Hi WinterCat: Thanks for those great pics. What's the name of that gorgeous green hedge you planted? If I had seen those when I first moved here, I would NOT have bought wimpy white pine trees. Here in zone 5a I'm lucky if my roses survive the winter. I laughed when I read Roseseek (Kim Rupert) described his soil/climate: "I received 5" of rain with several weeks of 95 - 108 temp . Mine soil is corn meal and talc with ZERO organics. Mine is a 24% down hill, western and southern facing grade." I'll describe my soil/climate in Chicagoland: "I received 40" of annual rain, plus 38" melted snow. My soil is rock hard clay, pH 7.7, that broke a rototiller machine. My garden is shaded with many trees that it should be considered a mushroom farm... I'm vitamin D-deficient and take prescribed mega-dose ... if this gloomy weather continues, I'll turn into a vampire. The wind here is so strong that it blew my kid's playpark onto the tomatoe garden, it also toppled over a portable potty ... I feel sorry for the construction worker inside."

Diane I have no Idea. FIRST bloom EVER. It is a new brug for me this year. the weather is real cool and wet. So not sure. But with them promising 80 Degrees some of these days. Did not hear WHEN....there is hope. Still have so many NEW Brugs with buds that I sure would love to see in bloom. Ingrid maybe someone from CA can say if your brug is just kind of hibernating now. Hence the single blooms. But I knew it would bounce back for you! Eloise that is one beautiful NOID! I love it. What do you know...Ingrid...Eloise...you both are in CA. There ya go...maybe you can help each other out :-) Shirley now see....what do I always say. Those NOIDS are SO gorgeous!!!! I was hoping to see the 2nd season growing the brugs, that as they age, so will the colors get darker etc. But I think the FALL weather was just TO COLD TO QUICKLY from the summer and what is blooming now...is having a hard time coloring in. I do however LOVE the fact that the blooms continue to bloom for days and days and then some. Shirley, I love the picture and it is ALL IN THERE. Keep the name. Just hope the deer will keep away from your garden. Eloise I am not in the mood to clean either roflmao Lucy

The picture of Deliverer was taken later today than usual. I am usually out before 9:00AM. Also there are variations in how I adjusted the photos. I have a cheap camera so I need to tinker a bit in Photoshop to get the colours right. Some times it is easier than others.

Barb, I so enjoyed visiting your yard in these lazy days of summer, and seeing all the color, and the critter! This must be the time of year the baby anoles are hatching out in droves. I have a bunch of them skittering around here too.