thanks. it's a little crazy here. that's only less than half of my growing space. I had to turn on the privacy for those photos for the moment. I should be able to make it public again in a week or so... or register with flickr and let me know you want to see them. Sorry about the glitch.

Pat, Just a quick response to your comments. All photographers did use digital cameras of varying quality and having different skill levels I surmise. If you have a large monitor you would view the pictures clearer if you just click on them individually as opposed to using the slideshow which blows them up and distorts the image. All of the individual hostas pictured are named in the photos. None of the multiple plantings were ever intended to be named as the bookkeeping for all involved would severely limit the number of photos that one could take in the very short period of time that the buses remain at each garden. I think all the photographers did a fabulous job giving all that were there some great memories of what they saw and those that did not attend, a feel for what they missed. We could never have shown as much (over 600 photos so far) to so many without the AHS website. Our Hosta Journal will have great stories and pictures regarding the convention in the future but has limitations as to number of photos and pages that can be published within budget constraints. I encourage all who wish to submit photos for publication on the AHS website to do so at the link below. Thanks for the comments Pat. Ken Harris AHS Photo Editor Here is a link that might be useful: Submit Photos

Great looking hostas for so late in the season. I am also in Zone 4 but can say without hesittion that my problem is frost. We had first frost in mid September and have had quite a lot since - the hostas definitely don't like to be frozen. Last week we had consecutive nights at around -7C (19F) really finish off any plants not frost hardy though in truth the hostas had all been finished anyway. Those plants in the slidehow have avoided the nip of frost and look fabulous - a tribute to your gardening skill as much as the plants' natural good looks.

One day to remove, one day to remake the wall, one day to set, one day to grout...I think that's fair really. It is a time consuming job and you want him to do it carefully so the cabinets and counter aren't damaged in the process. You know, I'd like to suggest something entirely different which you might hate, but I'll do it anyhoo :) DH had your kitchen in his texas place, almost identical in tones so we had to giggle when we saw this post. I see you love earth tones by your pottery etc and you love slate and granite....honey you're wasting your time trying to make the space bright when the things you love are not bright. You just haven't embraced your dark side yet :) Come, step over to the dark side...earth tones and rich stones are devine when accented properly. You need to go with a rich tone on your walls like a brick or deep red, even a really deep green or gold (look to your crocks for inspiration). They'll make your cabinets sing and your stone will become a star. Hang a textured (dupioni or tapestry) drapery on the window top, soft and slouchy because you have so many hard edges) with a rich deep trim on it. CHANGE YOUR LIGHTING!!! You are entirely underlit and the white shades don't work with anything you've got going in your room. Go with beautiful rich amber shades and larger, more prevalent lighting as well as under and upper cabinet lighting (and to do that on the cheap, just put a bunch of christmas light strings on the top of the cabinet scattered about, you'll be amazed how much that helps your gloomy issue here). Embrace the darkside luke...umm I mean susan :) And your lovely kitchen will become a rich paradise you don't mind being in. You're half way there...step over the line :) And remember, a can of paint is WAY cheaper than a new backsplash isn't it? What's the worst thing that can happen???? You paint again. But in DH's kitchen, who everyone said was too dark when he tried to sell initially....I went with a deep umber tone on the walls and it sold three days later to a gal who described it as wonderfully cozy and rich :)