If I order any seedlings, Pam, I'll check out the Indian Mound Nursery - it's gotten rave reviews! Like I said, I don't understand why the pink and/or red-flowering dogwoods don't grow down here, but I must not be the only one who's had trouble with them, because Amy said that there was "finally" one for the South, which means Deep South. About 15 years ago when we made a trip through Tennessee, I was suprised to see sourwood growing right out in the open. Down here it's an understory tree only. The hurricane opened up the area around one of mine, and it's been dying back some each summer. Sourwood only blooms down here on the branches that get some sunlight, though, which is usually on the outer branches of trees at the edge of the woods. It's a very different tree than the ones I see in Tennessee. I don't understand this either, because it gets just as hot in TN in summer as it does here - the only thing that I can figure out is that maybe the sun's rays are a lot stronger here. I got the worst sunburn of my life in Acapulco in 1964 - it never occurred to me that the sun on an Acapulco beach would be any worse than the sun on the MS Gulf Coast - HA!! If you haven't planted any mag grands, you should do so. People post about their difficulties in growing them on this forum - for me, they come up everywhere and grow like weeds. There's one that's about ?25 tall off the northeast corner of my house that was a seedling just a few years ago. It's close to the hose, so I'd water it in dry spells in the summer, and it's grown even faster than normal. Of course, when they get big, their growth rate slows down. Also, they're THE best in hurricane winds! Carpinus caroliniana and acer floridanum have grown very fast for me, as has nyssa aquatica, which is sitting in a pool of water in a sunny area in the bottom of the hollow right now - it should be happy. Nyssa sylvatica grows pretty fast here, too - there's a pretty big one by my detached garage that was real small when we moved here in 1997. If I think of anything else, I'll add it later. Sherry

I don't know if Chinas and Noisettes grow as far north as you seem to be, but my Louis Philippe, Ducher, Spice, Champney's Pink Cluster, Old Blush, Prosperity also my Kordes and Drift roses all survived last summer with no BS, no Chili-thrips, and no Canker...which killed off most of my HTs and Modern roses.... I am getting more Drift and Kordes, and also Biltmore roses, to see how resistant they are.....seems the newer roses are being bred better than some of the older ones....sally

I've tried both Clemson Spineless and and Emerald Dwarf Hybrid two summers in a row and both produced well and tasted great. I admit I can't resist good old breaded and deep-fried okra, but for a while there I was trying the Weight-Watcher's approved "oven-fry" recipe, and that turns out pretty well too. You cut the okra up, dunk into some beaten egg whites, then bread it with your choice of "approved" crumbs. We tried mixing crushed Fiber One cereal,cornmeal, and some Cajun seasoning - that was pretty darn good, as I recall. (You can do the same method for "diet" onion rings) Then you spread the okra out on a baking sheet, spritz it with Pam cooking spray and roast it at 450 until it looks brown and crunchy. I don't know if okra has any vitamins in it, but you definitely get points for fiber: and it's addictively crunchy and yummy, so it helps when you're craving that whole greasy-salty-junkfood corner of the food pyramid! Dang, now you guys have me craving some okra: hurry up, summertime!

Oh no SoFl, I bought Sugar Moon on your recommendation and from smelling it in your garden..... I tried it and I liked it so much that I bought another one. Both of them are staying healthy. I really don't understand why some of the ones that do well here don't necessary do well for you and vice versa.... Maybe it is my salt air or something. I think you said you got rid of Regatta, IT is probably one of my best performers. However, I thought I killed it. Someone told me we should cut back to a third, I think I must have misunderstood and it was to be cut back only a third. For the longest time it was touch and go but it pulled through. Even in this heat it is looking good, no chilli thrips. When it blooms it blooms!!! Another one that I have that is healthy (from disease) is Outta the Blue. However, it does get spider mites If I keep washing it off it is also a big bloomer for me. I also have Dark Desire that is happy - no disease or insects. However, it is super super thorny and not a favorite in the garden. Believe it or not it is an own root . I do love the flowers in a vase if I feel like being attacked by her. I always feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and the apple tree scene. Another one that I would claim that is pretty happy here in Florida is Distant Drums. She too is an own root. I figure it they do own root well here in Florida, it must be a toughie.