These two pictures represent my "silly girl" plant purchase for 2006 (this is usually an annual occurrance). The bottom picture was in the Dutch Gardens catalog, listed as "Fantasy Monarda"...they also said it was "new". This statement, however, WAS the "fantasy"...turns out this plant is also known as "horsemint", and is a wildflower in many areas, as in the other illustration from a wildflower web page. (though not actually a mint). Now, to Dutch Garden's credit, they DID give the scientific name, "monarda punctata"...and had I done my homework, I could have made this discovery prior to purchase. But all I saw was "new", and I had a credit to use, so I thought "what the heck". I DO like the plant, although the pinky-purple portions aren't as colorful as either picture shows (may just be conditions at my house). But I feel a tad "duped"...and will do a lookup on ask.com from now on when I seek a shiny, new plant. This way, I can be sure of what I'm getting, and often find a better price...3 cheers for the internet!

This is kinda "old news", but I wanted to share the fun I had 2 years ago...one of the "3 bears" paid a visit to my birdfeeder! He liked it so much, he came back three times-I'm just happy he didn't try to get in the house! I suspect it was the oranges/grape jelly I had out for the orioles that drew him in, but as you can see from the toothmarks, he wanted at the sunflower seed, too. Good size mouth on that bear, judging from the distance between top and bottom toothmarks (he bit the feeder sideways). Later that fall, somebody shot a new state record bruin-660 lbs.! They got that one @ 10 miles away from my place...not real comforting to know that we grow them that big up here!

Okay...what's going on here? The picture on the top is the first flower from this daylily...looks like a starfish! Then the 2nd flower is normal...weird! Anybody know what causes this? One of my orange daylilies that bloomed double last year came out all single this year, also. Is it something in the flower bud? The roots? The stems? Gremlins? Fairies? Gnomes? I am stumped!

BOILING SKY-this was the scene at my house 2 nights ago...the news said there was "rotation", so I had to see for myself...yep, rotation all right! And although I know how dangerous it is to be outside during a storm like this, there I was...only the dangerous lightning made me go in. The clouds were coming downward toward me, and it just looked too cool....luckily no damage at my house. The biggest upshot was the much-needed rain-over 5" in the last 3 days...hooray! I was SOOO tired of watering!

This odd-looking flower was labled as an annual at the greenhouse where I bought it, but no other info...I think "Spoontunia" might be appropriate!