillars at the ends of the porch, but still plenty more blooms with lots of life left in them. The two Niobe's are done flowering on the bottom portions but the tops are still full of ready to open buds. I'm treating a few of my group 2's as half & half's (pruning one side as a group 3 - hard pruned in spring, while leaving the other side as a light group 2 prune) - John Paul is my experiment - time will tell if this ends up totally confusing the plant or me. I'm busy layering everything in sight, including the clematis - like I need any more, but I figure by the time last years layerings are transplanted into bigger pots, I'll be itching for some more 1st year liners to baby for the remainder of this summer. Eliza Ann & Tiffy - please get your camera's ready and post your clematis photo's - I would love to see yours. Peatpod - ever since DH surprised me with jewellery for our anniversary, my shopping expeditions have been limited - that darn alarm signal from my new Martha Stewart Ankle bracelet keeps attracting way too attention if I venture too close to any plant nursery. But apparently you are still on a loose rope and from what I've read in the threads at GW, you've been on the loose shopping and buying up central ontarios stock of new plants. Have you found enough space in your neighbourhood to get everything planted? I have finally started unloading a bunch of plants that I had to plop onto a pile of top soil in the back yard because I couldn't figure out where the heck to put them all...I'm going to limit myself to one fall swap because going to 3 GTA & area ones ends up with me bringing home way too much stuff. Composter you supplied was full within days of arrival from leaves and grass clippings - should be ready to be turned by now as it was good and hot the last time I checked. Cheers all!

You were'nt kidding when you said you like to take shots of rose buds! Well, they are as lovely as the previous ones. Thanks for a bit of color while we waiting for ol' man winter to depart. Kate

Thanks Beth for the nice comments My gosh, I had a whale of a time And planning to do another one next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. If all's well. Beth is your MG new or just taking a bit of time to bloom. Thanks Carla for the sweet compliment What paradise, just gave me ideas to just pack up and move to the Caribbean. When I got back home I was a bit depressed for a while, and now just starting to snap out of that zone after a month. Getting back to reality. Niecey

Irisgal OUR ANNIVERSARY is a Brad Jalbert rose I got from Palatine this yr. Not sure why it's not on HMF. Reds are not my favorite color class... but gotta have a few... Haha. This one is really gorgeous. I am so glad I ordered it. It's very difficult to photograph accurately. Very velvety purpley-red blooms. They actually were bigger and prettier in the pot early in the season. I think the plant is just getting accustomed to it's spot in the ground. Plus it's been HOT. Hey Ingrida, that's ok. Takes awhile to get all these photos uploaded. I wish we could do more than 10 at a time.