Thank you all! It snowed off and on all day but I didn't get any accumulation here. Other places around me weren't so lucky. More snow predicted for tomorrow too. I wish those darn Canadians would keep their clippers to themselves, lol!

The only thing I am afraid of on the general forums is when people pop in and say something even I know is totally not true, and they usually pronounce it dogmatically, as if it is gospel. Sirens go off in my head and I think, "Oh MY. How many people are going to glom onto this bit of gospel and run with it?" The phrase "First, do no harm" always comes to mind. That, and what Amy said. And what Dawn said. I bet you can predict what's coming, Bruce! Totally believe that. And what Jen said. Brr today. Since it will be cool for the next few days, I'm in no hurry to run and get raised bed soil. But am looking forward to the present forecast of really warmer temperature in 4-5 days. I shall be prepared. HJ, I had that happen, only cardinals up in Minneapolis (I'd like to think ONE cardinal, and it very likely WAS the same one as they were extremely territorial up there.) The first time I was standing outside after it had snowed, marveling at the beauty, and thinking of Russ while shoveling the driveway. Glanced up when I got out there, and there was a cardinal,stark red against a white background, on the light pole across the street, directly opposite me on our narrow street. My first thought was how beautiful the scene was. As my mind was occupied with thinking of Russ, how goofy he was and how I wished I could be visiting with him, I'd glance up. There he sat, just watching me. This continued until I was through, and then he softly flew away. Then I actually keyed into him when I'd be out in the winter, or spring or summer that year, and he often would be sitting fairly nearby, oh, say 15-20 feet, and just watching me. And so I came to associate him with Russ, after that first time. I never though it WAS Russ, but I didn't discount the possibility that it might be a messenger carrying messages about Russ or from Russ. Or maybe he just found me interesting. haha As we know, birds are no different than humans. Each one an individual, with THEIR own little quirks. Now down here, the cardinals don't appear to be quite as territorial, and further, none of them has shown the slightest interest in me, nor have any of the other birds. :) The ticks and chiggers, on the other hand, they think I'm magic. I suspect you had a riveting movie to watch last night, Dawn. That was OUR deal at sleepovers. Big batch of popcorn snuggled up together on top of the quilt, not under, with our OJ, watching one of the marvelous movies. Beautiful memories. It is proving to be an extra special day here today, full of thankfulness and love for gardening, nature, and people, and the source for it all. The only gardening I'll do today is potting up, no small thing in itself. Hope you all are doing well!

Now that I am home again, I had to post this lily. It is Voila Francois. No doubt, the most perfectly formed white I have. I don't think I have ever had an ugly bloom on this one. The second is Stardust Dragon. (I don't know this new trick Houzz performed in putting my photos together! Not my intention. It bopped my narrative below it and I have to edit.) New this year. But it multiplied rapidly and bloomed and then rebloomed. I think I will like it . Kate

Thanks for starting this thread, Kristine! Sorry I am a bit late. Wow, both The Pretty Lady and Pretty Lady look incredible! So many other winners. Speaking of....my biggest surprise was actually my Peach and Apricot Drift roses. I’ve always passed Drift roses off as purely landscaping roses (same as KOs) that I would never have in the garden but felt they’ve added a lot to the garden. AD has such a cute bloom form - kind of like a mini Evelyn - and PD bloomed nonstop and always looked good. Disappointments: Happy Child - growing backwards - was 3-4 feet 2 years ago and was about 6 inches most of the summer, finally reaching 10-12 inches by fall. Lady Emma Hamilton - both only grew to 12-15 inches. Died to the ground after last years harsh winter but didn’t do much of anything compared to all of my other plants. The Lady Gardener - Was wonderful last year but this year the center of her flowers were brown and she had defoliated from BS by fall.