Hi Everyone, I was at Home Depot in Orillia and they have clematis' on for $5.00! Some where combinations of 2-3 small clemtatis' plants together so you have blooms at different times in the summer. Some were not combinations and marked with their names. Regardless, I picked up 4! Where else can you get 4 clematis plants for $20 bucks! Canadian Tire in Lindsay had them on sale for $6.99 last week, but they go back up to their regular price of $9.99. Anyone seen the following on sale or for a good price: "Endless Summer" Hydrangea Echinacea "Double Decker" (a.k.a. Doppelganger) & ÂRazzmatazz Semi-Dwarf Nectarines "Fantasia"

Hello again all, Wow!! Thanks so much for the trades everyone! Please double check that I've got the details right from all the posts: Gardeng8 I'm looking forward to your: monkshood, Karl Forster grass, obsidian heuchera, ws siberian wallflower and Yvonne's salvia (any chance that you could find more to trade so I could get a 2nd or 3rd one? I'm getting some from Jeff too, but if possible I'd like to have enough to put some in my front yard too to give the other hummer in the neighbourhood somewhere to drink (she gets chased off by my regular gal), I'd give up the heuchera for that :-). I have you down for my: dark blue agastache, Hummingbird red nicotiana, sweet william pinochio, and hot pink cranesbill geranium. greylady-gardener/lois: I'm excited about the virginia bluebell and honeysuckle vine, do you have any more of the: short (approx one foot) iris-plain yellow. I have the following set aside for you: spiderwort navaho princess, sweet william pinnochio, gaillardia burgundy, agastache Heather Queen signet/heather: I have us down as trading your: mini purple iris, unknown name red lily, yellow canna, and hopefully you still have some of the medium height dark purple iris or if not some of the brunnera 'Jack Frost'- if you have more of it, for my: cuphea Starlet, rue, burgundy leaved coral bells, French tarragon, Hummingbird red nicotiana rosco_P: I have us down for trading your monkshood and kerria for my: sundrops, Lorraine sunshine. Is there anything else in my list that you would like in exchange for a 2 or 3 cardinal climbers? flowergirl_on/Merja: Thanks for the trade of your:tall white phlox, leopard's bane, white peachleaved bellflower, aster tongolensis star of wartburg, and white datura for my: lavatera Mont Blanc, giant snapdragons - chunks, cerinthe major, Monet's Choice orange cosmos, and Hummingbird red nicotiana nyssaman Jeff - Thanks for setting aside a couple of Yvonne's salvia for me I don't know what gives with my germination of these, the salvia coccinea pretty much all germinated in the same conditions !? I've set aside a couple of the cerinthe major for you, I got the seeds on a trade as a darker blue than the usual one. frogged: Yes I do have Signet Lemon marigolds - they are supposed to be pretty bushy with single yellow flowers I'll set some aside for your yellow iris barb from london: Welcome back! On the off chance that there is something of interest on my list I'd love some of your: dwarf purple iris - possibly darth vader. Mom of Three: I'd love some of your manure if there is any left, yellow daylilies, sunflower Carol - 3 if possible, or pink ground phlox if you have another division, for my: dark purple columbine, gaillardia blanket flower, hot pink climbing rose, groundcover sedum Dragon's blood, Hummingbird Red nicotiana, and some rose of Sharon. Bev_W: Do you have any Red cypress vine Ipomoea quamoclit (seedlings in 3" pots) left? I spring sowed them but they succumbed to something... I'd love 2 or 3 if possible, if not I'd like some Verbena (blue, perennial, ground-cover type, gorgeous) or Phlox paniculata (seedling of 'David") or either: Penstemon whippleanus "Chocolate Drop", Penstemon smallii "Violet Dusk" I have a bunch of white cleome and 2 cuphea starlet set aside for you, does anything else of mine tempt you? Thanks to everyone for the great trades! It's like Christmas to me to get such wonderful stuff. Cheers, Heather/Blueiris3

Fortunately last sat's weather was great since a neighbor threw a pig roast with a wonderful bluegrass band. I enjoyed inspecting her new garden esp the whimsies and the birds visiting her feeders. We took our feeders in April 1 due to bears. I weeded in the morning because the pigweed in one veggie patch is way ahead of me. Sunday was drizzly so I wrapped my head in a scarf, turned the compost and weeded some more. Plants from swap at Annie's are still alive but not planted. (was away for a week) We're headed to Maine and Camden's House and Garden tour on July 16. Discussed with DH cleaning out a shady spot next to a tiny brook. Stood on location of future porch. Ogled newly cleared spot on north side of rickety old barn. DH had cleaned out years of debris and weeds. Good thick stand of ferns along the barn but plenty of room for other things. Need to research. Have to weed new area between garage and barn, part shade garden. DH built steps down steep slope and top half is terraced with stone, planted ... and needs weeding. Yellow climbing nasturtiums are beginning to think about climbing part of an old apple picking ladder tacked to the barn. DH did not know value of antique ladder before he cut it in half. Top half is in a sunnier location next to the door waiting for scarlet runner bean to climb. Almost there. White and pink impatiens in old wash tub next to granite step and rhody beginning to look good. A terra cotta planter needs to be planted. An assortment of potted plants, mostly scented geraniums are still by the kitchen porch so DH could water them (ha!) while I was away. Plucked 3 stems of variegated ivy to put in small green bottles in kitchen window over the sink. Put tomato cages on and swore that next year I would put them on SOONER. Harvested some lettuce, sugar snap peas and giant mustard. DH did not care for mustard greens stir fry but I thought it was yummy. Nobody cared for last night's yellow split pea and mustard green soup so I'll have it for lunch today and the next day and ... Harvested garlic scapes in mid-June. Made wonderful hummus. Thrilled to see volunteer pot marigolds/calendula blooming in the tomato patch. DH helped me build a bean teepee for yard long beans. Planted beans. Flunked rustic weaving. Next year need longer branches and need to use while still supple. Trying to decide if I should prune the bush planted last summer. It has about 5 branches that around getting much taller than all the others. Admired planter containing flowering lemon thyme and lemon verbena. Made note to self that I need to start taking some pictures. Surveyed holding bed from 2007 frantic move. Trying to keep a good record of what's in bloom, what color, when for future landscaping around future porch. Picked mint for spiced zucchini couscous. Looking forward to having our own zucchini. DIL brought over a gorgeous concrete leaf bird bath she made from a huge rhubarb leaf. Her aunt taught her. It still needs to be water-sealed and needs a place of honor in the garden. I missed her Wed night get together to make more bird baths with squash leaves. Despite the rain, a big huge feeling of contentment fills my chest when I spend a few moments in the garden or just looking from the porch. But time is passing so quickly. Massive renovations to first floor of house are completed. DH is taking care of heavy outdoor work. We have plenty of sun but not a lilac or rose planted yet.

My first wish is for a wonderful, loving and safe holiday season for everyone. This is a first for me and it sounds like so much fun. My thanks to all who participate and especially to the Secret Santa Swap hostess, Kym, who obviously donates many hours to make this all happen. Here is my wish list and I thank everyone who takes the time to read it. Happy gardening next spring and a very Merry Christmas to all ... Mary Nepeta fassennii - 'Walker's Low' Catmint Rosemary - Rosmarinus angustifolia 'Pine Scented' Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe' - Joe Pye Weed Rudbeckia triloba - Three-lobed Coneflower Orlaya grandiflora - White Lace Flower Clasping Coneflower Artemisia Pentas Heuchera / Coral Bells Silene laciniata- Jack Flash Silene virginica - Fire Pink Forget-me-not Chasmanthium latifolium - 'Northern Sea Oats' ornamental grass Dutchman's pipe vine Wooly thyme Bacopa Alyssum - Basket of Gold (perennial) Bee Balm / Monarda - Jacob Cline Phlox Mexican Hat Daisy - Crazy Daisy Lettuce - Oakleaf or looseleaf variety Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'