Hosta hosta, I'm sure your Blue Mouse Ears will take off, having 8 eyes already in year two. Wow. When I first bought mine it cost $25+ tax for a tiny eye! maybe had 3 leaves, but SO darn cute I just had to have it. I understand, Phil - but I am sorry you lost your Frosted ME just the same. Like the reference to your "land of the giants", really appropriate, lol...space is at a premium here so the last year or more I've added several minis and smalls. Then I "needed" some biggies, and on and on it goes, lol. Thank you, Santa and Mocc! Mocc, I remember your nose gay description because it suited it so :-). Thanks for the pic! Yes, when I was dividing, "try a little tenderness" wasn't in the script! That is one cute but tough little hosta. I really think it was grateful for a change in growing conditions. Bkay, I'm so glad you were able to post your pic because yours is the biggest BME I think I've seen. I remember it was so big it looked like it was climbing out of the pot last year - looks like you've divided it some. I hope Esther sees it! :-). Sorry about your power outage ... so inconvenient ... I/we missed a good story no doubt! Thank you for looking, and reading and sharing, All. Jo

You are all too kind. I appreciate it. With all the glorious hosta coming from every corner of the world, it is really nice to have a few in my area too.. Love of hostas is a unifying factor in the world. Now, Gosan Sunproof snuck up on me, I had no idea it would grow that quickly, nor that it would set seedpods. It gives the color green new bragging rights. Such a well groomed hosta too. I recognize some of the hostas shown above, they are as familiar to me as my own plants. We all show our pictures and it is like proud parents bragging about the kiddies. Gotta smile how smitten we all are by this ever changing plant. Oh yeah. Bunga the stuff hanging from the camellia sasanqua is called spanish moss. It is a member of the tilandsia family, air gives it nourishment, so it thrives in humid climates. I splash it down with water sometimes. It also has tiny blooms on it, sort of a lip color reddish rosy brown no shine. It is a gray green color. It provides some shade, and makes the breeze visible. The camellia sasanqua is about 60 years old. It is related to the camellia japonica, the beautiful bloomers of winter. It is also related to camellia sienensis which is the Chinese tea plant/tree. All real "tea" comes from the c. sienensis. I now have two (or three) of those in my garden too, since I am intent on creating a fragrant hosta garden with other plants they would have encountered growing native to China. The book Garden Art of China that Dougald introduced me to has raised my goal with the garden. It is the source of my inspiration to add the latticed shade screen to finish walling in my hosta garden. Now all I need is a komodo dragon statue and a Buddha or a guru in a hidden alcove somewhere.

Kathy That is a beauiful rose with a very unique coloring. Thanks for posting it. I too have quite a few roses that just this year (year 3) have taken off. They are not blooming yet but all are covered with tons of buds. I foresee and very rosey May. Liz

Oh I love your Silkies! Arent Silkies the best? They are perfect for kids. Even the little roos are gentle. I only have one female and a male pure Silkie left. I'm going to get some more eggs to hatch! Your Blue Splash Silkie looks just like one I had for 6 years! Her name was Lady Blue. She had a blue splash brother named Cookie Monster lol. I have my remaining Silkies in with my little Bantam English Chocolate Orpington girls since they lost their roo. We put up a 5ft wire fence to discourage the chickens which works for the most part. This small one, who keeps getting out of her pen, is getting through the wire of both pens somehow. There is always some kind of drama going on when you have chickens lol. Im surprised nothing has eaten her, with all the hawks, foxes, and other wildlife around here.