Maryann - Sunlight Gardens Nursery has A. macrophylla in stock still at $10/quart pot. They are in Tennessee, I believe. There is a $25 minimum order. I know, a ways from you, but I don't know of any place closer. Niche Gardens has A. tomentosa (but I think macrophylla would do best for you), but they have a $40 minimum order. LINDA - CONGRATS, CONGRATS, CONGRATS! I'd love to have some PVS's, but I don't think I have enough yet to feed them. Oh, it hurt to say that!!!!!! My tomentosas are just now putting on tiny new leaves. My macrophyllas are growing, but don't have that much foliage yet. My serpentarias (all 3 of them) would not be enough, and my A. clematitis - have about 10 stalks of that. I should buy more, but if I do, I'm afraid in 3 years, I'll have nothing but pipevine in the yard! LOL! Enjoy them. I check my leaves right now to make sure I DON'T have any because I don't think I have enough to sustain one cat yet. Maybe by summer's end, it will have grown a bunch and I will get some as they fly south. Susan Here is a link that might be useful: Sunlight Gardens

I'm picky about the varieties I plant, so I've only planted two so far, Caspian Pink and Koralik, about ten days ago. I resisted buying any seedlings during the warm spell in February, and waited until we had a week of sun in March. Both are in walls-o-water. I'll probably plant a dozen more (including the ones I'm growing from seed). Bahia wondered why do it...To push the limits of what can be grown when, of course. And also because, having grown my own tomatoes and raspberries and cucumbers and strawberries, I can't eat store-bought versions any more (and rarely eat the farmers' market versions). The difference in quality is so astounding that I don't eat these unless I've grown them. Last year, I planted 2 plants in mid-February and a bunch more in March, despite the rain and cold. The year before, I planted a bunch in late March, even though it was an especially cold and rainy year. Both years, I used walls-o-water or bubble wrap, plus sheets of plastic to protect from rainstorms and morning frost, and I was out there in the wind and rain securing and replacing the protective covers. But I can eat homegrown tomatoes in June! IIRC, last year I got a couple by the end of May. This year I've also planted some tomato seeds outdoors using the "wintersowing" technique pioneered (or publicized) by some east-coast gardeners: Poke air and drainage holes in some some small plastic containers, fill with soil, plant seeds, and transplant (with protection) even before the plants develop true leaves. I just had to try this to see if it really works. A few of my seedlings are reaching the top of the containers so should be ready to plant out, though they're only a couple inches high. Last year I waited until the soil was warm to plant beans, and I could have planted a lot earlier. I saw some beans producing very well at the beginning of July at the community garden. So this year, I'm going to plant beans by April 1. Or maybe earlier -- I saw another garden plot that just put in some transplants last week.

I'm guessing you are sitting around the campfire about now so I'll clink with cold one now. Have a great time/weekend... if there are no pics I'll understand. Just fill us in with what you filled the coolers up with for tomorrow. Margaritas or Long Island Tea was one of our faves for a float trip. Oh yes, the food too...LOL! David

I found some BA slabs with those great swirls at the expensive granite place. I didn't want to spend $8K on granite, but I keep coming back to BA over and over and over. I'm going to see if I can cut back a bit somewhere else. We're doing much more work than just the kitchen so it might be tough. Or I can do without a backsplash until after the project is done when we can save up some more $. I can't believe you picked those without seeing them in person! Good job! Countertops make such a statement in a kitchen that I don't want to not LOVE it!