I have been busy bringing in the plants that I want to keep over the Winter. I brought the two Hibiscus in a couple days ago since the weather guy was warning us of a frost. Today I cut back the Mandavilla and brought it in. Also two large hanging begonias and one Coleus. I've never tried to keep a Coleus, but it was just too pretty to throw out. They are all in the end of the garage where I have an entrance door with windows. Also I dumped some container plants, and took down the deck umbrella and brought it in. I'm right proud of myself!! The weather today has been perfect with sunshine, and temps in the high 60's. S'posed to get some of that rain on Saturday, when the family will be here for my DD's birthday. I hope it will hold off though. Enjoy the weather while we can. Winter is just aeound the bend. Sue

Superb Lois, it's just spectacular, as I suspected abt the black sashing. Your decision that there was enough in the blocks to not use a corner square in your sashing was exactly right. In contrast to this work of mine around 20 blocks that I found. The blocks were sedate enough that they needed the punch of brightly colored corner blocks to both unite the blocks & make them pop. Great job Lois!!!

You're welcome Anthony! I have several of the newer hibiscus hybrids from the Hawaiian Punch series, these are fantastic with their long lasting individual blooms of up to five days each. At times I've forgotten them out on the veranda when nights have dropped to 5 C or so and they haven't been shocked by it, they're not really terribly touchy things, otherwise I would have killed them by now!

Nancy - I'm thankful to get even a bit of rain. On Monday the ground was so dry, pulling weeds was nearly impossible. Now it will be much easier. I was so glad to see an almost clean flower on Bluegrass Shadows. It's a shame that now it's shaping up there are so few buds left. It usually reblooms though. Kate - Yes that is a seedling bed behind Applique'. It used to have registered daylilies, but I moved them all out so I would have another seedling bed. Unfortunately about half of the seedlings I planted last fall died in it. We had a mild winter, so it must have been too many wood pieces in the raised bed soil that rotted them. I will fill in soon with seedlings waiting to be planted in cups. Everything about the Dancing Flamingo seedling is good, except it won't set seed. But its pollen is highly potent, and I have crossed with nearly all the pinks I own. There are several babies from it in the seedling bed in back of Applique'. The Perseus' Sandals seedling has a 10 inch bloom on a 40 inch scape. It is one of the few daylilies here that has the same bud count as last year, despite the lack of rain. So it's either very drought tolerant, or would have had many more buds this year had there been rain. Debra