Chris - So sorry to hear PSM does NOT thrive in the North. Penny - Yes, the rain did cool things down Friday evening. Thanks for your comments about the photos! Mantis - I got Shamrock Spring last spring and it's still in a pot. The plant is still rather wimpy, and my blooms are not in the 7-inch range. They're more like almost 6 inches. I think I got that one from Abundant Daylilies on the Lily Auction. I hope it will do better once I get it in the ground. Val - Chris said PSM did not do well in Michigan. I'm thinking it's tender. Both Ruby Lipstick and W. Little Lamb should be rock solid in the North. Nancy - Glad to hear you got some rain in Kentucky too. My rain guage shows we got just about an inch. Maryl - None of three has a white background. Westbourne Little Lamb's petal color is light yellow. PSM has a light peach petal color, and Ruby Lipstick's petal's are ivory. In very hot temperatures, Ruby Lipstick's petals look white here. When nights are cool, the petals look more cream. Debra

Perhaps it's by the same person who made the photo of the cat?

I think that it more closely resembles Clathrus columnatus, which is just one of the many fungal organisms commonly called stinkhorn mushrooms. Because they smell so horrible, I would remove and dispose of them, even though they are not the least bit harmful. Some reports state that these are even edible! Stinkhorns feed on organic debris in the soil or on the surface....like mulch.

Inside "our" greenhouse the roses at the church were just a beginning. Dozens of roses per place setting. I wonder if the roses were South African or eastern Africa grown. For the big flower show, don't the British have to force roses for the show? So I wonder where the roses (and peonies) came from.