What little snow we have is melting!!!! Rich handed me a piece of paper and pen with the instruction to "make a list" of things he could get for me at Agway on Monday!!!!! Kyle voluntarily offered to chaparone 40 kids to the monster trucks with a few of his education-major friends!!!! Too much good stuff for one morning. LOL But the amazingly best of all: Got a registered package this morning from an unknown address. Inside was a copy of "The New Garden Encyclopedia" published in 1946 (fourth printing). "Written by a Group of Horticultural Experts and Edited by E.L.D. Seymour, BSA." Along with it, a note: "Dear Martha, You have no idea who I am but when you were in college you helped my mother with her garden one day after she had been ill. The kindness was never forgotten, and in her will she left this book to you. It had been given to her by an Aunt who shared a love of gardening. Enjoy it, share it, and laugh along with some of the 'modern' suggestions. All the best ...." A telephone number was given, and it turns out that this woman tracked me down through my college's alumni office. While I don't specifically remember the day, I do remember the house and the multitude of gardens surrounding it. You just never know ....... Love the idea of Bella starting herbs, Eden! Another suggestion would be Sensitive Plant (Latin is flying out the window today). Easy from seed. Deanne: If I haven't added my Wow's to the comments about your pics, consider them included. I would never have the patience, nor the talent, to "see" them the way you do. If Yeona for some reason can't be your neighbor, I'll get in line and never complain about the Wisteria. Taryn: Don't know about in Canada, but here there are specific laws about energy saving claims made by manufacturers. If the insert is only jacking up the heat by 2deg, I think you have a reasonable complaint. Good luck in the effort! Do you miss seed counting for EBay ;-) GB: One of the frost pics you posted is now my work screen saver. When I come back frozen I look at it and realize that being in a warm office isn't half bad. Good luck with all your trip planning to Alberta. What wonderful reasons to travel! Sue: I'm jealous of your NC trip. My fav place along the eastern coast is the Outer Banks. Have you been in Woodland Gardens/Manchester in awhile? It's rumored they have Impatiens repens if you're looking for it. Less expensive than Logees. Wendy: Your poke in comments crack me up. Kathy: Would Michaelangelo be hardy in a strong Z6 spot? I'm looking for something to replace 'Golden Showers.' Monique: Thought of you today when I ordered a 'New Dawn.' Now all I need is the shed :-) Cynthia: Okay. I'm way late to start the Pelargonium. Maybe I can edit out the summer colors and use them for Thanksgiving centerpieces??? It'll be more of a "can I do it" start (sounds like a good excuse, anyway) LOL. Mary: What is the O. of the M. theme this year? The whole program fascinates me and I've gone with my sister several times when she's coached. I always liked the "impromptu" best, when the kids have just a few minutes to come up with something. Let'em loose!! Thank You, too, for being involved with this!! I'll bet Annie and David are looking forward to a ski visit with Ruth than you are :-) I'll probably be back later when I remember what I forgot. Martie

That is unfortunate news in my ears, and I regret that you did not obtain blooms in this long time span. On the other hand I am confident that I shall receive blooms in fall 2007 - provided the plants will now continue for a prolonged time in the magnitude of growth velocity which I actually observe. You certainly know that I administer lukewarm water - but from the bottom, including diluted fertilizer every time ( 1 ml/L of a liquid 6-3-6 brand). I definitely intend to use "Silhouette" for breeding purposes (if you have not guessed this already, too) - and I want to see the seedlings with their center stripe in my balkony box which I use as hippeastrummateous kindergardens, in the wisdom of numerousity - and regardless whether the ligament be creamy or pure white. And certainly you can also guess what knight star lily I have in mind to rendezvous this tiny "Silhouette" with. For now I wrap myself into silence (forgive my likely inappropriate terminology) - nevertheless these respective amaryllis' are overreadily waiting for their time to come, in rather huge containers

Nice photos, Nate and Mike! Alex, I believe it burns in the summer. Even in early winter it was quite brown.. I'll keep an eye on it & see what it does.. Granted, they're in full sun, which helps nothing. A few more photos of interest: Picea abies 'Cruenta' (The red color seems to stay even as the tips fade to green!) Picea orientalis 'Nutans' (nice display of cones) Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Gold Rush' (love how the water beads up on these!) Picea purpurea (The cones are such a deep, magnificent purple color!) Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Miss Grace' Abies nordmanniana 'Golden Spreader' Taxodium distichum 'Secrest' Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Silhouette' Picea sitchensis 'Bentham's Sunlight' -Sam

Thanks for the comments! Alex, I live in an apartment in Minneapolis, so these guys are at my parents' place for now. They live on two mostly wooded acres. I've already cut down as many trees that are realistically possible and my dad refuses to let me expand into his precious yard so my space is becoming limited. I still have about 3-4 years before I can buy my own house so we'll see how I can still feed my addiction. Will, I'm sure we got our 'Nitschke Cream's from the same source. Mine gets less than 4 hours of morning sun each day. I was concerned about it burning so I sited it where it would get no afternoon sun. Are you saying that you wish yours would get some green on it? Because I think yours looks pretty cool.