Thanks Karen! Somewhere in a GW thread I read that local groups/communities designate an informal site like a picnic table in a park pavillion, public building or farmers market to rehome extra plants or seeds. Before I posted here I searched the Garden Clubs of Illinois website. (Nothing local - mostly northern Illinois.)I tried the U of I extension, Illinois Gardener, Craigslist... I finally found the public parks system website listed "Garden club at senior center, 1st Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m.,fee $15.00." My first thoughts were "Oh no, who can afford $180/year membership. This probably isn't for me." I went anyway...glad I did. (they have since changed the wording to "annual fee".) I met some very kind, welcoming women. I've lived/gardened in this town most of my life - never knew there was an annual plant give away/fund raiser. I found out that there are many local groups affiliated with Garden Clubs of Illinois. Why doesn't the Illinois site list the various districts, clubs or contact info? My e-mail to them was shunted from club secretary to commitee chairperson, who was willing to forward to my local membership chair...by then I'd already joined. Anyway, to anyone with the intention of easily swapping, buying, or giving away plants/seeds locally your suggestions were spot on. Freecycle/Craigslist, co-workers, garden clubs, mastergardeners, and plant sales are the best options. Information about the last three take some ongoing searches as they don't advertise thier activities much. DD

Thank you! Quadra seems to be a long lasting bloom... and the fragrance is nice, though milder than I like. It's a new rose for me, and I think it's worthy of growing just for its color, shape and long lasting blooms! The Knock Outs make nice additions to the perennial beds, where I have them planted... a nice mid-sized plant with lots of lovely color early in summer. While not my favorite rose, they definitely have merit as a bright part of the gardens!

1. flies, possibly hoverflies 3. wasp or hornet 4. beetle 5. fly 6. hoverfly 7. treehopper, related to leafhoppers and cicadas 8. moth, "micromoth" families 9. honeybee dragonfly red admiral red admiral red-spotted purple, not related to swallowtails white admiral could be a 12-spot, yes wasp (note two pairs of overlapping wings) honeybees crescentspot butterfly hard to tell, probably the bumblebee wasp katydid cabbage butterfly, not a moth, not even close

Actually the spruce often turns up more on the ends than the fir. And it may produce flat (level) sprays, as does the fir. But the angular outlines of the sprays on the tree shown would be those of the fir. In addition to the candelabra branching.