Double blossom bloodroot? Wow - do mind if I ask you from where you acquired such a plant? Bloodroots were always one of my father's favorite wild natives. His other favorites included Trillium, Dutchmen's Breeches, Jack-in-the-Pulpits, Solomon's Seal, Wild Ginger, and Bellwort. I still have all of them growing around here from his originals. Native woodland flowers have such a wonderful ephemeral, almost ethereal beauty. I much prefer them over the garish, almost gaudy appearance of modern flower cultivars.

Thanks :-) Maude, I have posted tons of OT (Off Topic as in not roses ;-) in the past that are archived. I shot a bunch from the roof, the deck, the mid level and the bottom to show the beds and walkways all the way around. I think you just search boxofrox and it shows you my bzillion and a half posts VBEG inga, coffee and pics.....what a life, eh ??? sunny, I just have a little SD200 point and shoot and great subject matter. Me and my blooms are up close and personal and they just make it so easy to figure out how to compose :-) Jim, momma ate that pup all by herself. We had a row of raspberries there and they croaked so we popped the peppers in and yowsa ;-) I made two more bouquets today to take to an 89 year old for her birthday and a 95 year old just cuz she's kin. The first is for the latter and the second for the former and a couple of new CP's for good measure !!!!!

Thanks Dave. The tomato does look a bit better these past few days. We have had a lot of rain since it was planted so may be too much water has stressed it. As to the tight planting, one of the self-watering container manufacturers recommends this. The tomato was actually planted with the trench method so the buried stem (hopefully now with roots!) extends almost to the far side of the container. Also, it makes it easier for me to get it to the trellis-like fence (the type used for square foot gardens, if you're familiar with them) that I will put in the ground just outside the container. Perhaps the heavy pruning before I transplanted it may also have been a cause of some of the stress.

Wonderful pictures Lynn! I've had my eye on Archduke Charles for a while now. Somehow the transition from pale pink to dark cherry on that rose seems so elegant compared to some other roses with more than one color. SdlM Rouge isn't a rose I've seen referred to often -- is it just like the pink one in fragrance and habit, or is it quite different? Stephanie, that is a brilliant idea for cake decorating! This opens up so many possibilities I had not previously considered. Gorgeous! Chris, I have never seen a better picture of Song of the Stars -- every time I try to photograph this rose I have a difficult time getting the color correct and the speckles contrasty enough. :)