Thanks for the nice comments. I'm quite pleased with how the garden is looking (aside from too many weeds sprouting after the rains and heat we've had - cursed garlic mustard weed in particular!) I'm almost positive that is not a Nelly Moser. It is a bit pinker than it looks in the picture and it does have a stripe down the center of the tepals. The stripe is a darker pink. Kathy - I have a Ramona on the south fence in the back yard and it doesn't look anything like the one with the lilac. It's also not blooming yet. But then I wouldn't swear to the one in the backyard actually being Ramona - it seems that almost every clematis I buy turns out to be something other than what the label says it is! I've concluded it doesn't matter what their names are as long as I like their blooms and they grow well for me... PM2 - the biggest hosta in the patio hosta bed is plain old Hosta sieboldiani 'Elegans' - an oldie but a goodie :-) On the right side of the patio is a 'Bressingham Blue' that is finally hitting its stride after 3 or 4 years - it's the big round leaves you can see on the right in the second to last photo. I've also been adding several Blue Angel and Blue Mammoth in a few places to see how they do. I'm a sucker for big, preferably blue, leaves! Yes, the Beautybush is a Kolkwitzia. Marian, the drawback with planting one is that it took about 5 years for that one to get big enough to flower - I gather that it's common for them to take a few years to flower but they are very pretty when they do! And, yes, the veggies are in pots because there is too much shade in the back for a vegetable garden there. The blueberries used to be in the back but got shaded out. I moved them to pots last spring. They didn't produce any flowers or fruit last year - I thik they were too shocked by the move. They spent the winter in the garage. They produced lots of flowers and there are a lot of green berries forming now so I'm hopeful for a good crop this year - if I can keep the birds off them when they start to ripen...

Hi John and Agatha, Your garden is looking stunning - bet your visitors for the open weekend were impressed! :) Thanks for sharing with us. No doubt about it - you grow those magnificent vrieseas really well.......wiping off snail-trail drool from puter screen... In fourth photo, top left, is that the 'to die for' V.Pacific Blush? My garden is not ready yet to show off how it now looks post-frost. But it's getting there. We have had such a wet summer - sun shone yesterday for first time in many weeks. Floods have been the latest punishment by good ol' Mother Nature, even though much of the country (Australia) is still declared drought-stricken. But I still stubbornly want to believe the 'cycle theory', rather than the 'global warming' one. Sorry folks - not supposed to use the dreaded "G.W." term - but of course I mean Garden Web, the pulse of our passion! :) Fawnridge - I live near the Gold Coast, and expect a visit from you and partner (spare bed too), when you are on your big trip! Cheers, Kerry PS. Is anyone else getting weird alien/monster thingies appearing on screen while on this site? They appear briefly, as if ripping page open, then disappear. Maybe I've just gone stir-crazy from the rain!!

Hello everyone and welcome newbies! Had to take DH for his kidney stones procedure yesterday. He's OK, but needs someone in the house with him. I've got him set up in the guest room on our second level, so I can keep an eye on him while I am in our office working. He had two on the left and they found another two on the right side, so I need to make another appointment to get them all blasted. Lots of drama going on with my brother lately. My sister and I made some decisions that was difficult for me, but it's time I let him fly on his own. I feel better about it, because he has not really had any brother-sister relationship with me and does not want it now. He simply does not have any emotional support to give, so he will fly or fall. Will let you all know more about it when some things are settled. My counselor wanted me to get mad and stay mad at him, and I am finally getting some peace with that! Can you believe it? She told me that if anyone treated me as badly as I treat myself, there would be a restraining order against them! I don't always see it that way, but she's the expert! Gotta run; I'm working from home, and my e:mail keeps ringing. Make this day count! Hug your family! Take care, eat healthy, and NEVER NEVER GIVE UP! DeeMarie PS: Marci, can you come over with all your energy and help me with closets? LOL

1.) My perfect summer day would be spent in my (new to me) backyard, relaxing on my back porch. What a lovely realization it is, to know that my own backyard is now my favorite place to be! 2.) I would spend the day reading, and just "being". 3.) I would hear nothing but the neighborhood birds. 4.) I would see the plants I've put in, and the ones that came with the house--always a fun surprise, as what I thought were crocosmia turn out to be glads, etc. 5.) I'd be wearing shorts and a t-shirt, because--let's be realistic--I'm at home, and can dress sloppy if I want! 6.) Ice cold mint water, made with my own mint, would be my drink of choice. If you haven't tried it, make it today! Just put 5-10 sprigs of mint in a pitcher, add water, and mash with the handle of a wooden spoon. Let it sit for at least twenty minutes, then pour over ice. It is also fantastic in water bottles, especially when hiking. 7.) Food would be grilled veggies from the farmer's market. 8.) My companions would be my husband, and the dragonflies and hummingbirds that call my backyard home.