waitingforspring - I think you are right that my NOID is Fairy Tale Pink. Wow! And I've had this 2 years and I ordered FTP last year and it will bloom for me this year so I can compare them to each other. I can't believe I ordered something I already have.

hey laydies I tie on my own lures and bait my own hooks. take fish off too- but not as interested anymore. I would like to learn to fly fish though- not so much for the fish but to learn the technique. Now I fish a bit and read a lot when we go fishing- although we havent gone at all this summer. Oh and my beautiful DD also loves to fish and takes care of her own tackle and bait! she doesnt read - she fishes. I want to take off to part unknown for about 2 weeks- I have 6 weeks of vacation I wont get to use.sigh. I would like to pile the dogs in the car and hit the road.

Some more stuff. One bloom on my small 'Cameo' Quince. Perfect form. 'Alba' Redbud. Not a prolific bloomer, but very nice next to it's species brethren. Seedling of 'Crimson King' Norway maple. Was just a neglected stick for years, but glad I never cut it down. Was a very deep burgundy last year, seems to not be as deep this year. Will stay this color all summer, with just a slight greening of the leaf centers. 9-10 ft. this year. 'Shimanishiki' Japanese Tree Peony. Has 3! buds this year. First to open (not quite fully). 'Ryusen' Acer palmatum. Great lemon-lime effect with new growth on old. 'Albospica' Sequoia Sempervirens. Not a great pic of the cream-white new growth. Cercis Racemosa. Had the hardest time finding this one. No flowers this year, and foliage is ho-hum. I'll wait very impatiently for its first bloom.Seedling of Dawn Redwood. Transplanted last year from a nearby grove. Looks like it lost the leader this winter, but that won't hamper this vigorous beast. The nursery I bought this from called it a 'Shooting Star' Japanese Umbrella Pine, but I'm pretty sure it is the same as 'Sternshnuppe'. A bit pricey for this 2yr graft, but worth it. About to put out its new growth this year.

These do not look at all gardenia like to me. Of course I have gardenia brighamii growing in zone 7........ The wonderful fragrance of the flowers is strong for such a tiny shrub, can't wait until it gets bigger. I had horrible winter die-back the first year (almost to the ground) but it has recovered wonderfully over the past 5 years.