Marian...thanks for checking in! We worry about you; you know? So glad the kids were in to visit with your DS and glad the new stoves suits you better. I was thinking the same as Eden, maybe you could move that air conditioner into your bedroom at night, at least sleeping may be a little more comfortable. How has the weather been for you lately? Are all the pots of color on your deck still making you smile? I hope so! :-) Michelle...so sorry about the dry weather I know how disheartening that can be. Hopefully, the rains will find you soon. It is amazing how quickly things will perk up with a little rain (including our spirits)! :-) Its been dry here too, though weve had an occasional rain, enough to keep things going anyway. And we are expecting more later in the week Im keeping good thoughts about that. When I was checking my weather, I looked up the Davenport area and they are suppose to have some rain this week-end...hope they makes it to you. I *loved* your song...brought back great memories for me; back in the 7th & 8th grade when we use to have Coke dances. Back in the innocent days, when a Coke was a sugary fizzy liquid that you would drink. That song was playing and I was waiting and waiting and waiting for a certain boy to ask me to dance, sadly he never did...but I still love the song! :-) Babs! Thanks for sharing your special moment. It sounds like a wonderful time and you are quite eloquent yourself. Dont think Id make it as a writer or a philosopher though, since I had to check for the spelling of eloquent...LOL! Please, Please, Please...share the ant when you guys are done...I cant wait to see him! :-) LOL Babs & Michelle on the PMS. I can say with almost 100% certainty, that I *never* PMS anymore! :-) At my age I just have to call it crabby! :-) Oh Babs...been meaning to say to you...Do you remember when I posted that lavender colored Clematis that Marie identified as Betty Corning? I notice you were saying you wanted a bell-shaped clematis. Well, it is lavender colored and is "bell-shaped" and I have to say that I am loving Betty Corning. This is only the 2nd year and she has just been blooming and blooming and blooming her fool head off, with new buds opening every day. I dont know if thats normal, like I say, I havent had her long, but if she keeps this up she is going to end up being my favorite clematis of all time. BTW, I use to grow the white one you were talking about Sweet Autumn (or whatever they call it these days) and it is a beautiful thing in fall, with tons of fragrant blooms, but you really need a "big space" for it. Pretty enthusiastic and does re-seed. I *loved* mine, but had to finally let her go when she swallowed my honeymoon swing and the telephone pole and seeded herself all over the garden. It was just too hard to keep her in control, but I sure did enjoy her and I sure *do* miss her lovely late summer blooms. Honey...I agree totally...thats "TRUE LOVE"! :-) Eden I sure hope you can make it, you would be sorely missed, but more than that, I hope that your mom has a successful, uneventful recovery and I will be keeping good thoughts. I cant believe your Graham Thomas...what a knockout! I have him, but he sure doesnt look like yours, perhaps its because hes been moved around the garden at least four times...LOL! Hope everyone in your family is on the mend with the bug thats been going around Thanks Mary, you hit the nail on the head! Funny, that is something DH and I talk about all the time, how "things" can never make you happy (although hubby does love a nice car...LOL). But seriously, we have talked about that very subject so many times. How getting caught up in "bigger, better" only steals your "life hours". We have also both agreed that the next house will be smaller and less expensive and DHs goal is to actually take a step back in the career aspect, something with less responsibility and stress and I will find a part time job to fund my gardening hobby...obsession, I mean. I guess that is probably not uncommon for people our age (DH & me) to think in those terms. The older I get, the more I want a simpler life. BTW, good luck with the essay and promotion. I agree with Babs, youre a sure bet. My special moment today was finding 3 vintage gardening books for my BF Anitas birthday coming up. I was able to find A Womans Hardy Garden, The Little Bulbs, and Elizabeths German Garden...all in hardcover 1st or 2nd editions...and very inexpensively, I might add! Im so tickled because I know she is going to be so tickled! She has been looking for those 3 books ever since she read mine years ago. :-) Thanks for the ID on your Eryngium Marie. That Centaurea is so pretty...your poppy too! :-) Oh and that Petit Faucon what a *gorgeous* color! I think Id like to find a place for that in my garden. Moose tracks sounds really yummy about now. Ive been mulching, mulching, mulching (thats why I havent been back here) and I bet I could still use about 20 more bags...sigh. I will say that spreading by the bag is easier than when Ive had the "pile" delivered here, but its probably a bit more expensive too in the long run. Sue...I laughed when you said "Will it never end?" and then Marie said "Hopefully not." I agree with you both! I know I always want to futz in the garden, its my hangout and my respite, but sometimes I think, just *once* it would be so nice to walk into the garden and think "How lovely and there is not a single thing I need to do, but enjoy it!" Hi V! :-) Ive been thinking about you. Glad you had a reward for all your hard work. I love a good cookie too...sometimes they dont even have to be baked! :-) Your talk of Starbucks has convinced me I need to get over there and get myself a Frappuccino. I deserve it after all the mulching! Well, I guess I best be moving, first to Starbucks and then back out to the garden. "Hi" to all I missed. Hope everyone has a great day! TTYL! Ei The Ink Spots - Java Jive I love coffee, I love tea I love the java jive and it loves me Coffee and tea and the java and me A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (boy!) I love java, sweet and hot Whoops Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot Shoot the pot and I'll pour me a shot A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug And I'll cut a rug just snug in a jug Waiter, waiter, percolator I love coffee, I love tea I love the java jive and it loves me Coffee and tea and the java and me A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

Hello ALL, I am so looking forward to meeting you all. I am not the best gardener in the world but I try. I have built a 44 foot diameter labyrinth in my back yard, a wooded lot but still half of it has good sun. I am trying to collect hostasfor the past couple of years to surround the perimeter, but I have a long way to go. So anyone with extra hostas, I can't collect enough of them for this project! I am also looking for day lillies, especially the yellow ones but any color will be helpful. I am also looking for the herbs: costmary, comfrey, Lady's mantle and sweet woodruff I have a very limited perenial garden so I am open to any extras that you might be able to share. What I have to share: the herb southernwood. It is a green feathery like plant. It is suppose to repel insects. I was told to take the greens and wood stems in early spring and put them around my echinecia plants to keep them from being attacked by bugs and it has worked for me! It is not evasive at all. It more or less stays right in the same place you plant it. I make snippings and root them for new plants. So if people are interested please let me know so I know how much to bring. Rose campion. It is has beautiful 18 inch silver grey stem with brilliant scarlet red small blooms. I have to say this plant is beautiful but it will spread seeds and within a few years you will have a lot. The plant isn't evasive per se it just seeds a lot. So I have given it, its own perenial garden so the garden just seeds itself and the wave of red blooms are stunning. I get so many compliments on it. It blooms in summer through fall. It is an old fashion cottage type perenial that would look great in any garden, but if you put it in with other flowers, just take note that you will have to cut the seed head before they are released or you will have to dig up the seedlings the following spring and put them where you want them. Again, if anyone is interested let me know. I don't want to dig up any more than people will take. Egyptian Onion. I love it. It comes out with the chives each spring, You can use it like thick chives or use the small shallot like onions that grow on the top. A pretty plant that is one of the first to welcome spring. I don't know what my spring soups would taste like with out my Eqyptian onions. Chives, I guess everyone knows about them Feverfew. A herb that is also an insect repellent. It grow aboyt 12 to 18 inches with a lot of greenery and beautiful small white Daisey like flowers. This does spread its seed through the yard but I would not call it evasive. When I do see a seedling growing in another part of the yard , I just dig it up and replant it with the rest of the feverfew. They are very beautiful in the summer and last quite a long time. Sun drops. Someone told me they were evening primrose sun drops. I don't know about evening primrose becasue they have bright yellow flowers that bloom during the day. They bloom the same time as the Rose campion and they compliment each other very well, color wise. Of the flowers that I have, I think these are the most evasive and WILL take over your garden if you don't give it its own spot. But they are very pretty. Echinecia. I have a few purple coneflowers that I could share, but I don't have too many of them. Cat Nip. My cats love it. I grow it by my kitchen door so I know where the cats are most o fteh time! Spearmint. Who can live without it! I am looking for pepermint if anyone has it. Purple Siberian Iris Lily of the Vally Red Dahlias I think that is about it I am cleaning out my bookshelves and will try to bring some gardening books. And I will try to get my husband to make apple knubby cake. You can e mail me directly at blaketaylore@yahoo.com if you want any of these plants or have any questions about them. Looking forward to the swap! Blake

Good Morning everyone!:) Just so everyone knows why I keep posting,I am helping Patty out,she has alot going on and has fit this swap into her busy schedule for us,so I offered my help in keeping up with questions and stuff,so she isn't so overwhelmed and can enjoy herself a bit also!:) I received an email that someone was having problems with the links I sent,is anyone else having a problem with them? I tried a few out and had no problems,but I am wondering if anyone else has not been able to access the pages from them.Please let me know.:) Also I am not sure if you guys are aware,but Kate,kms4me is having a funny winter story contest on the conversation side of seed exchange. She has offered up 20 awesome packs of seeds as the prize! Those of you familiar with Kate know she has great seeds,the funniest story walks away with them! So go on over and tell us something funny that has happened to you in the winter months and maybe you will be the lucky duck that gets to grow some of these awesome seeds she is offering! I am including the link! :) Kym...lol...I know what you mean about wanting them all and wanting them now...lol...I cant remember who it was that said seeds are like Pokemon...Got catch 'em all!....but she is soooooo right!:) As of now we are 57 strong!!!!!!!! :D

I will be sending out all the prizes today, so everyone start looking for them in a couple days. Please post here when you have received your prize so I know everyone has received theirs. Winners of the games. Sign up game - Mary Fill in the Blanks - Nicole Sent and received. Dog/Cat - Mary Pet Bingo - Promise Big Wind - Erica 2nd Fill in the Blanks - Nikki Shirley, I'm so happy you were given the ok to walk on your foot. I know some days will be very trying for you, but here is some advice I was given ... Take it one day or one hour or one minute at a time. Keep breathing. If you can, journal about your struggle. Once in a while look back at your journal, sometimes that is the only way to see your true progress. Truly, this advice has worked for me. Beautiful pictures everyone. My garden is in full bloom and I'm loving it! Margo, a wedding in 2 months ... how wonderful! Nikki, keep looking, you will find it. We had a wonderful 4th of July Week. We were at the cottage with friends and family. It was a very FULL week. We had a Birthday, Graduation, and a an Engagement to celebrate and of course the 4th! Our daughter made it in from Boston for a couple of days ... that was the best part! Been missing all of you these last couple of days ... seems so funny after a month of being here everyday. sharon