Barcello

Laura, right on! You can come play in my garden any time!
I'm very impressed.

I love this photo, and would love it on my desktop as background. I, too, have a northern (but not as far north as you) part-shade garden and miss the hostas when they go, although first to go is my little sumac tree with its ferny yellow leaves. But yesterday I picked a full blown, fragrant Gionno rose, and a yellow Graham Thomas. Amazing, amidst all the dying.

I am in much grander company here than I ought to be! But I want to sing about three hellebores which I planted last summer, in front of my northwest facing house (shade, you see). First up to bloom was in Feb, through an ice covering. I couldn't believe my eyes, lovely rosy, sweet thing. Next up was later, and white (no latin descriptives, sorry) and last a deep, deep purple. This summer they've leafed out beautifully, so looking forward to more miracles this winter. Also, my neighbor thought the tuberous rooted begonias in the pots on my doorstep were artificial!

I "lost" six of the nine tomato plats I put in. Survivors were Marglobe, Rutgers and Red Rose. I too have had luck with San Marzanos but not this year. Very wet spring.