Shannon, that sounds so good!! I wish I would have had more time to bake something, but with my son moving (he's gone now) and the wedding I just didn't do anything really nice this time around. I may try to pick up some muffins or donuts in the morning. I went out today and repotted some things and got the plants together, so I'm ready for tomorrow, except for the loading it into the truck. I have a few rooted Frosty Pink Brugs and took some more cuttings from it for anyone that wants to try their hand at it. I still have some spirea, 1 black stem EE, a bunch of Iris cristata, Althea (double blooms) just potted and just barely starting to root, a bronze fennel, a huge 4 o'clock, rhipsalis, monarda, unkwn daylily and irises, hosta, monstera, native yarrow, hardy geranium (it's pretty much gone dormant), hardy ageratum, malva mystic merlin, mini black iris ( I sowed last winter), and if we can find the time in the morning going to dig some black eyed susans and white butterfly ginger. If anyone wants some seed check my list for what I have and let me know asap. Plus I'm bringing buckets!

The arboretum has a conifer collection, several shrub family collections with large specimens (viburnum, barberry, holly I remember), a small rose garden with climbers (Altissimo, Fourth of July), selection of modern and old roses (incredible Lavaglut and Europeana, others), a long pergola surrounded by a perennial bed, small trees most of which are labeled, a hosta garden (all labeled), a woodland walk with some nice labeled shrubs (alexandrian laurel, camellia I remember, there are others), and butterfly garden with simple fountain. I think the perennials and roses will be showier in 2-3 weeks than they are now. Because it's such a nice city park it gets a lot of picnic and dog walking traffic so bring your leashed pooch and/or lunch. It's on a greenway path that stretches for miles so if you're a real hiker you can pass through the park on your hike to northern Guilford County! It is close to the bog and bicentennial gardens and if you're making a relaxed day of it you would enjoy seeing all three. Nothing as intense as Juniper Springs or as thorough as the Raulston Arboretum but a really nice experience. If you're inclined to make a day of it there is also the Piedmont Farmer's market at Sandy Ridge Road off business 40 (just south of the highway intersection) that has some terrific deals from local growers (bought a lovely threadleaf Japanese Maple for cheap and buy annual baskets amazingly priced), and New Garden nursery and village on Old Oakridge Road that carries the named varieties I drool over. Guess you can tell I like it here. Becky

Regarding We-Du Natives (Meadowbrook Nursery), I just wanted to add some commentary regarding my most recent experience with this nursery with the hope that it's of some help here. I had never dealt with this on-line operation prior to ordering a 2 gallon Hamamelis virginiana 'Mohonk Red'. It arrived incredibly well-packed and in excellent health. Immediately after planting, it has taken off. This prompted me to cancel an order I had with another on-line nursery for some other items and a 'Diane" witch hazel in order to place another order with Meadowbrook for a 'Sunburst' witch hazel and a raspberry mountain laurel. I received tracking numbers from Meadowbrook immediately after my orders shipped. As further testament to their outstanding customer service, I telephoned Jamie with a question while waiting for the Sunburst and mountain laurel. Even as busy as they must be with Mother's Day coming up, Jamie, pleasant as could be, was more than happy to field my queries. After he remembered my name from my previous orders, he informed me that he had shipped me a 'Diane' by mistake instead of the Sunburst I had ordered with the mountain laurel, but that it was my lucky day, as he told me that he had caught the error and immediately shipped me a Sunburst on them! The Sunburst will arrive the day after the Diane and my planting will carry on without a blip! I couldn't recommend this nursery more.

Hope you had a great swap!