OH WOW!!! After seeing all of the great pics that have been posted? Hmm, hard to say, Did you say that we had to be able to grow it well? I may have skipped over that part or hoped that we could grow it well? My choice would be Great expectations IF I could grow it to a HUGE plant, 10 years old and looking like TC this year (the maple sucked the life out of it so I finally moved it). the only one for this year would be? Inniswood!! just love that plant!! and it really glows, I like June (way too much), but it doesnt surpass Inniswood this year. Paul last years pic tho

I am ready to work out in the yard too. Last week it was pretty nice but then of course over the weekend we had mostly rain. My lawn is like a swamp back there, the groundwater level is so high from all the snow and recent melt off. But...my bulbs are starting to grow and I can see the tulips, daffodils, hyazinths, crocuses, iris and alliums peeking through the ground... Over the weekend I was soooooo mad...because my crocuses were just getting ready to bloom and along came 'some-bunny' and ate them all...:( I really like my decorating bunnies much better then the real on that frequents my backyard...at least they won't eat my flowers...lol I am still a beginner when it comes to gardening...we moved into this house about 2 years ago...it had existing landscaping...a bit too formal for me...but it was nice...so the first year I didn't do much...last year was a major remodel year...inground pool was completly remodeled...addition was added...I created some more flowerbeds in the backyard and planted some grasses and mostly bulbs in the fall....this year will be the year to add the patio that connects the addition and the old patio...and planting perrenials and deciding on a new design for the landscaping in the front of the house...I will probably ask alot of questions during the planting season...I manage ok with creating potted arrangments but I am not sure how well I'll do creating gardens...LOL

We have been to England several times over a period of many years. Our daughter studied in London during her junior years of college, due in part to her being an Anglophile, and also due to what she saw on a previous trip with us. It was just enough to whet her appetite for more. The English do take gardening seriously and I think they have an appreciation for just how beaufiful their surroundings are. Most take a great deal of pride in their gardens. In the Cotswalds-my favorite area-there are the most wonderful B&B's in quaint little towns. Depending on the time of year, tea is often served in the garden. Ahhhh lovely! The grand gardens of Blenheim Palace are a sight to behold. Of course, many of the grand old palaces had mulpiple gardeners to take care of the grounds. Even in the city, the tiny front yards of many homes are full of flowers-no grass to mow. I'm all for that. I have attempted a small English-style garden in our front yard and will post pics in the spring when the snow melts. My husband and I have been talking about taking a trip across the pond. Hmmm, might have to get serious and plan it!

LLBean rates their jackets, this one was rated 0 degrees to -50 degrees. It was interesting to watch the video on their website explaining that the coats are tested at the U. of Kansas lab on a simulated dummy of a 28 year old male wearing appropriate layers. "When a range is shown, the first temperature indicates the product's comfort rating during light to moderate activity, such as walking slowly. The second temperature indicates the comfort rating during moderate activity, such as jogging a short distance or snowshoeing." I'll keep this coat, it is really long (51") which was one of my requirements and it has knitted cuffs inside the sleeve to keep the cold out. I looked at the North Face one which was twice the price and it doesn't have the cuffs and it has a really large North Face logo on the front chest and the back shoulder in bright white lettering on both the black and brown coats. But for some odd reason the light grey coat has the logo in grey threads. I wouldn't mind the bold logo and name on a ski jacket but on this long coat it detracts from it's looks and usefulness making it inappropriate to wear on a dressier occasion. I looked for boiled wool but couldn't find any long coats, I have 2 boiled wool jackets and they are indeed lightweight, warm and so dense that they're nearly windproof. Thanks again everyone for your advice.