Kristi, even though I would hate your warm summers, your springtime looks so good! This is the LONGEST cold winter toward spring I think I have ever been in...another day of 38 degree temps with intermittent rain. I did work with seedlings in my growing room where I am starting my flowers for cutting, but my tomato seeds have not even sprouted yet in the growing room, and look at the plants you are setting out! As to your San Remo, the 2nd one is rather nice with the stripes but neither really looks much like the others I have seen, including the 3 I had this year, other then being the same colors. It will be interesting to see what they look like next year, whether they revert to a "normal" San Remo" or are off in their breeding.

Thank you for all the compliments, it helps keep me going when I'd rather be sitting on my butt watching baseball. "" Unlike you I'm cramming them in with no particular regard as to appearance. The goal is just maximum packing efficiency, taking into account how fast certain varieties well grow"" In certain regards, I am doing this right now. I'm a collector first and amatuer landscaper second. You don't have to imply that some parts are jumbled, they ARE jumbled lol. I 'try' to make proper planting decisions based on future growth, color/textures/sun needs/etc. but in many cases I have intentionally planted things closer then most would suggest for two reasons. One, I prefer plants 'snuggled up' against each other. This is how they usually appear in nature and to my own eyes at least, is much more appealing then lone conifer specimens surrounded by 10' of bark or grass. Of all the photo's I have shot at Coenosium Gardens, the one that usually had the most positive remarks was a cluster planting with precisely my intended 'final product'. Also, over the years some plants look better then others. I am hoping that I can simply 'move' or remove the ugliest/malformed plants and make space for the plants that I'd prefer to keep in place. I am now working part-time with a local nursery owner who owns and is creating an enormous botanical garden - hopefully some of my 'too-big' plants can end up there. I do intend on shaping and training whichever plants will look best with it(weepers/irregular plants) as well as blending in as best I can the hundreds of young Japanese maples that have found a home. Ultimately ALL plants will outgrow their spot eventually, even miniatures turn into huge specimens over 50-60 years. I guess I'll cross those bridges when I come to them. -Will

Kublakan, thank you so much! The gazebo actually came from SAMs club several years ago. Lesley, thank you, you're so kind. I do spend hours in the yard and have been tremendously blessed to have such a wonderful husband who has the talent to build things and help me with the "big" stuff. I'm not really sure how many roses I have. Never enough, that's for sure! Lol. This site help start my obsession I think and continues to enable it :) It's sooooo hard to choose favorites but I LOVE most all of the pinks, cream and apricot colored Austins. I wish I had a secret to share but I only have what all of us do and that's a love for roses. There are some great rose growers on here and I love seeing all the different pictures of everyone's beauties.

Tom, This is the first year that I've had the red porterweed. I plan on taking cuttings so I'll have some next year if it doesn't come back. Thanks!