Barbara, thank you so much. I would love to see you and hug your neck again :-) Deb, just look at that beautiful rose. You are doing a great job with your roses. I'm so happy for you. Thank you for the nice words. Hi Kate with the face of an angel and the dancing pugs. I thank you for the birthday wish. Hello to Joe and hug the pugs. Melissa, it is never too late. I wish I could visit your garden some day. In the meantime I will continue enjoying your stories and photo's. Thank you. Kathy, I knew I should have bought that rose.... LA, I remember every step I took in your garden, how warm and wonderful that cup of coffe was, and how fragrant the roses. It was a wonderful day and I wish I could visit again in May, but I doubt Bill will let me run away again so soon. Thank you so much. Maybe you would like to come back to the hot humid south? Love to you too. Bet, watch Suze, she is a sneaky one. Before you know it Alchymist will live in your garden too. I have one because of her, but I can't say that I am sorry. :-) Judith, well I love it, it's a beauty. Carol

Krista I am so sorry. You are the sweetest person, how on earth I missed your day I have no idea, no excuses, I am so sorry. Here are a few of my beauties to soothe my conscience, :), hope they make you smile. James Galaway Moolight Viking Queen If I could record a copy of me singing happy birthday I would, but well, I figure that would ruin your day. :) Happy belated birthday Krista, I hope it was a wonderful time for you. Valerie

Thanks you guys! First thing Sunday morning my mom called to wish me happy birthday. My dad in the background, wanted to let me know that in 5 years I would be 50 and in 10 years I could take early retirement. (Guess I would have to work somewhere where that would apply first). I spent time taking pictures of new irises that just opened and cleaned the house a little since I knew that there were people coming for supper (but I didn't know who). My DH made supper while others who came brought salads and cake. Physically, I felt the best and coughed the least for the first time in 3 weeks. Pneumonia is not fun. I had been sleeping for hours each day and coughing a lot. I had never had pneumonia before and hopefully will never have it again. My DH and daughter and her husband went together and bought me a HP Photosmart printer. But, we can't install it yet because my computer only has 500mb of space left (because of all the GBs of pictures that are on it) and the printer installation uses 425 of memory. Think we need to burn some DVD's of pictures! Does anyone else have this printer? What do you think of it? But my best birthday present came yesterday. Laurie, 2 other friends of ours and myself drove to St. Anne's and visited Eleanor Hutchison who has a Canadian iris display garden in her yard. Over the past few weeks, Eleanor saw irises in my photobucket that she didn't have and I saw irises that she posted on Can-West Iris Society website, that I didn't have, so we traded. Then while we were there I bought some more. So, all in all, I came home with another 20 different kinds of MDBs and SDBs. Eleanor also took us to 4 nurseries in the area and we went to one on our own. Laurie's car was full of plants on the way home. We only arrived home at 9:30 just in time to bring in all the annual pots off the deck and cover the tomatoes and peppers in the garden because of the chance of frost last night.(It didn't freeze here last night, thank goodness) So, some new irises to my collection, that I can remember the names for, are... Pippi Longstocking Ditto Flight Director Flea Circus Blueberry Tart Cee Jay Lemon on Ice Eramosa Miss Forever Violet Chimera Cherry Web Sea Urchin Bugsy Grapelet Brenda

Hope you had a great birthday decobug! I always enjoy your pictures. I visit the gallery often but don't post too much. If I dared, I would spend all day here when there is so much I have to do out in the garden. :o) My roses are soooo late this year, haven't really started yet. My CL Cecile Brunner is just opening. Here's some Old Heirloom Iris