Good morning. We were off to an early start here this morning. The Magnolia is in its new site! and we really like it, it blocks the main portion of what used to be the old driveway entrance. I took too many pictures of the operation, but the battery konked out before I could get the final one (recharging as I type). We did quite a number on the root "ball", but it will probably be OK even if it does "blink" a bit for the first year in the new place. "NIT", indeed, PM2. :) I rather like the idea of an Idyll Summer Camp; in fact, I think it's perfectly brilliant. Whaddya think, we use the Salon as the bunkhouse, take "Navy showers", and set up "arts and crafts" in the automobile bays, cooking our meals over the grill? Kathy, the picture of the Idyll Moon really touched me. I've been thinking about that Hopi prayer and the great comfort derived from the simplest things that remain constant the world over regardless of how downtrodden we feel at any given moment. I heard that there was a Dodger no-hitter, but not paying much attention to teams other than the Red Sox... well... . But I agree, it's really quite an accomplishment, exciting the same way a 1-0 hockey game is; good defense! The helpmeet tells me Manny is deliverin' the goods for you. He added that the dreds are as yet unpruned... which cracks me up. "Manny bein' Manny"; he's very talented and let's hope LA suits him better than Boston, that's what will define a "good" trade. Marian, you have a handsome family! the girls are looking so grown up, you must be very proud of them. The clock is handsome, the helpmeet was shocked when I sent the works of our tall case clock out to be cleaned, oiled, adjusted. But periodic maintenance is required for them to operate reliably. When the works were gone we found ourselves looking to the empty bonnet nearly daily to check the time! We have only one "plug in" clock in the house. As for two towels/girl, that's easy! one for the lovely long hair, the other for the body. We use our towels for nearly a week here. He has his, I have mine, we are clean when they're put to task, and we hang them to dry out in between uses. We know where the towels have been and neither of us has a problem with reusing them. I'm sorry you've managed to provide housing for some sort of bug... hope it decides to move "out" soon. I especially appreciate your oil lamps. I asked for one for Christmas in 1999 and received a brass Aladdin desk lamp. Whenever the electricity goes out it's nice to have good, reliable light so we may read. There are several in THTTF that were in regular use by my great-grandparents. I need to put them in the car the next time I am there. And lastly (before I foget again) I am sorry to hear about Calliecat. Dad didn't cry very often but the tears flowed freely when one of the pride was delivered to the "happy hunting ground". Nolon did the right thing, but that is cold comfort when the one delivered is gone forever. :( Good to see Wendy "poop" in for a quick visit. Too bad she had to go when "dooty" called. (couldn't pass that one up, sorry). I laughed and laughed at the tale of the Jr. Executive, that's just too funny. Shades of Alex Keaton, huh? The notion that Staples would rank highly as a retail destination slays me; BUT, when my brother was that age he insisted on drawing electrical cords and outlets in every picture he drew involving an indoor scene. I meant to ask about the dry stream bed you posted, Ei. Did you design it to be dry or did you put it there to handle any excess rainfall? I see them used in and around my area and I always wonder what precautions are taken to prevent opportunistic plants from setting up camp and making it "home", landscape fabric? plastic? I really like the effect in your garden, and clearly it was useful last weekend! I also wanted to mention how nice it is to see Norma, again. I forget that DSL and cable internet is not available in many parts of the country. Northern New England, for one! and it's becoming a huge bone of contention because lack of it precludes those areas with people LOOKING for work from being able to participate. It's the same old story from the fewer and fewer companies providing the missing services... "it's not worth the investment". OK... I thought "deregulation" was going to create more competition and open up unheralded realms of opportunity... . (haven't seen my 'phone bill go down since they broke up Ma Bell). Anyway, I sympathize. ;) And I hope the new set-up sees you posting more often. Your gardens are so pretty and I love your pond. T., you've popped into my thoughts periodically as I've been scratching away on the shrub border. I've gone from being completely discouraged by the chaos, to wondering about the finer details of it all, and all in the space of about a month. Getting started was the hardest part. It also dawned on me that you have to contend with the possibility of Elk damage if they break through your "defenses", too, huh? I drove by a house the other day that had a MEGA stroller out front. It was for triplets, one seat in front of another and I marvelled at the forethought and dexterity required to manoeuver that sucker in "traffic". WOW. I think the battery is back "on line" so I'll see if I can't finish up the photo essay. Later!

I disagree that Awakening will take over the whole pergola - I'm maintaining the width to the six feet on the end so I have the whole side - 14 feet wide by 12 feet high to cover with something else. I'm pretty severe with the pruners in early spring - there are probably 3 or four main canes that go vertically up and over the top, any extras get removed or I replace older main canes, I cut the laterals back to a few buds in early spring. I always carry my Felcos with me so errant canes that lurk at eye level or below get chopped but mostly I just leave new growth to arch over the garden below if they are out of harms way overhead. This year I'll probably wrap a couple of new main canes around the corner to blend with the new climber. I had Maggie at the corner by the gate, which you can see in the first picture, but I moved it because I was not happy with the color combination. It had started to get tall enough to cover the bottom half of the first lattice panel. Florence I love Viking Queen with New Dawn! That one goes to the top of the list.

I prefer that companies charge at the time of order. It never fails that I have to scramble with companies that charge at shipping every few years, not because I don't have the funds, but because a credit card has been hacked and the number changed, or I've paid one off and closed the account, or some other minor financial change that requires that I now contact all the time-of-shipping places and give them the new information. On average, I'd say it happens every 4 to 5 years. Lisa

My neighbors and I were going to have a plant swap on June 6th at my place in Walpole... but I did not know of the popularity and timing of WhiteGarden's... so I'm postponing mine and we're joining all y'all! (I'm a Yankee who has worked for Atlanta based Delta Air Lines for a LONG time). Here's some of the stuff I'll be bringing: various miniature, ground cover and autumn joy sedum arnold dwarf forsythia pee gee hydrangea husker red penstemon various herbs lady's mantle lots of daylilies (stella d'oro and red spider) gold tide forsythia chocolate chip ajuga rudbecia and purple coneflower (if there isn't already enough) Also WhiteGarden, I can do a web site for the swap if you'd like me to and include directions dates, times, etc...