how many bulbs are the normal trade? It is just however you want to offer them...or how many the trader might prefer. Now this is just me, but if I was trading for a named daff I would be satisfied to get 3 in trade...5 or 6 would be better. On some varieties a bulb friend might be doing me a favor by sharing, I would be happy to get even 1 or 2. If you offer in trades of 6 then you can maybe trade with more traders and acquire more varieties than say you trade 12 of one variety for 12 of another variety....but then maybe you were thinking of trading them for other things besides daffs...which would be another ball of wax. Really, it is what makes both traders happy but the final decision is up to you...the offerer. I may dig some of mine that have not multiplied much. I will likely offer them up in quantities of 3 or 5 bulbs....so I can get more varieties. In time, they will multiply anyway...some much better than others. Sue

Cindy, thank you, I do love a variety! Isle of Zanzibar still mesmerizes me when I see it bloom! Lisa, I've had Morrie Ott for about six years in my garden. It is one of my all time favorite mini's. Some of those pretty edges you refer to had a hard time opening this morning. Mississippi Memories being one of them. Sharon, thank you. Enchanting Esmerelda is one of those that need to be in the garden for its performance and beauty. Will always reside here! Julia, I love my neck of the woods because the dormants do well here as well as MOST of the southern breds. I feel I have the best of both worlds as far as what I can decide to grow here! I've had Cerise Masterpiece three years. It has not increased rapidly for me here. Started as a single fan, now has three fans and the blooms still are not pristeen. Hopefully it will show itself off a lot better by end of this season! dreamingdaylilies, I moved Way Past Cool to my new deer protected bed last fall, so this picture really doesn't show it in its full beauty. I'm sure it will settle in nicely tho. As far as Morrie Otte goes...I've never had a problem with Morrie here. You might be right as far as temps being too cool. Rita, one of the reasons I like looking at all your picks! You have so many things I don't that I get nothing but pure enjoyment looking at yours! I have to admit purple being my favorite, I still fall for all those pinks with gold edges! Thank you all for taking the time to take a peak into my neck of the woods! Nancy

This year, at our new house, I have a small veggie garden (150 sf or so, when you subtract the pathways from the area), which doesn't take much in the way of daily maintenance. I spend maybe 10 minutes each weeknight "touring" the garden, watering, pulling the odd weed, etc. I work 50-60 hours a week at my day job, so I do not have time to devote in the garden as much as I'd like. That means I do as much of the work up front on free weekends. This included laying all the soaker hoses prior to planting, mulching like crazy to keep weeds down, and bringing in about 4 yards of good dirt to start with. I like to spend several hours on the weekend working on my ornamental beds and pots, too. We're also trying to beat back the bamboo that threatens to take over our lawn, and DH is working on that about an hour each evening before I even get home to free up weekend time for some relaxing. At our old house, we had a nearly 500sf veggie garden, and gobs of ornamental plantings. In the early years, digging new beds, planting perennials, and mulching, mulching and more mulching, kept us completely busy most weekends, probably about 16 hours each weekend, x two of us working. Once beds were established, we cut waaaaay back. We had been doing something like 45 bags of mulch each spring and dozens of shrubs and perennials, and cut it to 10 or 15 bags and just replenished mulch in a few beds each year. Planting a few annuals and repairing soaker hoses was our main chore. Dawn is right, in the spring, our chores are much more time-intensive, because when it gets too hot, we only go outside to harvest, water (get a timer for the soaker hoses, it's a life-changer!!) and drink wine on the patio while we try not to sweat. In summertime, I often don't get home until after dark, but I still sit on the patio at least an hour a night (this is where landscape lighting pays off - if the only time you see your yard is in the dark, it's nice to actually see it!) This year, I've had to face the hard truth that my day job/two side business/family obligations don't allow me to do all I like (no seeds! :( I had a whole setup that I loved using last year but just could not get it done this time). I am fortunate that I've been able to hire out a few things so I can still do things I want to for relaxation in the garden. For example, I hired a crew to dig the sod from my veggie garden, put in edging and spread the new garden dirt. It took three men a 6 hour day to do that. It would have taken me probably 6 weekends, and I would still not be done yet. DH has a fragile back, so he cannot do the heavy-duty digging anymore, so I go solo. However, after the crew was done, I dug-in all the dirt (crew had just spread on top of the clay), dug the pathways to make wide raised rows, laid my hoses, mulched and planted and put in my cages. Maybe 12 hours total for me. This weekend is going to be devoted to cleaning out the garage and planting some of my pots plus some summer bulbs. Maybe 4 hours for garden related "fun" stuff wedged in around the things I have to do. I'd much rather do my garden "work" because it does not feel like work... cleaning garage? Ugh, kill me now.

Thanks for asking, Lydia1959! Sjerin told me you inquired (thanks!) I have been working temp and have also been really busy trying to reorganize my house. Things are progressing. I got an unbelievable bargain on ground chuck so I spent 2 1/2 days cooking it up and freezing it which is good because I start another assignment on Monday. Don't know how long it'll last and it may be busy as I'll be transcribing and taking care of Cardiology patients. Thanks for asking! Will try to post again as soon as possible. I feel bad as I can't read and answer all the posts so it's easier not to come to the KT, but anyone can always email me privately. I also have a deadline coming up to have my house like I want it, so I'll be back as soon as I can! Miss chatting about Survivor and Idol! :)