Agreed, Paul, the colour contrast of your nudicaulis is startling, and very beautiful. Nudicaulis and hybrids are not happy in my company, Neither are chantinii or fasciata and their hybrids for that matter. I am not sure if it is the climate, or just me :( All the same, it is lovely to see pics of those that are happy and well grown. Thank you.

I got them (6) in late 2005. One of them was over 2 ft. tall last year and almost 3 ft wide by the end of the year. Here is another photo taken from my deck - about 50 feet from the sumacs. I believe it was taken in late June. They get 5-6 ft tall. I plan on pruning mine to look like Japanese Maples. I'm going to put some stairs in that will go between the two in the center. It does not look like it from the pic but the area of hostas in the corner is almost 900 sq ft. The hill is incredibly steep. I broke my foot trying to mow it 6 years ago before I started to fill it in with plants.

Shee, I have no suggestions as to your backsplash - as I am totally color challenged, but I want to tell you how much I admire your kitchen. I have almost the same cabinets as your before - and I loathe them. They are about 10 years old and look 30. The finish is wearing off and I am ready to replace them. However, after seeing yours, I think I am going to tackle a refinish. I had planned to print out your directions from the original thread. Now, I can find the thread, but the instructions you posted are gone. Is it possible that you saved your text and can re-post. This new format is going to take some getting used to - so far, I do not like it - do not like the conversations mixed in with the decorating. Thanks a lot. PS - I tried to figure out how to PM you, but couldn't.

Nice color on the Nyssa. I'd love a report on how it does for you into next spring, though since it's from Bailey's the selection or seed strain is more likely to be hardy IME. Maackia, you may find that Halesia tetaptera isn't fully hardy for you. I have several of the cultivar 'Wedding Bells' and in shade they grow really slowly but so far seem to have survived our worst weather unscathed due to the surrounding plants providing shelter. However, the one I have in full sun is far faster growing but was seriously damaged in its more exposed position when the temperatures got to below -20 degrees. It isn't a plant that resprouts in a pretty fashion from ground level - it's a 'bad hair day' kind of look and I'll be removing it. When blooming, Halesia is lovely, but it is fairly boring the remainder of the year with insipid yellow green fall color, so mine are best sited along the edges of woodland where they shine in spring and are part of the background the remainder of the year and get the added protection of the surrounding trees.