Morning all, well it is still raining but it looks like we we'll get a reprieve for a couple days and I think I'll be able to work outside this afternoon if we don't get the predicted thunder storms. So very much to do still. I've got the back gardens in pretty good shape but haven't done a bit of work in the front except to do some clean-up. Heather's boyfriend has been working for me a day or so a week and he really can get a lot done in a short period of time. He's gotten the entire back gardens mulched! I edged everything and he traipsed the mulch up, down and around and got it all spread. I cleaned out the borders but he did all the raking and cleanup in the back and behind the pond which is a huge job. Now I need to get to work on the front. The driveway garden needs a ton of work and I've got to replace or change a bunch of plants from the rodent damage. My worst casualty there is the enormous clump of Oriental 'Bergamo' lilies, there were at least two dozen last summer, anyway, they are all GONE! every last one of them. drasty rodents. The good news is that Doug FINALLY listened to me and took Zicam and his cold magically disappeared in three days. This morning he told me to stop gloating, LOL. Saucy, love Ginger, what a cutie. She looks like a sweetie with a bit of mischief in her. LOL about putting bacon in the boy's pockets. Whatever works right? ~~~ We need to touch bases about getting those hosta leaves here. I'd like to get them painted and think about situating them. No need to worry about the stands at this time. WE can do that later. Sounds like you've got a very full plate these days. Bug, the furnace is running here as well. I can't believe I'm wearing a fleece turtleneck with a sweatshirt the end of May. ~~~ LOL, love those buggy Pj's, so cute and that sweater is great! ~~ I'm the same as you with running at half speed when its so gloomy out. Can't wait to see the sun again. ~~ so cool you checked out Neos and vrieseas, they are so cool! Here is a pic of a few of my Neoregelias The coolest thing about these plants is the ease of culture. They don't need to be watered often, almost no feeding. The Vrieseas grow well in filtered light to light shade and the Neos, depending on the variety grow and color up well with a half day of sun. After they bloom the mother plant dies off in a year or so and the plant throws off multiple pups so you now have replacements at no cost and very little effort. Kathy, you are so lucky you dont' have to deal with the woodchucks. They are so terribly destructive. I wouldn't want to deal with banana slugs though. yukko! looking forward to seeing pics of your new hoyas. Julie, yes, we are going to be on the Garden Conservancy's Open Days in July this summer but we were also on a local garden tour last year. Next year I'm taking the year off from tours. Too much work! OKie Dokie, waving hello to one and all, have a great day and lets all hope for some sunshine and warm temps. Deanne

Hi Rebecca! I love Scabiosa as well, they really add to the cottage garden look! I was going to buy a few the beginning of July, but decided to pass until I see how the current residents fill out next year. The corner I'm trying to fill in is all wild bush at the moment! It's the very corner of my lot, and my little ones use the path that goes through it to get to the bus. It's backed by a tree line, and has a lot of shade except one corner, which gets full sun. I'll put a picture in, of the area :) I have a post on here somewhere asking about larger rose bushes that will do in that specific spot (lots of wind, very cold etc) ...I've been given so many wonderful ideas from members I'm having a hard time choosing now! This is the area :) it goes further along to the left, about 15-20ft Where the small sapling is on the right, is where the single rose bush will go. There's a path in there somewhere as well, although it's not visible from this angle :) The lower hanging branches and smaller saplings along the tree line will be removed in fall, along with all the weeds! (Hahaha) To the back, we're planting Annabelle Hydrangeas, Hosta, Astilbe & Ostrich Fern (there's about 4 hours of light there) Next layer in more light (5hrs) will be low growing catmint, lupine, allium, tulips, daffodils, etc. We're trying to fit in a clematis or two, but I'm not sure where yet :) I need some pinks and reds in there.

Sunnywood- I know you’re enjoying Hawaii... how can you not?! We were there a couple of years ago and I was absolutely entranced by the plant life. I took so many pictures... and thankfully my DH didn’t mind going to botanical gardens with me - fascinating! I doubt you’ll see any hostas there, but you have beautiful hostas to come home to. Well, the alphabet in general, and this thread in particular, is making me realize that I need to get better about taking pictures. I have a bunch that are technically mediums, but no photos (or none worth sharing).

Totoro the green rock I found is in front of the bamboo area where I dug it out. So it is just outside of the root barrier along a pathway near a shed we have. We were blessed with 3 outbuildings in our backyard so I can do house entrance like plantings near each. I'll look for a photo or take one today and update this. The rock works into this in front of a Phyllostachys aureosulcata v. 'Spectabilis'. This is a big yellow timber bamboo with green stripe, and it gets reddish highlights on new growth if it has enough sunlight (mine does). There's a Golden Hops prepared to go on the cedar fence behind to the right and other clematis for the left side. I have about 10 clematis to go along that fence on a series of 4' x 8' trellis running the whole length of a long fence wall in our triangular shaped backyard. It has NNW exposure but full sun pn top at 6'. So I have to pick them carefully. I hsve a Montana 'Elixabeth' and some Alpina and Macrophylla to go there too. It's hard to resist good clematis. A Huldine and Bourbon just came in from Bluestone. Extremely vigorous and well grown and packed. Amazing deal for the price. Fred Meyers has tbe small Clearview starts like mentioned above at Walmart for almost free. Picked up Polish Spirit, Gillian Blades, Elsa Spath and Henryi. They are growing quickly in the 3 weeks I've had them. I've tended to option for combos to get more continuous flowering and to create interest. Mixed same height or compact at the feet of a tall vine which otherwise only flowers from midway up are themes I'm trying. Above are the Bamboo installed in the yard except China won't give me a Panda yet. And the Giant Tropical Bamboo won't grow here. Not wanting a Jack and the Beanstalk like experience my Wife is happy about that. A red example of the var Spectabilis is photo upper right. Besides the beauty and white noise they create they are strategically placed to give neighbors with raised decks or 2nd storey windows something interesting to look at (besides us). A few of these reach 40+'. I'm working through the next 200' of Lewis Bamboo barrier to help tame them as I finish installing them. I love the effect of focused stands in front of the fence with Clematis on the trellis system between. With Golden Vivax as example this is the focused tall stand effect I'm after. And soon after I accomplish this I'll need to be dividing it and moving out clumps to give it growing space. Beauty AND an exersize program. Botanical Zen!