Christi, I just looked up a photo of that 'Rosemary Verey' and it looks like it has reddish purple stems, that's different. I have some of the variegated, but they've reverted in my garden to green. I see one left that is variegated from seed that dropped two years ago. I don't actually do anything for the Lunaria except let it go to seed and blow where ever it wants. As for epimediums, I've ordered half of mine from the specialty nursery by Daryl Probst who collected them in China and bred them. I've grown red russian kale in the vegetable garden, but have none this year. Interesting that it blooms with the lunaria and bulbs. Of course, that it is edible is a plus~ I'm also not a daylily fan. I only have one in my garden, 'Hyperion' and I've kept it because it is fragrant. Here is a link that might be useful: Epimedium website

I'm planning on buying more of a few things next year too. Chrysanthemums. I have been buying a 3 pack from Bluestone every year for three years now and I am really enjoying them. I need about three more 3 packs this spring and I can't wait for them to all mature and fill in. They are so dependable and since they bloom in the fall, they look good all season. I was so enthralled with Casa Blanca lily this year, that I decided despite the Red Lily Leaf Beetle, that I'm going to start adding more lilies. I just love them! I tried Angelonia for the first time last year and it performed very well so I want to do more of those this year. More roses. I seem to have finally figured out how to get the couple that I have to do fairly well, so I want to add a couple of climbers, but I'm not sure which yet. More boxwood. I have a few and I want to add a few more next year. More string beans and peas in the vegetable garden. I've been adding more epimediums, ferns, and hellebores among others but I think I have enough for the time being. I don't even remember what I added last year. I'm waiting to see what's what come spring. [g]

i've gotta say that it feels good to know that i'm not the only one causing himself physical burns with chiles on a regular basis I just discovered last night that even gloves don't totally isolate your hands from the heat if you plan on putting in contacts later.... I think the worst time was after de-seeding and tearing apart a bunch of dried chiles with my bare hands.. MY god.. besides the NS, anywhere i touched, even my girlfriend, got red and developed that painful burn for a couple of hours. i found that standing IN the freezer was the most effective temporary relief

Kate, I love your onion sculpture! I've never smelled rotten potatoes, thankfully. Sadly I can top you all. If you have a squeamish stomach, read no further: At the ripe age of 18 and on my own, I left what will forever remain an unknown dish in the back of the fridge far after the power went out in it. The one thing I missed in cleaning out the fridge. A full week later I smelled something beyond foul... opened it up to find 'crawlies'. I screamed, donned plastic gloves and used long tongs to remove it from the house. I'm still not over the horror.