Kay,Blackie stays close to me when I am outside,and I really have to watch where my feet are going,as she will walk a few steps in front of me,and suddenly just lay down right in front of my feet,wanting my attention.She the cat that came here about 7 -8 years ago,so skinny and starving, and I went in the house to see what I could find her to eat, and I gave her some sliced ham.I didnt have cat food.She decided to stay and make this her home, so after she had some kittens,I had her fixed.I have one of her babies in the house,its the one that got hit by a car and lost a hind leg.I tell you what tho, that cat can move with 3 legs. Thank you Rita.Its not too hard to get a good picture of the Hummingbirds.Just have to stand still for a few minutes.They are pretty use to me out there watching them. Debbie, Mine are gone too., now.I will have to go out and bring the feeders in and get them washed up and put away for next sping.Like you, I miss them ,too, already. Julia,Thats a bummer, to have snow already.I can handle the snow, but,I hate the ice storms we usually get every winter. Val, Thank you for that nice comment. Thanks, Cindy. The hummingbirds here are now gone, too.It will seem like forever, waiting for spring again and the birds come back.I some times sit on the front porch a hour just watching the Hummingbirds fight over the feeders, when there is enough for all of them. Jean

Ah !! My apologies. I do not speak English. I am sorry!! I use the Google translator to write here. So I apologize for the many errors my writing will have. In order to understand your comments I will have to use the same translator as well. Forgive me if at any time I misunderstand the meaning of your words and if what I write costs you to understand. Greetings to all and just tell you that I am delighted to be part of this Forum. I am at your disposal for any queries you may wish to make. We welcome any comments you make.

You all have such great gardens with beautiful combinations of perennials, irises, trees and shrubs. I'm fairly new to perennials since my main focus is old roses, and the previous companion plants I had, such as reblooming irises, limonium perezii, pelargoniums and a few others were eaten to the ground last year by the rabbits and squirrels who found nothing else to eat after six years of drought. They also ate my roses, which I now have to protect with plastic fencing. I'm having a tough time finding perennials that the rabbits won't touch since they've gobbled up lavenders, sages, marjoram and even my oldest penstemon that's been here for 13 years, which bloomed for most of the year. Two plants they haven't touched so far are mimulus and milkweed, and the few new penstemons I've planted lately. I miss my irises terribly, because they bloomed for so many months of the year here, even oddball ones like October and January. Oh well, those days are gone, and this is the new normal.Two plants of Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold".Penstemon 'Midnight'The only remaining day lily left in my garden; they are tasty rabbit food. Cistus 'Victor Reiter' Limonium perezii, which has come back this rainy spring after being eaten last year. The small white flower is a white form of Mimulus.

Shelia, both you and Ingrid have inspired me to get more Teas! I have Madam Joseph Schwartz and Gilbert Nabonnand shipping from ARE in a few weeks! I adore both your gardens. Except for a few years in Pocatello ID, I have spent my whole life in a climate of rainy winters and dry summers so I think the ascetic of both your gardens really speaks to me. The Tea roses against the backdrop of a dry summer heat are just sooooo beautiful!