Hi there, I've posted before RE Hamilton Township's National Azalea Festival competition. We were named New Jersey's Azalea Capital, and, on Mother's Day, we will be announcing the winners of this year's National competition. This is REAL, and it is a NATIONAL competition that will also happens to have a Hamilton Only category as well as a National category. We are listed in the New York Times event calendar as well. We'd love for you to submit, via email, with your name and address and digital photo of your azalea display. Feel free to e-mail me at dsuessegger@hamiltonnj.com or questionsfordoug@yahoo.com. Tomorrow, i'm affraid, is the last day. Sorry for any ambiguity on my behalf. Thanks, Doug Suessegger

Yes, I am interested! Do you still have these? Burpee  American Gardening Series: "Garden Designs" "The Backyard Landscaper" by Ireland-Gannon Associates, Inc. "The Garden Planning Kit" by Derek Fell with Sarah Wood I just posted a list on this forum. LMK if interested. Theresa

It's a fantastic festival. I've been a couple of times. You still have over a month to get your entries in for the cook-off, so best of luck to you. Definitely give it a try. The festival itself stretches throughout most of the town. The organizers are wonderful and treat their guests so very well--the hospitality room they provide for the competitors is so nice, and you get to meet and chat with so many really lovely people. I would make a few recommendations--keep in mind that there is very limited shopping in So. Pittsburg (one small grocery store, one SuperWallmart), so when you create your recipe, if you're going to need any specialty ingredients (fresh herbs, for example), plan to carry them with you from home or to head over to Chattanooga where there are more shopping options. And definitely make time for a visit to both the lodge factory AND the factory store. I always worry that the car is going to come home tipping down in the back, once I load up the trunk with my new acquisitions. Good luck with the contest, and have a great time at the festival, if you get to go! Maybe I'll bump into you there--have already got a few entries in, myself.

Had to pop this one back up to the top. It's true. The Obama's will support this again in 2009. Thank goodness. Check out the list of authors attending. I finally made it to DC earlier this year and visited one of the three buildings that comprise the Library of Congress. Quite impressive and I'm looking forward to returning so I can check out the other two buildings. Thinking this would be a good opportunity to do so. Here is a link that might be useful: The 2009 National Book Festival