Got a little bit more time, tonight to respond to the nice comments and the time some of you took, like 'idiothe'! You're SO RIGHT, I know, about the work that is ahead for me, in the not-so-distant future, but I just love the closeness of a sea of hosta! I'd rather have the instant gratification and then have to figure out what to do later, I guess. I can't wait till I'm begging people to take some divisions! I have several who have asked me "do you ever divide your hosta?" and I feel really *small* saying, "not yet"!! Not that I haven't shared, but some of my hosta are relatively new to my area, since I've only been about gathering them the past 5 summers, and I love the huge clumps they can eventually be! Phil--now that you've kidded me about 'showing off' I kinda feel like it probably does look like I am. And, I suppose I am, because I am so pleased at what all the work I've done has turned out to be, in a relatively short time!! I thought it would take me many more years to have it come together as it has, and I want you all, who are just starting out, to know you will be so thrilled with the outcome in less than 3-5 years, in my experience!!! So keep up the hard work and just know it WILL be worth it!!!! Paul--look into my eyes----you want more and more and more hosta, along with a wonderful variety of companion plantings!!! Is it working? hahaha Alexis--thank you again for your generous praise---and be careful of what you ask for! I'm easy!!! 'Threedogsmom', the only amending I do is on the surface with compost that is mixed with aged cow manure, and sometimes some alfalfa pellets sprinkled around the plants. And, I try to water them at least once a week, but don't always, especially if it rains, of course! Rain is always better for plants, over ground water and I love it when by the time I've made the rounds, the first hosta watered are already standing much taller! I have to also tell, you '3dogs' that every year that I use that composted stuff the soil is so much more improved!! I've always ground up my Fall leaves and put them on the beds, and the clay areas I've done that are nice and very black, with the clay seeming to recede down about 6" or more. With the composted stuff now being applied--just one year made a huge difference in an area out front that last year I could not get a shovel to take a bite, with me jumping on it! This year, it is now very workable!!! Amazing stuff!!! Going for more of it this week! Oh, and Dan--(one of my 'inspirational gardeners'), my pots usually do fine over the winter, but in '07 with the weird pre-mature Spring we had, I lost over 35 hosta, and many of those were in the whiskey barrels, too! Most of the others were in pots I hadn't planted yet, but I did have them tipped, to no avail that year!!! What I do, do, is plant them in pine-bark mulch that I've sent through our wood-chipper, since I can't buy pine fines or 'soil conditioner' in my area. I do add about 1/3 compost to the mix and usually I have no problems with them--AND, (a big 'AND') I've discovered that any barrel or pot will have a better chance of hosta-survival if it is in direct contact with the ground, not sitting on anything to level them or support them. In fact, I have 'planted' all my large pots, and barrels at least 2" deep (in-ground), and more deeply with the pots--up to 1/3 of the pot deep!! I think they stay more consistent a temp that way!!! I use to have my barrels on a triangle we made of treated lumber to prevent them from deteriating but find that probably is why I lost what I did in '07! Oh, and make sure to drill 1/4" (at least) holes around the sides of the barrels, every 8" or more about 6" from the bottoms and make sure there's drainage in the bottoms!I now cover the big hole in the bottom with 1/4" screening to deter voles!!! Again--thank you, all I've not addressed, so far--Lisa, Melissa, msjo, Mary, ptilda, sassy, Queenie, Starina, Carol, (Oh, I know I'm going to leave someone out--I'm sorry if I do!)--thank you ALL, for your enthusiastic comments, making me feel really good about my efforts!!! Okay--this time, I'm done!!

Sorry bk, I sometimes rush to type out an answer and don't pay enough attention. They do have a lot of mislabeled plants at the Lowe's nearer me, but not at the location where I made the purchases (Dartmouth, MA). Jo, Maybe I will put SSs on either side of the bench to highlight it, give some focus to the somewhat isolated bench, lighten the spot a little, if they do well it may encourage me to create a meadow around the bench of lighter plants and relieve the growing pressure I have from the building consensus to lighten up a little. Placing lighter hosta in the area of the ravine itself will draw the eye toward the light. Right now the rocks are light colored (for the most part) and that is where the attention should (must) be. I'm sure you might understand that after hauling tons of boulders and rocks to form the Ravine, I want it to command attention. Turning into quite a temperamental artist, Jon

ALL-AMERICAN ROSE SELECTIONS “AARS” 1949 TO 2007 THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL ARS PUBLICATION 1) Exhibition name. 2) Petalage: single 4-8; semi-dbl 9-16; double 17-25; full 26-40; very full 41+ petals. 3) Bloom size when open. 4) Latest National garden & exhibiting ratings: 9.3-10 one of the best; 8.8-9.2 outstanding; 8.3-8.7 excellent; 7.8-8.2 very good; 7.3-7.7 good; 6.8-7.2 average; 6.1-6.7 below average; 0.0-6.0 not recommended. 5) Color classification. 6) Year rose received “AARS” award. All roses listed are in commerce in North America By: Ronald Schwerdt June 2006 GR---ABOUT FACE--------26/40----------------------------------OB---2005 S-----ALL THAT JAZZ---9/16----4.5”--------------7.4 (6.9)----OP---1992 FL---AMBER QUEEN---17/25-----------------------7.1 (6.6)---AB---1988 LCL--AMERICA---43---3.5-4.5”--------------------8.3 (7.5)----OP---1976 HT---AMERICAN HERITAGE---17/25---5”------------6.2----YB---1966 FL---ANGEL FACE---25/30---3.5-4”---------------------7.7-----M---1969 HT---APOLLO---17/25---5+”-----------------------------4.7----MY---1972 F-----APRICOT NECTAR---17/25---4-4.5”---------------8.0---AB---1966 HT---APRICOT QUEEN---45---5+”-----------------------6.4---AB---1941 GR---AQUARIUS---17/25---3.5-5”------------------------7.7----PB---1971 GR---ARIZONA---25/30---3.5-5”-------------------7.5 (6.0)----OB---1975 HT---ARTISTRY---30/35---4.5”---------------------7.9 (7.3)----OP---1997 FL---BAHIA---17/25---1.5-2.75”---------------------------7.2---OB---1974 FL---BETTY BOOP------4/8---4”--------------------8.0 (7.4)----RB---1999 HT---BEWITCHED-------17/25-------5”------------------7.7----MP---1967 HT---BING CROSBY---45---5”---------------------5.6 (6.5)----OB---1981 FL---BON-BON---9/16---2.75+”--------------------------7.5-----PB---1974 S-----BONICA ---17/25---1.5-2.75”----------------8.4 (6.9)-----MP---1987 HT---BRANDY---17/25---5”------------------------7.4 (7.1)-----AB---1982 FL---BRASS BAND---17/25---3-3.5”--------------7.9 (7.4)----AB---1995 HT---BRIGADOON---41+-----5+”-----------------7.8 (6.9)-----PB---1992 HT---BROADWAY------17/25---3.5-5”-----------7.0 (6.7)----YB---1986 HT---CALIFORNIA---17/25---5-6”-----------------------6.5----OB---1941 GR---CAMELOT---17/25--3.5-4”------------------------7.6------OP---1965 GR---CANDELABRA---17/25---4”----------------7.6 (6.7)-----OB---1999 HT---CAPISTRANO-----17/25----6”---------------------5.4-----MP---1950 S-----CAREFREE DELIGHT---5---1.5-2.75”----8.2 (7.1)------PB---1996 S-----CAREFREE WONDER---17/25-------------8.0 (8.0)------PB---1991 GR---CARIBBEAN---17/25---2.75+”-------------7.6 (7.6)-----AB---1994 FL---CATHEDRAL---17/25-----4-5”--7.8 (6.5)-----------------AB---1976 FL---CHARISMA---41+---2-2.5”-------------------7.1 (6.5)----RB---1978 HT---CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG---17/25---3-4”----7.3----DP---1941 FL---CHERISH---17/25---2-2.5”--------------------7.1 (6.5)-----OP---1980 GR---CHERRY PARFAIT----26/40---5”-----------7.8 (7.4)----RB---2003 MIN---CHILD’S PLAY---9/16---1.5-2.75”---------8.0 (8.0)----PB---1993 HT---CHRISTIAN DIOR---55---4-4.5”-------------------7.2----MR---1962 HT---CHRYSLER IMPERIAL---45-----4.5-5”----------7.8-----DR---1953 FL---CIRCUS---45/58---2.5-3”----------------------------7.1-----YB---1956 FL---CLASS ACT---9/16------------------------------7.8 (7.1)-----W---1989 HT---COLOR MAGIC---17/25---5”-----------------7.9 (7.0)----PB---1978 GR---COMANCHE---17/25---3.5-4”----------------------7.1----OR---1969 HT---COMMAND PERFORMANCE---17/25--3.5-5”---6.5---OR---1971 GR---CRIMSON BOUQUET---17/25--4-4.5”-----7.9 (7.1)----DR---2000 FL---DAY BREAKER---26/40-----------------------7.9 (7.5)----AB---2004 S-----DAY DREAM----4/8------------------------------------------ -M---2005 MIN---DEBUT---17/25---1.5-2.75”-----------------7.6 (7.0)----RB---1989 HT---DIAMOND JUBILEE---17/25---5-6”---------------6.6----LY---1948 HT---DICKSON’S RED---9/16--5+”----------------------5.8----DR---1940 HT---DOUBLE DELIGHT---17/25---5.5”----------8.4 (8.0)----RB---1977 HT---DUET---17/25---4”------------------------------------6.8----MP---1961 HT---ELECTRON---17/25---5”----------------------------7.8-----DP---1973 HT---ELLE------41+--------------------------------------------------PB---2005 FL---EUREKA---17/25--------------------------------7.7 (7.2)----YB---2003 FL---EUROPEANA---17/25---3”--------------------8.6 (8.8)----DR---1968 GR---FAME---41+-----5”------------------------------8.1 (7.5)----DP---1998 FL---FASHION----17/25--3-3.5”----------------------------8.0----PB---1950 FL---FIRE KING---17/25---2.5”----------------------------7.3----OR---1960 FL---FIRST EDITION---17/25---2-2.5”-------------8.2 (7.5)----OP---1977 S-----FIRST LIGHT---4/8---3.5-4”------------ ------7.8 (7.0)----LP---1998 HT---FIRST PRIZE---17/25---5+”---------------------------8.2---PB---1970 LCL--FLASH---17/25----------------------------------------6.5----RB---1940 FL---FLORADORA---17/25---2”---------------------------6.3----OR---1945 HT---FORTY-NINER---26/40---3.5-4”-------------------4.9----RB---1949 LCL---FOURTH OF JULY---9/16---4-4.5”--------8.1 (7.7)----RB---1999 HT---FRED EDMUNDS---17/25---5-5.5”----------------5.6----OB---1944 HT---FRED HOWARD---17/25---4”----------------------6.1----YB---1952 FL---FRENCH LACE---17/25------------------------8.1 (7.8)-----W---1982 HT---FRIENDSHIP----17/25---5.5-6”----------------------7.7----DP---1979 FL---FUSILIER---17/25--3-3.5”----------------------------7.0----OR---1958 HT---GARDEN PARTY---17/25---4-5”--------------------7.9----W---1960 FL---GAY PRINCESS---17/25---2.75+”-------------------7.3----LP---1967 HT---GEMINI---17/25---4.5-5”-----------------------8.2 (8.4)----PB---2000 FL---GENE BOERNER---17/25---1.5-2.75”--------------8.3----MP---1969 GR---GLOWING PEACE---17/25---3.5-5”---------7.4 (6.7)----YB---2001 FL---GOLD CUP----17/25---4”------------------------------5.4---DY---1958 LCL---GOLDEN SHOWERS---17/25---4”----------------7.4---MY---1957 FL---GOLDEN SLIPPERS----17/25---3”-------------------7.0---YB---1962 HT---GRANADA----17/25---4-5”---------------------------7.9----RB---1964 HT---GRANDE DUCHESSE CHARLOTTE---17/25---6.4----MR---1943 HT---GYPSY----17/25----------------------------------------6.2----OR---1973 HT---HEART’S DESIRE---17/25--4.5”---------------------5.2---DR---1942 HT---HELEN TRAUBEL----17/25---5-6”------------------5.8----PB---1952 HT---HIGH NOON CL----17/25---3-4”---------------------7.4---MY---1948 FL---HONEY PERFUME----26/40---------------------------------AB---2004 HT---HONOR---17/25---5”----------------------------7.6 (7.8)------W---1980 HT---HORACE McFARLAND---17/25---4.5-5.5”---------6.3---OP---1945 FL---HOT COCOA----26/40----2.75+”----------------7.9 (7.5)-----R---2003 FL---IMPATIENT---9/16------1.5-2.75”--------------7.9 (7.3)---OR---1984 FL---INTRIGUE---17/25---1.5-2.75”------------------7.1 (6.7)----M---1984 FL---IVORY FASHION----9/16---3-4”----------------------8.3----W---1959 FL---JIMINY CRICKET----28---3-4”-----------------------6.4----OP---1955 GR---JOHN S. ARMSTRONG----40---3.5-4”-------------6.9----DR---1962 FL---JULIA CHILD--------26/40------------------------------------MY---2006 S-----KALEIDOSCOPE----26/40----3”----------------7.3 (6.4)----M---1999 HT---KATHERINE T. MARSHALL----17/25---5”-------5.9----MP---1944 HT---KING’S RANSOM----17/25--5-6”--------------------6.4----DY---1962 S-----KNOCK OUT----4/8-----------------------------8.6 (7.5)-----RB---2000 S-----LADY ELSIE MAY-------9/16---3.5-4”----------------------OP---2005 FL---LILIBET----17/25---2.5-3.5”---------------------------5.9----LP---1954 FL---LIVIN EASY----25/30---4-4.5”-----------------8.1 (7.2)----OB---1996 HT---LOVE & PEACE----26/40----------------------7.8 (7.3)-----YB---2002 GR---LOVE----17/25---3.5”----------------------------7.6 (6.4)----RB---1980 HT---LOWELL THOMAS----17/25---4-4.5”--------------5.0----DY---1944 GR---LUCKY LADY----17/25---5+”-------------------------6.7---LP---1967 FL---MA PERKINS----17/25--3.5”---------------------------7.1----PB---1953 FL---MARINA----17/25-----2.5-3”---------------------7.5 (7.4)---OB---1981 FL---MARMALADE SKIES---17/25---1.5-2.75”----7.8 (7.3)---OB---2001 HT---MARY MARGARET McBRIDE----17/25----4-5”--6.6---MP---1943 HT---MATTERHORN----17/25----3.5-5”------------------6.1-----W---1966 HT---MEDALLION----17/25----5+”------------------------7.1----AB---1973 HT---MEMORIAL DAY----26/40--------------------7.6 (7.2)----MP---2004 HT---MIDAS TOUCH----17 /25---2.75+”------------7.5 (6.7----DY---1994 HT---MIKADO----17/25---3.5-5”---------------------7.4 (7.3)----RB---1988 HT---MIRANDY----17/25---5-6”--------------------------- 6.6----DR---1945 HT---MISS ALL-AMERICAN BEAUTY---55-----7.7 (6.3)----DP---1968 HT---MISSION BELLS----17/25---5”----------------------6.3----PB---1950 HT---MISTER LINCOLN ----17/25---4.5-6”--------------8.3----DR---1965 HT---MME. CHIANG KAI-SHEK----17/25---5-5.5”------6.0---LY---1944 HT---MME. MARIE CURIE---17/25---5”-----------------5.6----DY---1944 HT---MOJAVE----17/25----4-4.5”---------------------------5.7---OB---1954 HT---MON CHERI-----17/25---5”---------------------7.4 (7.4)----RB---1982 HT---MOONDANCE---------------------------------------------------W---2007 HT---MOUNT HOOD----40/45----3.5-5”-------------6.9 (6.5)----W---1996 MIN---NEW BEGINNING---40/50---1.5-2.75”------7.2 (6.9)--OB---1989 GR---NEW YEAR---17/25---3.5-5”------------------7.1 (6.9)----OB---1987 HT---NOCTURNE----17/25--4.5”---4.5”------------------5.0----DR---1948 HT---OLYMPIAD----35---5+”------------------------8.6 (8.0)---MR---1984 HT---OPENING NIGHT----26/40----4.5”-----------7.8 (7.4)----DR---1998 HT---OREGOLD----17/25-------5+”-----------------7.0 (7.6)----DY---1975 HT---PARADISE---17/25--3.5-4.5”------------------7.6 (8.0)-----M---1979 HT---PASCALI----17/25---3.5”-----------------------------7.8-----W---1969 HT---PEACE ----17/25---6”----------------------------------8.1----YB---1946 HT---PERFECT MOMENT---17/25---3.5-5”-------7.8 (7.1)----RB---1991 HT---PERFUME DELIGHT----17/25---5+”--------------7.6----MP---1974 GR---PINK PARFAIT---17/25---3.5-4”--------------------8.0----PB---1961 POL---PINKIE----9/16---1.75-2.5”-------------------------7.4----MP---1948 FL---PLEASURE----17/25---2.75+”-----------------8.0 (7.2)----MP---1990 HT---PORTRAIT----17/25----3.5-5”------------------------7.1----PB---1972 MIN---PRIDE ‘N’ JOY----41+-----1.5-2.75”-------------7.7----OB---1992 GR---PRIMA DONNA----17/25---5+”--------------7.4 (7.5)----DP---1988 GR---PROMINENT----17/25--3.5”------------------------7.5----OR---1977 GR---QUEEN ELIZABETH---17/25---3.5-4”------------7.8----MP---1955 S-----RAINBOW KNOCK OUT-----4/8---------------------------PB---2007 FL---RAINBOW SORBET-----15/18----3-3.5”-----------------YB----2006 FL---REDGOLD----17/25----1.5-2.75”-------------------7.3----YB---1971 HT---RIO SAMBA---17/25---2.75+”----------------7.4 (7.6)---YB---1993 FL---ROMAN HOLIDAY----17/25---1.5-2.75”---------6.9---MR---1967 FL---ROSE PARADE----17/25---2.75+”-----------7.4 (7.0)----PB---1975 HT---ROYAL HIGHNESS---43---5-5.5”-----------------7.7----LP---1963 HT---RUBAIYAT---17/25---4.5-5”-----------------------6.8-----DP---1947 HT---SAN FERNANDO----17/25---5+”-----------------5.4----MR---1948 FL---SARABANDE----9/16--2.5”-------------------------8.0----OR---1960 FL---SARATOGA----17/25---4”----------------------------6.6----W---1964 GR---SCARLET KNIGHT----17/25---4-5”---------------7.4---MR---1968 FL---SCENTIMENTAL---17/25---4-4.5”-----------7.7 (7.2)---RB---1997 HT---SEASHELL----17/25---3-4”-------------------6.7 (7.0)----OP---1976 HT---SECRET----26/40----2.75+”-------------------7.9 (7.7)----PB---1994 HT---SHEER BLISS-----17/25---5+”----------------7.8 (7.7)----W---1987 HT---SHEER ELEGANCE---30/35---4.5”----------7.8 (7.8)---OP---1991 GR---SHINING HOUR----17/25---3.5-5”-----------7.1 (6.7)---DY---1991 FL---SHOWBIZ----17/25---1.5-2.75”--------------8.3 (7.4)----MR---1985 GR---SHREVEPORT----17/25----4”-----------------7.1 (6.9)---OB---1982 FL---SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN---25/30--------------7.7 (7.2)----AB---1995 GR---SOLITUDE----26/40---1.5-2.75”--------------7.2 (6.8)---OB---1993 HT----ST. PATRICK----17/25---5”------------------8.0 (8.0)---YB---1996 GR---STARFIRE----17/25----5”---------------------------7.1----MR---1959 S-----STARRY NIGHT----4/8------------------------7.6 (6.9)-----W---2002 GR---STRIKE IT RICH---------------------------------------------YB---2007 FL---SUN FLARE----17/25----3.5”----------------8.3 (7.1)----MY---1983 MIN---SUN SPRINKLES----17/25---2-2.25”------7.8 (7.3)---DY---2001 GR---SUNDOWNER----17/25---4”------------------6.3 (6.5)---AB---1979 HT---SUNSET CELEBRATION---17/25----------7.8 (7.3)----AB---1998 HT---SUTTER’S GOLD----17/25--4-5”------------------6.9----OP---1950 FL---SWEET INSPIRATION---26/40---2.75+”--7.7 (7.1)----MP---1993 HT---SWEET SURRENDER---17/25---5+”------7.4 (6.8)----MP---1983 HT---TAFFETA----17/25--3-3.5”--------------------------7.2----PB---1948 HT---TAHITIAN SUNSET----25/30-----5”---------------------AB----2006 HT---TALLYHO----17/25--3.5-4”------------------------6.4-----DP---1949 HT---THE CHIEF---17/25----4-6”------------------------6.7-----OB---1940 HT---TIFFANY----17/25---4-5”----------------------------7.9----PB---1955 HT---TIMELESS-----17/25----4.5”------------------7.8 (7.5)----DP---1997 HT---TOUCH OF CLASS---17/25---4.5-5.5”------8.9 (8.6)---OP---1986 GR---TOURNAMENT OF ROSES---17/25--------8.2 (7.4)---MP---1989 HT---TROPICANA----17/25---5”--------------------------7.6----OR---1963 FL---VOGUE----17/25----3.5-4.5”------------------------7.2-----PB---1952 HT---VOODOO----17/25-----------------------------7.4 (7.2)----OB---1986 GR---WILD BLUE YONDER----25/30---4.5”-------------------M----2006 HT---WHISPER-----17/25----------------------------7.5 (7.3)----W----2003 FL---WHITE BOUQUET----45---4.5”--------------------6.9-----W---1957 HT---WHITE KNIGHT----17/25---4”----------------------5.8----W---1958 GR---WHITE LIGHTING----17/25----3.5-4”------ -7.2 (7.5)----W---1981 FL---WORLD’S FAIR----9/16--4”-------------------------6.0----DR---1940 HT---YANKEE DOODLE----17/25---4”---------- 6.2 (5.5)----YB---1976

it has been almost 2 months and my heart still aches for her. i had a lovely memorial portrait done and it hangs in my living room. pea will always be my once-in-a-lifetime dog. for those of you who might not know, i rescued another senior dane girl just days after i lost pea. it was not my intention, i wasn't sure i would ever be ready but when i looked into olivia's eyes and saw pea looking back at me, i melted. she is so much like pea in every way, i like to say that pea came back to me in olivia's body. bentley loves her so much and she is helping us heal. :)