The Man for reds = David Kirchhoff! And, no, I don't even have any of his yet. But I've seen BETTY FORD and others in my nearby AHS display garden, and they are stunners. I also second floota on POINT OF VIEW, a Sanford Roberts. One of my top favs in my garden this year. LARGE and BRIGHT. Stunner. The always and deservedly popular RUBY SPIDER. I'm in love with this one. An older, very good red: POINCIANA REGAL. Good, good doer, dormant, I really like this one. I saw HOLLY DANCER, which gonegardening mentioned, at clump strength in a region 3 summer meeting tour garden....one word = WOW! One that was also a clump strength wowser, and that I have and can vouch for is the newer and still pricy RED SALLY, a Gossard beauty. Sunfast! (gonegardening & floota -- that was the eyecatching Gossard red in the Bange garden, wasn't it??? I forgot to write the name down.) Yet another fab one at clump strength and, coincidentally, in the same tour garden as the two above, is Pat Cochenour's MYSTIC PIZZA....now that I think about it, I think you "need" that one! Clump strength wowser but sounds like it'd be too short for what you want: REGENCY DANDY. In fact, that one and another you should look at, ROCKET BOOSTER, a Santa Lucia, tied for first place as best red. One that I got yesterday at the club event and so can't say much about is ROYAL GUARDSMAN, a John Benz red. But I've never seen a Benz intro I haven't loved, and this one's registered as having 35 buds on 4 branches. If I were to go through the little notebook I carry to gardens, I could list WAY too many reds. But say the word, and I'll do it. :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I received my wonderful package from Margo. The author was Fern Michaels and the book is The Nosy Neighbor. It sounds like exactly my kind of book! I just finished a Fern Michael's book called Christmas at Timberwoods. It's good if anyone is looking for a Christmas suspense story. I have only read a few of her books and not the one Margo sent. I got up with a very sore back today so it sounds like a good day to read. Margo also sent some seeds, a card, a bookmark with information about hummingbirds, a notepad with my initial, a pretty bracelet that she made, and a pop up vase with a greeting card. Thanks so much, Margo! Here's where we are with our swap. Mellen posted and I'm sure her swap will be received soon. hazelnutbunny: Sent (Mellen has received it.) mellen: flowergirl34: Sent (Rose has received it.) smitties: Sent (Jeanne has received it.) sandlapper_rose: Sent (Melissa has received it.) I had lots of fun with this swap and hope all who joined in did as well. Jeanne

Color could fix all the ills you've listed -- fer sure. The actual building is not that bad, in fact it could be kind of fun. It's on the beach and light yellow might not be your only color option. The cost of paint isn't based on color; a predictable light yellow will cost the same as something a lot more fun. Vinyl siding can absolutely be painted. Good news is that yours is blue so you have more options. If you paint vinyl siding you are restricted to using a paint color that is exactly equal or less than the current color's LRV. Light Reflectance Value. Manufacturers of exterior products like garage doors, entry doors, shutters, decorative elements will list in their documentation with the product the LRV specifications. Use a paint color that pushes that LRV spec and you lose all warranties. So painting vinyl does come with some rules, but like most things in color there is a way to bend the rule. Sherwin Williams has a product specifically for painting vinyl siding and the way the color is crafted gives you a broader range of color choices. It's called VinylSafe and it allows you to paint darker colors on vinyl siding without worrying about warping or buckling. Can only get VinylSafe colors mixed in exterior bases, not interior. The stucco probably had color mixed in. That's a good thing but it's not a forever thing. Even stucco with the color mixed in eventually will need attention, not sure I'd call it maintainence free. If it's a matter of making the facade appealing to renters so you get revenue, then the convenience of built-in stucco color isn't really doing much for ya. Just 'cuz you don't have to paint it doesn't mean people want to live it. Painting that brick is a really good idea, IMO. So, yeah, the disjointed materials and the disparate color scheme is a problem. But painting everything the same light yellow isn't necessarily the right solution --- or maybe I should say the most *inviting* solution you could come up with to give it more curb appeal. Not sure if you were thinking along the lines of painting everything light yellow or not. I do think you have some significant color design opportunities.

gorbelly Yep, they're my grandfather's plants from that other thread. Who would've thought that that sickly seedling on the brink of death would have gone on to become a thriving (regardless of its current issues) monster in the making. Maybe 'thriving' is a relative term in this case, but it's certainly come quite a long way. I've found a space outside where I can grow maybe 2. My friend doesn't know if she'll be staying where she currently lives or if she'll be moving, but she expressed a willingness to take some plants if she ends up staying. But, even if she doesn't, I'll be able to get a couple in the ground. You asked where I am: 6B (southwestern Pennsylvania) stevie Thank you for posting that picture. Goodness gracious... looks like I should hold off on clipping suckers for a while, otherwise I'm just going to end up with the same problem!