The SFA sale was so much fun! As usual, I bought way more than I intended to, but they have so many unusual things there you cant get at most nurseries. They had only 5 House Eaters and I got one! Also got an Enchantress, an own root Nacogdoches, a found rose by Gregg Grant, Big Momma's Musk, among other things like lavender salvia greggii, a couple of young dogwoods [going to try yet again to get these things o live!], 3 kinds of phlox, 3 Phlox Pink native azaleas, blue Baptista, several different kinds of tomatoes trialed by Texas A&M, Chinese fringe trees, Clematis Sugar-Sweet Blue and Stars & Stripes Pentas. As is that wasn't enough, went to Cook's Nursery - got lady banksia for a fenceline, Chrysler Imperial and Pink Peace and some annuals to go in big pots. Suffice it to say - I was a glutton! What fun we had - then ate at Clear Springs, so finished off my gluttonous day with a great meal. Today - I am planting! Hope some of you might have gotten to the sale - they had a reggae band playing, lots of people and beautiful plants. They have a fall sale around the first of October with more great plants. I have a question about the Flores St. House Eater - does it bloom all year or just once? Mine is in bad need of repotting out of its gallon pot - going to leave it in a pot until I figure out a good place to put it.

Hi Kathy, Just thought I would send a shout out too! I have to work that day, but will leave at about noon and be there about 12:30. I know I have invited more than a dozen people myself, but who knows who will attend. I moved everything up close to the house and my guess is I have at least 40 plants to bring. (that is why I would sure love to have some more pots from someone). I am also working on printing out pictures of all of the plants. It will make it easier for people to see how that little plant will take over your garden in some cases :). I don't want to bring ONE of those plants back with me. So people who don't have much to share or anything, please attend. I am also willing to dig up more from the garden if I am so luck as to run out of some of the stuff that I am bringing. Kathy, thanks so much for putting this together for us! Teri

Still nothing in the ground yet--what dismal weather. Lots of pros and cons to weigh here, like "how much water is this sucker going to need?" Many of the recs don't seem to be locally available, and I don't have the patience to start from seed. Tentatively, I have in mind to put a Philippine violet in the far left corner, then flank it with plumbago. A cigar plant, maybe, in the near left corner. Then, a border of Mexican heather across the front (I know they're hit or miss on coming back.) A couple of blue and black salvias (black and blue? whatever) in the far right corner. (I'm still undecided on these--an 'old hand' told me today they don't bloom well here.) A couple of cedar salvias along the right border. Inside this perimeter, an oblong configuration of pavers. Inside the oblong, butterfly iris on one side (I have a huge clump that needs dividing) and on the other a betony. I'm totally stumpted on the near right corner, and finishing the right side. Has anyone tried these perennial geraniums? Frustrating, how disappointing some things can be close up and personal, when they looked so seductive in photos.

Patty dear, there were only enough rainlilies for me. I think they're pink. Okay, actually, there are lots & I'll set ya some aside when I plant them. He says they grow like crazy. Keep an eye on that Matthew guy--he's got some amazing stuff. He likes roses & citrus & natives. Ditto on the salvias. I have another incredible looking one from Tash (Lovesblooms) that you, et. al., need--S. clarea turkestanica, I think. Grows up to a really majestic size with an astonishing bloom stalk. Threw lots of babies that are coming up now. Meant to dig a bunch but these past couple of months got ridiculously busy & I barely even made it to bring what I'd promised. Thank you for the tip re. washing the blinds first. I don't recall for sure, but I likely stuck that oxalis in with some stuff I took to Ragna's house last time--asked for or not--you know I do that sort of thing. I will see that you get some fer sure, because it's obviously so necessary to your happiness. I didn't think a person could kill oxalis, but I've done very well with that beautiful thing & am ashamed. I see a couple of pitiful leaves poking up, though, so there's hope.