Actually... we thought it would be nice to make a little pocket money by selling a few plants... we're right on a corner, have the space, have the materials... and we figure that it would be nice to recoup some of the money we spend on plants by selling the excess, and helping others who love to garden! "Our Secret Gardens - Perennials and Unusual Plants" will open for business next spring. We'll sell out of our little greenhouse and garden area, and also have tables at a few local flea markets and farmer's markets. We want to stay small and keep a comfortable amount of plants for sale and care... we want it to be fun! Once it feels like work, it's no longer fun, and our goal is to keep it all enjoyable! Xuan, if you ever decide to come to the States, you're more than welcome to be a part of our little perennial experience! The more gardeners, the merrier! We could always use another knowledgeable hand! As I've said before, Xuan, I'm more than happy to share the seeds from my gardens... it's a great feeling to know that I have a friend halfway around the world, enjoying plants from seeds grown right here in my yard! A little update... the Clematis seed pods are maturing nicely, and several daylilies have beautiful, large seed pods growing! I should have a wonderful assortment of seeds to send to you! A little note to Kitty... I'm having a heck of a time getting my Cerastium to grow in a pot once I dig some up... the stems are really long and thin, and the roots don't look that great. I think it would be better to dig this one in spring. But, I do have some other wonderful pink flowers for you, and some seeds, too! Once I get all of them harvested and dried a bit, off they go! And the Cerastium can be shipped in spring, when it begins to emerge and is better able to acclimate to a container for doing so. On rainy days, I'm working on the sign for our little business... it's an old weathered piece of plywood, and it will be cut and painted to look sort of shabby-chic... and the sign pointing the way to our driveway will be made from an old fence picket... and that will be painted to match, with flowers and nice lettering! We'll never get rich on our little corner in the country, but we will have fun, and we'll at least make a few dollars to buy more plants with!

Ritaweeda, I love your butterfly garden! It's so nice that you made it so big and I like the path through it too. It's already filling in nicely, but I'd like to see it again once we start getting some rain. The only thing that is missing is some tall pentas! My favorites for butterflies. Glad you're seeing the rewards already. I've never had a tiger swallowtail but enjoy lots of the others. My butterfly weed is annoyingly filling up with milkweed bugs. I need to get out there and throw them in some soapy water. Your zinnias look great. I never seem to have much luck with them. Anna

Thanks, dirtpig (love your user name!) DD is very grateful--people are always telling us how she sings our praises! She's a pretty special young lady, so we are happy to do what we can to make her day memorable. Plus, it beats spending hundreds of $$ on a church or hall that we would never see again. At least we get to enjoy it afterwards!! Thanks to you, Connie--yes, I am very blessed to have a man that not only knows how to do construction, but WILL do it! :) I can't imagine what this place would look like if I didn't have his help...not like this, I'm sure! He's the one who wanted to buy it, so I remind him of that when he starts to fizzle (lovingly, of course!!). And I know what you mean about long-time hubbies--I bet there are other reasons you keep yours around! :) Karen

Hi Sheila! I'm going to make a stab at some of your pics., and keep in mind--I'm not an expert like so many others are, but here goes: First one: 'Golden Tiara' ? Second one: Looks like hostafreak's 'Frozen Margarita'? Third: hard for me to tell, it's really so small, yet! Fourth: could it be 'June Fever'? Fifth: pass Sixth: maybe a young 'Krossa Regal'! Twelve: it looks like you might have a 'Honeybells'. front center? What an AWESOME tree trunk!!! Hope it's not a Silver Maple!!! Fifteen: I know what the one on the right is, but can't quite get the name, yet and maybe a 'Pineapple Upside Down Cake' on the left? Twenty: MAYBE a struggling 'Queen Josephine'? I hope I got some of them for you--but you need others to confirm my guesses before you start making labels!! :o)