Yes, I must tease a bit (lol)...Heavenly Angel Ice is a huge standout here. Love it! I've also seen it in quite a few gardens and one can pick it out immediately. Do let it settle in and show you what it can do. Love your bright and colorful pictures.The vivid red of Snow on the Cherry is great. I am having difficulty this year photographing reds accurately and purples, well, forget it (whine, whine). Is it an early morning opener? (I especially love those as I have a much better chance of capturing the color.) I hope so. Anyway, I like your picture! If I can remember how to use photobucket (don't hold your breath), I will post a photo of Heavenly Angel Ice taken here on 6/26 in way too much sun that shows a taste of what I mean. Thing is still blooming here. Amazing bud count this year.

Karen, these are really nice. Since you have Monday and Tuesday here in one post I feel I get to pick a favorite from each day and thats just what I am going to do. I am picking Jordan Verhaert as my favorite from Mondays batch and Daybreak Fantasy as my favorite from Tuesday.

Hi Guys! Thanks for all the nice b-day wishes and personal emails. I have had a lot going on, but also felt like I got so far behind here at the "garden" that I felt like I couldn't catch up---so I kept putting off checking in. I know Maddie and Dee Marie know how I feel about that! Sometimes time slips away so quickly and then it seems very uncomfortable to try and catch up. I knew everyone here would say, "Just hop back in!" But even so, I wanted to read everything and know exactly what was happening. I keep thinking I'll have time to read the few months I've missed, but it'll have to wait for my yearly trip to KY. I'll print and catch up while in the airports, and getting some time in the bluegrass state. This year, I am taking my oldest DD with me, so it will be a little different! Joanne~ I haven't rec'd the package yet, but the mail system and connections between our 2 countries is not super great yet! Anyway, I'm sure I'll get it soon. I have had a LOT of negative change in my life in the past few months and hopefully, with the summer arriving, the light will be brighter and I will be able to understand more of why I was planted on the earth for. I've had a bout with depression and adjustment and couldn't get it very together for a while. Me? Yes. Imagine that! I was surprised myself. It's nice to be "home" here though. Checking in and seeing that I was still welcome means more to me than any of you can ever imagine. Thanks so much for the emails and all. You are truly an amazing group of friends. Always there. Never invasive. Perpetually accepting. All I can say is wow. PS: Raeanne: Thanks for the link, sis, but I hadn't forgotten how to get here! But you KNEW that was the key for me. Smoochies and Huggles. And Dee Marie, you too. And Tikanas. And NHSuzanne. And everyone. You are simply the best.

Hi! FINALLY! a computer that works! I have so much catching up to do! I am down another 2 lbs this week! I have taken Jen's challenge to heart and exercised 6/7 days this past week. Jen, I am only doing Curves right now till the knee is better, but I have a goal set for myself to switch to a regular gym by November. I love the emails you send We are on the same page. DeeMarie how wonderful to present those scholarships! I think that must have been awesome. I am glad that your knee is doing better. NH Suzanne, I love the word pictures that you paint. I will say it again; you should submit some of your thoughts, adventures, musings to a nature magazine. I'll bet you would be published in an instant! I named my Burmese cat Blue, many a moon ago. How did you pick that name? Hey Marci, wait up!! I'll have to walk VERY fast to meet up with you, DeeMarie and Raeanne! Hi Milkdud! Glad that knee is on the mend. Veggies are a good thing! Heard from Patti lately? Hey Zig!! How are ya?? Raeanne, yes, I am still planning on buying a kayak. I am still in hopes of winning one on Paddling net. Ha ha! I enter that darn contest every day... I am going to use that kayak as a reward for reaching my fitness goals. What??? I can't blame Mercury?? Oy vey... Qod: (I am SO behind) Location, location, location! aka equity / rent from property investment via a self directed IRA and profits/eventual royalties from my growing business. Qod: I have Verizon too. I would love to talk with any of you who do too. How nice if we could get to know eachother better for free! Donna, where are you? Where are all of the other MIAS? Seems to me that BJ's class should be about over... John? Besh? Maddie? Amy? Patti? Hard to type with cat sitting on keyboard... Tikanas