Thanks again, you guys. I do feel blessed to live in a great climate and have the ability to grow these treasures. It's worth every effort. Thank you for the feedback, it means so much more when I can share it. Rian, I'm very pleased to inspire one who has inspired me. You know, I have 2 little girls and it's still possible to grow with a furvour. That's the beauty of xeric plants... they can wait. Teach him how to mist and pollinate.

Ellie, DD was one of my very first DLs and I still really like it. Joie de Vivre is supposed to poly sometimes, but hasn't yet for me in two seasons. Today I finally had a better bloom on Crystal Rapids: Flameburst had its FFO for this season (bad pic - it was in an awkward spot to get to) Greek Goddess - I'm a sucker for this kind of form. Thinking of You. I like the ruffles, but am not bowled over by the overall effect. Sunset Lagoon - not something I'd have chosen, but was a bonus from John Shooter. I'm liking it very much - good substance, commanding color. By the way, as you can see, we finally had rain! Happy Dance! Elizabeth

Thanks all! Yes SISTER LUCIENNE is a Shooter intro, and I really like it. We have had record temps (tripple digits in the Seattle area is almost unheard of, and we have had them for two weeks!) and this DL has held it's beautiful color dawn to dusk. Granted, it is in part shade, but I have learned for the first time this year to appreciated something that is still vibrant when I get home from work! Debra, if your's is redder, I would be thinking that it may not be the right plant, as mine has been one of the more consistant in color of any in my garden. As for PAW PRINT, I only added it last fall, but from what I have seen so far, if you are thinking about it, GET IT! It's first blooms started before our outrageous temps, but it has still been lovely at the end of the day when it has been very hot, and it is totally packed with blooms. I was terribly afraid that I would not get the watermark in my "cool...ha ha ha" world, but every bloom has been wonderful. I am doing a budcount analysis this year for all of my dl's (Thanks Rita, for the inspiration to really SEE what my plants are doing), and I would bet that even as a first year plant it is in my top 20%. The pic of WOW was taken early in the am, so the color by evening was much more washed out...it is not a real good "color holder" when the heat is on I am thinking....

Don't feel too badly Ribbit/Rabbit. My AZ garden was a bit of a bummer, too. I didn't get much out of it for all the time I spent on it, but if I plant one down here next winter I'll know to get a LOT more soil amendments and dig them down into the sand below. And direct plant rather than start stuff in containers on the south side of the house. Granny Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden