I LOOOVVVVEEE foliage colors as well as prudy flowers so I ordered: Angelica "Corinne Tremaine"...variegated "Ebony" dark purple foliage Aquilegia: "Alchemist's Gold" "Alchemist's Mix" "Burnished Rose" "Sunburst Ruby" Barbarea "Winter Cream"/winter crests variegated AND edible Duchesnea ""...var. strawberry w/ yellow blooms. I have var. strawberry but w/ white blooms Hesperis matronalis variegata..Variegated Dame's Rocket Leycesteria Gold Leaf..gold leaf honeysuckle Myosota Rolled Gold...gold leaf 4-get-me-not Oenothera Blood Orange...evening primrose...OK not a foliage plant but the blooms are unique Origanum vulgare aureum...Gold leaf oregano Prostathera lasianthos..Victorian Christmas Bush..Weird Dr. Suess type plant Ruta graveolens variegata...Variegated rue...variegation plus a butterfly/caterpillar host plant Silene/ragged robin: Graham's Delight"...variegated Purple Price...dark purple foilage Peggy

I have mine up against the east side of the house planted beside the water faucet and a/c condensation line for moisture. It gets morning sun, then shade starting at 1:00pm. It gets about 5 feet tall in my garden, so I've put a support on it this year to keep it from leaning out toward the sunshine. I put a cutting of it out front on the southwest side surrounded by shrubs and tall perennials in the moist (when no drought) area at the bottom of a slope. I'll see if that's too hot or not. It's easy to divide once you can cut off 8" sections of root.

Thanks Craig for your North Tulsa report. I will forward your info on. Sorry, that I have not gotten with you sooner. I've been busy "chasing Monarchs!" You are right on the money, Dawn. Monarchs love to fly way up there with the raptors. Have you ever seen a Monarch circle around, and then go up until they are out of sight? They love to catch the thermals, as the hawks and other migrating birds do when the north wind is just perfect. They exert alot less energy, and more guaranteed survival by sailing with the wind, as opposed to continually flapping their wings against the wind. Alot of hawk watchers in Texas are also good Monarch reporters. Large roost update: At home, Monday evening, rain and strong southerly winds had Monarchs scurrying to the north side of the trees, looking for shelter. Tuesday morning, the wind changed to the north, and about 9 a.m., the Monarchs were coming down out of the trees, spreading their wings, trying to soak up what sun they could. By 12 noon, most of them were gone. If there would have been any way I could have gotten off Tues., I would have dearly LOVED to have gone out to the large roost, and gotten pics of them with their wings open trying to soak up the rays before they left! That's were folks get these great pics of Monarchs roosting with their wings open! Oh, well.... another time. I have heard that there is another wave of Monarchs noted in Bartlesville, that should be making their way down. This group seems to be late. I had about 6 Monarchs in my yard today. There is always a bit of sadness when a large group leaves, though I know that they "gotta go", and time is of essence. The first bunch of Monarchs are already approaching the Mexican border! Journey North has some great articles on how high can you see Monarchs? Here is a link that might be useful: How high do Monarchs travel?

WTG Brendan! Lori, is that the good news in his future you alluded to in Support #7 or is there something more? Lyra, it has been so hot here (Ellen how did everyone get through graduation!!!) that we still had the A/C on at 9:30 at night. More today and tomorrow. Yesterday I took DS #1 to the DMV to take his written provisional driver license test. He passed, dang. California requires six hours profe$$ional driver training, and that starts next Saturday! Clear the roads! Tonight I go to my High School 30th reiunion. I have't even been to one of them. I contacted someone I used to be freinds with and we're looking forward to hooking up again. I'm leaving DH at home - why do people take spouses, they will only be bored! I'm going with a synagogue member - someone connected the dots for us. We never knew each other in high school, but interact a lot now. Small world. Tomorrow I dump DS #2 off at computer camp. Heh heh. Buh-bye! Trying to stay cool. It will be record breaking HOT here this weekend, so hot I didn't make a challah yesterday, I didn't want to turn on the oven. Yikes! Clink with iced tea!