In the same bed, terrene, are two regular looking pink ones. They are nice and tall but look like the regular E. purpurea. I'm going to ask neighbors if they would like to have them. They are growing right up next to my Sundown and I need to move them. I think you might be right about crossing the Big Sky plants with E. Paradoxa. You might get something really special and different. I have a friend who has offered to grow out some of the seeds from my tangerine orange seedling just to see what we get. I'm definitely taking her up on it. Since Paradoxa has been blooming about the same time as this seedling, maybe more crossing has taken place by the bees. You just never know. It's really awful that the voles ate your tall cross. It sounds like a really nice plant and I love the idea of the tall flowers. Linda

I have used those Argentina shrimp and think they taste more like lobster then a shrimp when butter dipped. That huge vein is roe in the shrimp, the vein lays under it. A lot of waste considering the heavy shell. They are unusually soft after còoking. My fish monger said he hears alot of complaints about texture. I have used them on and off for about a year. I always notice a much stronger smell from the opened bag and when cooking. Suspect they are not being handled carefully on the boat. None of the other kinds of shrimp have those issues. I worked in my family owned fish market for years, know fresh seafood does not smell. I will not buy the pink Argentina shrimp again.

You're right Iris but I think I know where Im going to plant everything. I'll try to take before and after pictures. I told Jay before, Im going to take a week off work, maybe two, to do all my prepping and planting. One week in spring, one in summer. Have to get all the other projects done too- stain the deck, fix a couple siding shingles, refinish a bathtub, a couple drainage and grading projects... just writing that down made me apprehensive haha.

I do want to continue the ‘Truce’ on Natives Only - And to keep it brief - to say to all those who have expressed appreciation for my participation on GW - it’s no less true how much I appreciate all of you. So, right back at you. 😀 But since this thread has continued along, I just want to thank people for all the further suggestions on Shrub choice. Thyme, Hypericum was suggested earlier…by Sas67 and Markay and I have been interested. So that is going to the top of my list. Sounds like something that might be a good addition to my part sun areas. And Chelone is one I keep forgetting about. I think I have been more focused on adding spring and early summer plants since that seems to be what I have a lot of . [g] And Ben…. I’ve heard numerous accounts of how many pollinators like Mountain Mint and I was thinking maybe I can grow that in a pot for the summer, but I wonder how feasible it would be to overwinter it in the house? Or if they sell it in a small enough pot, I could use it just like any other annual. Sam, I have Perovskia and Lavender does not like my clay soil.. I have Spicebush and violets and Milkweed, I grow parsley and dill and lots of other herbs. Golden Thyme I have a lot of around edges of beds and right now that is in bloom and attracts a lot of bees. I keep thinking about adding a Magnolia, I’m fond of the yellow blooms but again more spring bloom, which I love but already have a lot of. Turtlehead is Chelone, right? Thanks for those ideas. ViburnumValley - I have two varieties of Clethra ‘Hummingbird’ and ‘Sherry Sue’ - Hummingbird is starting right now, but mine has only a handful of blooms. I think the shade has increased and I need to move it into more sun. And Sherry Sue blooms late in September, which is great, and especially bumble bees seem to love it. But it died back to the ground a couple of springs ago, so I’m questioning it’s hardiness here. It has come back but is making a slow come back. That’s too bad about ‘Seven Sons’ - I have no possibility of providing full sun and I hate to add a plant that does not prosper because I’m not giving it what it needs. I’ve tried that lots of times. [g] And space is not something I have a lot of on 1/4 acre lot. Especially with 3 mature trees already in the yard and many more around the yard. I might have room for one smaller, narrow tree that doesn’t have a wide canopy and I did want something that flowers and maybe fruits, but the most sun I can offer for a location for one tree, is 4-5 hrs of sun. So maybe I need to change my plans and try for large shrubs. I’m also trying to create a screen along one lot line. I’ve been considering adding some viburnums for that reason too but don’t they all bloom in the spring? Arnold Arboretum is a great idea. Great to visit in every season. And it’s about 40m from me. And I will be tapping my real foot, waiting for everything to fall into place to get my projects started. lol 😀