I must admit that while I appreciate Spring as the poetic season of renewal & hope, etc. it's never been my favorite time of year. I'm a native Californian and Spring in New England has always seemed cold & raw to me. I expect my bulbs to be in bloom in March and to be in a Tee & sandals by Easter and, of course, that's silly here. But, this year...while we've had our share of blustery, cool days my garden also has been a delight. Last Spring, I remember missing my azaleas bloom due to cold, rainy, raw weather. This year, it's only the first week in May and I've been gardening for six weeks already. Yesterday, as I was walking thru on my morning tour...the sun was peeking through a heavy cloud cover and highlighting the pastel blue woodland phlox in full bloom under my electric pink 'Olga Mezzitt'. It took my breath away. I stopped, stared and thought...Wow, that looks like a picture from a glossy magazine! Then, last night as I was waiting for my hubby to get home...I was taking my evening stroll through the garden and enjoyed a similar experience. The setting sun was almost entirely blocked by what I refer to as a "Mystic Pewter" sky. But, through one hole in the gray cover a ray of sun was hitting the Jap. hakone grass hedge that is surrounded with one of my carefully tended moss gardens. The interplay of light, texture, & color was breathtaking. I often wonder if non-gardeners ever stop and just appreciate the beauty that plants bring into our world? I ask because yesterday afternoon I walked over to our marina to visit with friends arriving at their boats for the weekend. We have just purchased a new-to-us boat & will be making the passage up from Annapolis beginning May 22 so we were talking about boating, in general. My friend, Linda, seemed almost angry with me when I mentioned at the end of our conversation how much my husband and I were enjoying our new gardens. She said something like, "So, your garden has priority over your boat?" I was dumbstruck...didn't know what to say. I responded with..."No, Linda...it doesn't have priority over the boat. We love both. Choosing would be like asking me to choose between my piano or my painting. I love both of those, as well." While walking home from the marina, I was wondering if she even saw the beauty in a garden or if all she associated with was as she called it...the "work" of a garden. We don't consider it work. Time-consuming...yes...but work...No! It's a pleasure to tend and reap the rewards of our toils. Her husband will "work" on his boat all weekend and consider it a hobby but my gardening is just "work". Bah, humbug! Last Sunday, our dockmaster Russ...stopped by with a division of his pink peonies saying, "I noticed you haven't planted a peony yet" pointing in the direction of an empty spot, "and I thought this was a perfect spot." I was THRILLED. There is no better gift for me than a "from my garden to yours" present. We immediately planted our shared peony in the exact spot he suggested and I'm looking forward to enjoying not only its blooms but the memories of a friend's sharing for years to come. Some people just don't seem to register the more esoteric parts of life...as my friend Linda demonstrated. She just doesn't "get it". I feel sorta sorry for her. IMO, she's missing something so beautiful about life as the season's progress. She would, I'm certain, think I was batty if I mentioned the appeared delicacy of a poppy bloom fluttering in the wind yet spoke of its strength and endurance.

Hi there- I do hope all of the seeds have found their way home to you all- I did send a few of my this seasons favorites to you all (or tried to get them all in the return envelopes)- I thought I would show you a few pics- The very best Castor Bean I have ever grown is the New Zealand Purple. It was quite something to behold- over 10' tall and near the end of the season- the side branches were more that 8' across- and bronze and purple all the way through- The leaves had a sheen to them that shifted shades of the color as you looked at it. Many folks came down the driveway to ask about it... The aristolachia fimbriata has been a favorite of mine since my first participation in the RUNV exchange- Aristolochia Fimbriata, the White Veined Hardy Dutchman's Pipe, is an excellent hanging basket plant. Its small stem, make it more suitable than other Aristolochia for basket culture. This smaller tropical vine climbs to only 1-2 meters. It is native to Argentina, Paraguay and Southern Brazil. A rare find. A must for those who collect the unusual. It always attracts the attention by the strange flowers that are produced amongst the white-veined leaves. Flowers are solitary and are formed under the leaves. The cute little 1-2" long yellow and brown flowers, resembling miniature elephant trunks, are produced along the stem all Summer. The flowers are green on the tube, brown on the mouth entrance and veined purple brown inside. The mouth entrance has a bizzare and striking arrangement of hairs that stick out like a rough material. This is one of the most attractive foliage plants you can grow. This really cool deciduous groundcover Dutchman's Pipe spreads out to 3 feet on little green stems. Each rounded leaf is medium green, highlighted with dramatic silver veining. In Winter, the stems retreat back to the base if cultivated outside, so no invasive problems. Hardiness zones 7-9, (-15C/5°F,-5°C/25°F) in Winter. Aristolochia Fimbriata likes to grow in a light and airy place, but not in direct sunlight. Keep Summer temperatures from 68-78°F and Winter temperatures above 50°F. Water regularly during the growth period, once or twice a week. Water no more than once a week during Winter. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every third watering throughout the growing season. It grows best in rich, well-drained soil. That said- I put it in hanging baskets and forgot to water way too many times- and I almost never fertilize- and they still did great!! I bring mine in to overwinter- and they live through our long cold winters in the basement with hardly any light... Germinating tips- Soak 48 hours in hand hot water Time to germinate: 30-90 days (The usual time period in which a particular variety will germinate given optimum conditions) Temperature: 70-80°F (24-29°C) - a steady temperature is generally recommended - fluctuating temperatures can damage a seedling in its critical early stages Growth Medium: Peaty Sowing Depth: Sow on the surface, point end down and do not cover Light or Dark: No special requirements Slow or Erratic: Not all seeds will show at once - prick out each seedling as it becomes large enough to handle and don't discard the container until well over the time suggested. The Morning Glory Wine and Roses (Heirloom Ipomoea Nil I found both on the web...), is the best ever performing MG I have ever tried! And the Triple Yellow Datura, var chlorantha- Well, you will find that all over the web- I do hope all have made their way home by now- and am very happy to have been able to host this swap- Thanks again- Julie

Big get together at DB's as usual on the 4th. We all bring food. We meet at the parade in the next town over, watch it and go back to his house, stuff ourselves silly and sit around in the afternoon or go to a mud run or demo derby if we want and there is one. Come back for the 5 pm parade in town and then eat more and sit around til dark, watch the fireworks. There is like4 street dances too between towns and Friday and Saturday nights. LOTS going on. Saturday we are grilling steaks at my house. I don't know if DS and Maddie will be here or not, its Daddy's holiday but her Mom wanted her, I dunno what they'd worked out. DD and Drewbear will be here, Hunter will be with his Dad.

FINALLY chiming in on this thread. The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays - despite the fact that I usually spend it with my mother-in-law. We usually watch fireworks from a boat in the Chesapeake Bay while eating steamed blue crabs and shrimp with corn on the cob. We can see fireworks from many different towns from the water - Baltimore, Rock Hall, Annapolis, and on and on. After the grand finale, I always sing The Star Spangled Banner under my breath and promise myself yet again that NEXT year, I'll sing out loud and see how many people on the hundreds of other boats anchored nearby join in to sing with me. On the family heritage side, I have ancestors that have fought in every war our country has been in since coming to this land in the early 1730's. In the UK, that it not long ago, but here in the US, it's about as far back as possible. DH's family was on the Mayflower, which is 1620. Wonderful stories and comments everyone. I've enjoyed every single one. Thanks for sharing. PAM