People ask me how I remember the names of all my plants. I tell them, when I was teaching, I was expected to learn the names of all my students within the first few weeks, and I only saw each student for 45 minutes a day. Every 18 weeks, I had a whole new group to learn. I've been gardening in this yard for 9 years now, and I only have to add maybe 30 new names each year, so it's simple! And, as with students, as I walk around the yard, I DO talk to them, and address them by name. Plus...they all have nametags. And they don't change seats. What interests me most is the parentage of each, and noticing which traits are shared with the parents. Referring to the plants there..

The latin names on my perennials make sense, so those are easy to remember. What drives me crazy is common names. I don't even try on those.
Neal, I have a Chionanthus tree (Chinese fringetree) blooming right now that is calling me to shake my hair in its branches. I have giant alliums planted next to it, so it definitely is a place where I stop to fondle the plants!

And its so beautiful! I was admiring a Chinese fringe tree a couple of days ago at a garden center in Lexington. Definitely one I have to run my fingers through!

'Petting Plants' they are the ones I like to run my palm over just for the smell - most herbs! I just love Lemon Thyme. I don't try that with the roses though - could be rather prickly! Oh but the blooms like the velvety Black Baccara is one I just have to run my finger over!

Cindi - that Chionanthus is gorgeous. You are right about using the latin names though. Living here in Switzerland, I had to learn all the German common names. It is ok if you go to a nursery, they know the latin names, but if you are talking to your neighbours it is a bit more difficult. For instance, the Chionanthus, directly translated from German, is known as the Snowflake bush. A Viola (Pansy) is known as 'little mother-in-law' and Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) as 'Lion mouths'.

Yesterday, I was in the Aldi and walked past their cut roses all marked down 50% and this bunch caught my eye - they seldom have mauves. I just couldn't resist.


There were some really great looking bud eyes so I took some and grafted them onto root stock. It is really quite early but the bark slipped nicely. Will see in about two/three weeks if they have taken - hope so because I love the colour.

New sale at Brecks. 5/$20.
1 Cinco de Mayo™ Floribunda Rose
• 1 Twighlight Zone Grandiflora Rose
• 1 Downton Abbey® Anna's Promise® Grandiflora Rose
• 1 Downton Abbey® Pretty Lady Rose™ Hybrid Tea
• 1 Sheila's Perfume Floribunda Rose - See more at: http://www.brecks.com/product/...

My five from Breck's arrived this morning: Take It Easy, Happy Go Lucky, Melody Parfumee, Miss All-American Beauty, and Pumpkin Patch. I already have the last three, but am I complaining? No! These are grafted roses for $4 each.

Oh Cindi...I can relate. Love that you said they don't change seats .

Uggg....I am so impatient for my order to come!!!

I think I'll pass on the latest set from Breck's. I already have all of them except for Pretty Lady Rose, and it doesn't appeal to me that much. It's the only Downton Abbey rose I haven't bought.

My set should arrive tomorrow, and if I get the five Zuzu got, I'll be super happy!
ZaZinnia, you cost me money!! I not only ordered the five listed today, but added the heuchera pack, the mystery hostas, and the hardy geranium group. I had an email saying take 25 off 50, etc, so I rationalized that spending more saved me money.
I lost my Sheila's Perfume to RRD a few years ago, and it was on the list to find this year. I have the others, and Zuzu, you may want to look again at Pretty Lady. I got it last year, and this year, the first bloom was HUGE! It was every bit as big as Gentle Giant, but had a perfect form. The color is a pure deep pink. This is a whopper of a blackspotting year, and Pretty Lady is Clean. I cut out a couple of Blushing Knock Outs last year to make room for her, and it looks like they came back from pieces of root. Maybe I'll dig them and relocate them to the pond bank since they're so tough. One is probably a Rainbow Knock Out that I have killed off a few times.
I dug out 2 more Hueys today, but I saved them. I'm going to practice bud grafting using the Hueys. Plants are at the perfect stage for taking cuttings to root, but my success rate at rooting is so dismal, I don't know if I'll even try this year. Until I get some weeds cleared, I don't know where anything would go anyway!

I'm still considering it, Cindi. I also have one of those $25-off coupons, which essentially would bring the price of each rose down to $2. I'm just bored with solid-colored roses, and with deep-pink roses, and I just planted another one (Miss All-American Beauty) today, but I guess I can overcome my boredom with solid-colored deep-pink roses for $2!

As usual, I was able to rationalize a rose purchase. I used the $25-off coupon and ordered the 5 roses in the collection, a Barbra Streisand rose, and a hanging basket begonia collection. Everything, including postage, came to $40.92. What a joke!

These prices are coming down at a rapid clip. I was going to buy Barbra Streisand a few hours ago, when it was $17.99, but I removed it from my cart an hour ago. Now I just bought it for $12.99 (or $6.50 because of my coupon).

I too am always able to rationalize buying roses! One visit to my hairdresser more than covers your order. Leave the hair - buy the roses

Sound like a good deal Zuzu - lucky you waited!

Hey Neal - you up already? What time is it there? Raining cats and dogs here - no chance of gardening today

Oh yeah, I'm an early bird- usually up way before I'd like to be. 8:03 a.m. now, I'm usually up before 7.

Looks beautiful outside this morning here, blue sky and sunshine as of now. We've been having daily rains and thunderstorms, but the forecast says the next wave will be here tonight.

I'm very tempted by the Breck's offer. Hard to resist a deal like that!

OK, so time difference 5.5hrs +/-. Early bird myself - usually up around 5 - was in the office at 6 and got home at 12.30.
Just reduced my working hours from May 1, only working 60% now which means I get to spend the afternoons in the garden. weather permitting! We have had 86mm (3.4inches?) in the last 24hrs and they are predicting another 100mm by tomorrow evening. Had quite a strong wind last night which blew over a couple of my potted standards! Luckily no damage to the plants, just shook them up a bit and messed a little soil.
To tell you the truth I wouldn't mind rain every day for an hour or so but this non-stop continuous rain gets me down. It's grey and has cooled down quite a bit - only 50F compare to the 75F we had on Tuesday! Hope Sunday is better - the rain should let up.

Enjoy the sunny weather and as far as the Breck's offer is concerned - if it makes you happy don't resist!!!

Not sure if it makes me happy or just feeds an addiction, but I was unable to resist.
I could not find any real people reviews of Sunshine Happy Trails, but I have an area along the street that needs brightening up, so I ordered 6 of those. I hope they stay low and spread. There's a lot of yellow and purple flowers in that area, and yucca, mums, grasses, and yellow iris in spring.
My mother was admiring my Bulls Eye and Easy Does It, so I ordered those for her. Initially, I thought I wanted to replace my Veterans Honor, Barbra and Liz Taylor, but logic and restraint kicked in, and I decided I didn't need to add any more high maintenance HTs. Other than Smokin Hot, that is. Not sure how I killed my first one. I'm hoping the blooms are a decent color in the heat. Mine didn't live long enough to find out. Some people report they transition to a muddy color as they fade, so I'm wondering if they need a bit of afternoon shade? Has anyone seen this under hot dry conditions? Wish I knew what I am doing wrong with Veterans Honor, since I've killed a record number of that one. Smokin Hot will get its spot on the red row.
Sunny, we're expecting more storms this weekend too. My poor plants look so tattered from the wind and hail. I am truly grateful and surprised that I have not seen insects other than loads of ladybugs. I think the frogs and beneficials are working hard!

Bulls Eye looks wonderful. Does it do good for you? If I order the special, I may add that and maybe Candy Land.

When I get home, I'll post pictures of both of those. They are both excellent!
Happy camper here..mine came and I got the same bunch Zuzu got. They are in terrific shape, even after a week in transit.

I was a super hunter of them last year too! Removed any buds that had been damaged before it got any chance to fall to the ground too.

zuzu said:My five from Breck's arrived this morning: Take It Easy, Happy Go Lucky, Melody Parfumee, Miss All-American Beauty, and Pumpkin Patch. I already have the last three, but am I complaining? No! These are grafted roses for $4 each.

My collection exactly! I am very pleased. The roses arrived in good shape and are really nice sized!