Nice post, Pondy. My group 3 clematis are in bloom and stunning, even though they are young. Clematis always make me smile. The coneflowers look fantastic this year and I have a new cross in my garden: I believe it is between White Swan and Ruby Giant. The color is a soft pink, but not dull. It grew up alongside the White Swan, so I have to separate them later in the season. Sundown is in full bloom - I love the color. Although Amsonia 'Willow Blue Star' has finished blooming, it has seed pods, which I just noticed last night. I know little about this plant and I wasn't sure it was going to do well in my garden, but it really took off this year. The blooms lasted a long time and now the pods - it's a keeper. The hosta are doing so well, even after moving them in late spring. I took the advice from someone on the hosta forum who said that before replanting, bang the root mass on the ground to loosen the soil somewhat. I am a believer. Of course, all the rain has helped too. Most of the daylilies are just starting to bloom. I love how daylilies add color to the summer garden. The bright, almost shocking pink asiatic lily is in full glory. My tomato plants make me smile too as does the rest of my new vegetable and herb garden. I've been trying to grow herbs in pots for years, but never had much luck, especially with basil. The basil plants are huge and the Thai basil is gorgeous. I'm growing peppers for the first time and actually have peppers growing. I'll really be smiling if I get enough of everything to can salsa and spaghetti sauce. The dwarf and mini evergreens I bought last year survived and are doing well. I'm limited to arbs and junipers because of the neighbors black walnuts, so having interesting varieties like 'Sherwood Frost' and the golds is exciting for me. Although many gardeners don't like junipers, I have Sea Green and think it's beautiful with its arching branches.

We've been packing all day - this is worse than moving... my laundry room is now my laundry room, mudroom, toyroom, kitchen, storage and way-out-the-door. And it's about 10' by 3'... this is not fun anymore :) I am physically wiped, and we haven't even started yet. Oh well... thank heavens you can get wine in little bottles now... I've packed every dish I own - I'm taking a "dish" vacation... the 2-mths is pretty firm as that is when our cabinets are in and then 2-3 more days for a countertop (laminate) and then painting. We're doing most of the work ourselves, so we know we can stick to our timeline - our biggest stress was trying to work with a GC... glad that's my husband... mind you I can't fire him, but he's cheap :) thanks guys - I'm off to drown myself. c.

I'm sorry--esp. since I just had a very nice experience getting some huge heavy 2'x2' exposed aggregate pavers from c's list and I can't find the post anymore (she must have removed it) to thank the person who gave them to me! She even let me wait a day before coming to get them...there must be a reason why that one didn't work out, is what I tell myself if something from c's list goes awry...the right thing will come along for you all, I know it. Good luck with your house!

Most, not every, of those lovely blues and greens here too. When I was a child, my favorite crayon in Crayola's 72-crayon box was always 'Midnight Blue,' and that's the background color on my sofa right now. My only problem in any with the robin's-egg blue lamp I inherited a quarter century ago from my MIL's 19...30s? trendy flirtation with that color is that it's too dainty to be a major feature. However, right now I seem to have acquired a surprising amount of items in the "persimmon" range and gaze wistfully (suppressed, I share with DH) at shell pinks (like "Carnation Pink" #2 crayon favorite); all lovely, of course, with warm blues. I used to go straight for scarlet, though.