Yellow attracts more insects, including pollinators. Yellow reflects a lot of light rays so more insects are attracted to it. If you notice, the spring rose growth which traditionally has more aphid activity tends to be the more yellow-green. Of course, you'll find the buggers on virtually all colors, but they seem to hit the more yellow ones first. I will NOT wear yellow while gardening because it attracts insects of all types. Sticky traps are most commonly yellow as are fly no pest strips. My theory is that flower and foliage color is most successful in the symbiotic relationship between the plants and insects. Kim

June, thanks so much for your kind words. Because the cold winter still has much of my garden recovering, I kinda went away from my largely foliage theme in my garden this year and started planting color here and there and intensely in some areas. I'm finding it's a little too busy for me, as I prefer a more subtle garden. The BBG confirmed this for me. My favorite areas were the serene, sculpted areas with more foliage, less blooms. I did love the roses and flowers, of course, but was more fascinated and felt more at peace with plainer areas. Sometimes it's nice to have a change, though, and as my foliage recovers, the flowers distract the eye from them! Silvia, I'm glad the photos spurred some good memories for you. It is overwhelming, all the things there are to do and see in New York. However, I would not trade my bit of land for it all! Denise, I know when I was young the gardens would probably not have been on my short list of things to see. Yes, the roses were spectacular. So many types, so much color! Glad you enjoyed the pictures, everyone! Anna

Have you looked at their website? I think they've made a list of what has been in bloom when. So if there are some particular things you'd like to see in bloom, you can see when historically they've bloomed. You really cannot pick a wrong time to visit. Even dead of winter it is beautiful. But why don't you try going in the spring and then maybe, just maybe you can go again in the summer! I can assure you that you are going to want to visit again once you've seen it. And plan to spend a long time at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Four to six hours if you are up to it. There is a lot to take in.

Good reminder, ASUDevil! I was able to leave work a little early yesterday (Friday) to attend the member's only day. I picked up a few fun treasures, including a couple of Bursera species, an Aloe grandidentata, and a new-for-me cactus, Corrycactus melanotricus. Pic below with Wilson the tennis ball, partially obscured, to show size. Fun stuff. I hope lots of folks hit the DBG sale or the BTA sale this weekend. Great stuff. Happy gardening all! Bursera microphylla closer look. Cute little cactus hitchiker in the Bursera fagaroides pot! I'll separate him out some day.