"Plant me! Plant me!", scream my ws seedlings as I walk by. Okay, I have a few planted out. Felicia heterophylla (Blue Daisy) was blooming in the container, a very pretty blue, so got them in a bed. All the poppies and snapdragons are planted out. Have potted up some Tutti Frutti lupine seedlings that will get planted out in the fall. Same with King Arthur delphiniums and NZ delphiniums. Perennial geraniums are either planted in beds or potted up. Morning glories are potted using Fran's suggestions and are growing well. I have been moving second year ws perennials from holding beds into regular beds or taking some to plant swaps. Have been pleased with the variety of columbines blooming this spring. Love the verbascum 'Violette' and the 'Early Guardian Blue' delphiniums that are blooming now. Also many variteties of dianthus and penstemon. 2nd year ws lupine was gorgeous. Have cut the flowers back except for a stem or two left to set seed. Will start planting some of this year's perennials in the open spaces of the holding beds. Didn't get many annuals sown, zinnias and nicotiana just germinating and cosmos will be direct sown this weekend. I didn't sow any red TX salvia as last year had so much from self sown. Don't see any of them this year. Wonder if I still have time to sow some as the hummers love them. Self sown linaria have been beautiful. Will sow more varieties of them next winter.

I'd have to go 20 miles to find a place to swim. There are no public places around here. They closed the city pool and the fairly new "Y" doesn't have a pool. The best I could do would be jump in my creek. Sue

Oxygen equipment arrived at 7:15 AM! My tenacity worked! Got it set up very quickly so batteries could charge - takes 3 hrs for small one and 5 hrs for big one. I had my maiden voyage to the hairdresser and then on for a mani/pedi. Getting in and out of the car with this thing and a handbag took some doing but I'm sure I'll eventually figure out a system. I'm a bit of a klutz. Made it through Whole Foods, too. Battery has great life for such a small machine. What was interesting was how I was treated at the nail salon. All the techs are Vietnamese and I've been coming here regularly for about 3 years. My favorite girl left so I'm still trying out others - new one today -a young man. He asked me who drove me to the mall and did they know when to pick me up? Huh? Then, when I moved from pedi chair (I was already in it when he came out from back to help me), he asked if I could walk unassisted! I can drive, I can walk, I can talk, I just don't breathe so well! BTW, I think that some of the companies I spoke with sold my name immediately as I've had multiple phone calls yesterday and today from hearing aid companies and two wanting to sell me walkin bathtubs! First of all, I'm on a no-call list (which now appears to be a "suggestion") and I can still quite easily get in and out if a tub, which I prefer to a shower. I hate so much that those of us who are old are targeted for pitches that promise us our independence and freedom. (And to avoid the dreaded nursing home) if we just give them a ton of money for " health aides". It must work or they wouldn't do it. I'm sure I'll next get a call offering me a lift chair! I'm 73, not 93 and I do resistance training twice a week as well as exercise 3 times a week at rehab! Needless to say, one of my favorite poems is Dylan Thomas' "Do not go gentle into that good night...".

I had a very productive Mothers Day. It doesn't quite look that way, but its progress. When my adult children asked what I would like to do/receive/go out, I chose the best option for me. I said, "Let's BBQ and all work in the yard". That's exactly what we did. With four young men digging holes,( two sons, one SIL, and one "like a son to me"),I couldn't keep up with the planting, and I'm a bit particular about it. I rather do most of that myself when I can. One son knows what he's doing, and is allowed to plant once I have handed him a 5 gallon bucket of "a little of this and a little of that" to mix with my native clay soil into the hole. My 29-year-old daughter, (bossy little thing) kept the boys on track and put some organization to my tremendous pot ghetto. It is now reduced in numbers, as well. She cleared out a huge area of invasive bellflower punctata, although I know it will be back soon. Mine isn't even pretty. It has grayish blooms that are not attractive and they regularly take over the strawberry patch. I curse the day I purchased the stuff! Darcy Bussell was at last freed from her tangle of sweet peas, and is looking relieved. My DD did yank an entire cane off at the ground level, in the process, but I doubt Darcy will mind. Not much slows her down. That one cane provided 11 buds and blooms for the vase. My Ageratum Corymbosum has been planted into an afternoon shade position, and I hope it fairs better than the first one. I so want to grow this dark leaved beauty, yet my first specimen declined rapidly upon arrival and I don't know why. I am really hoping this one does well. Mini Rose "Diamond Eyes " went into the ground near the perennial Ageratum, as it tolerates a bit of shade and is also so very dark flowered. Impatiens sodenii 'Flash' (perennial for me) and Impatiens gandulifera candida(reseeding annual), went in there as well. These are both giant, 4' tall and wide plants. I have some empty holes, complete with gopher cages, ready to receive Iochroma cyanea 'Mr Plum' , Campanula vidalii (Azorina vidalii),and some other smaller plants. The edge of this area is reserved for my "someday dream Rose", "Annie Laurie McDowell". The plan is for this shaded corner to contain both dark and light contrasting plants. A new venture for me, as I normally stick to pastels. Marlorena, I have two verbascum 'Violetta' that need to go into the ground ASAP. I grew them from seed(somehow lost the third) . Just how tall are they for you? It will be great to know you're experience before siting them. I know our climates are quite different, but still I somehow envisioned 2-3 foot spires in front of my purple hollyhocks, perhaps not? Thanks, Lisa