I am late to the party here, but Woody came up with the great idea to meet in the RBG. I had been in the renovated rock garden once, shortly after it opened, and at that time it had a lot of maturing to do. This time is was just perfect, the perennials had filled in nicely, while the old bones of mature trees and rock formations are still there. I didn't take any pictures, but Woody shows one of my favourite groupings: the Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' under the river birch. 'Honorine Jobert' would be on my short-list of favourite perennials. Hard to beat that elegance in pure white and clear yellow. Mine is still blooming today, proving that we have not had a frost yet above ground level. It instantly turns to dirty brown at the first touch of frost on the blooms. To improvise on Henry Wadsworth: in a good year it is very, very good, but in a bad year it turns horrid ;-). I am looking forward to seeing the early spring bulbs in April! Coming, Woody?

I am a huge fan of Munstead Wood and grow two of them. In fact, Munstead is my favorite Austin and takes heat and cold like a trouper, blooming continuously every month from May to November. Last summer was our hottest on record and it does get hot here, as well as dry semi arid desert, zone 7). Diane Munstead in June Munstead in July Munstead in August September

Thanks. I know people HATE deer in their gardens, but since we live so close to downtown (they walk down the sidewalk & cross in the crosswalks to get here - I have seen them), we only usually see one at a time, and we have so much greenery I don't mind the nibbling. The doe eats the new shoots of English ivy, so my DH does not have to mow it. She also mows the oxalis into a neat carpet, so it does not shade out other plants. When the fawns get big enough, the does usually take them away to somewhere else. Since we moved here 30 years ago, we have had 1 or 2 fawns born on our (1/3rd acre) property every other year or so. The does hide them in the undergrowth, and then visit them only at feeding time. My DH was very startled right after these 2 were born - they were so tiny they fit under the top of the ivy in an overgrown part of our property (near his car), and they popped out of cover right in front of him one day when he unsuspectingly disturbed them. Jackie

Ain't it purty? lol. It was one of my favorites, but I lost it to RRD. For most of my roses, I plant at least two, in different locations. But I never got around to getting a backup of DL...and now she's gone forever. Take good care of yours so I can enjoy her vicariously ;)