Thank you guys :) ...I really need to get out and weed/clean-up, but my attention is more on my girls right now...They will be leaving in a little over a week to go back to Illinois, so time is precious...My son will be home from Iraq in Dec, so then they will all be together as a family again. Barb...That flower is Cosmos Sweet Dreams. Elizabeth...The Agaves took and the bigger one has put out two little babies around it :) Shawn...That is Coconut Lime ech..I love it. Susan...Glad the daylilies are doing good for you..Want some more??...And ya, I can't wait to get the Miss Anna brug..My daughter, Anna, thinks thats pretty cool. Joyce...I've got lots of the newer Ech's and the only one I've lost is the Tiki Torch...Not sure why...Most of them I've gotten in the last couple years, so we'll see how they grow...So far so good :)

Daniella Only somebody who lives in Jersey is allowed to call it crappy! Having been there many, many times, and having a sister in South Plainfield and a cousin in Cherry Hills, I would certainly disagree. Although the sight of the refineries on the turnpike could use some help! I think that the Heliconia are probably Andromeda. Many years ago, I helped a friend clear out an old garden bed, that was completely overrun with weeds and crappy (there's that word again!) looking plants. There were a few struggling Heliconia scattered about, so I brought home about 10 of them. In the ensuing years, I have, literally, pulled out thousands of them, to keep them under control. A closer look: This spring, I reduced the bed considerably, because it was so much work. I added a taller, clumping variety, that was labeled "Assorted Heliconia". Gotta love HD! Next, I would like to get a Hanging Lobster Claw. Just for the heck of it... Cordyline Red Sister and a Variegated Ginger: Deb, I hope this is not rude of me... to share my garden photos in your thread. I just get carried away. Mahalo, Bob

"Why have girls given up long dresses? They look lovely, BUT I just think that there are so few times in life when they get to get so very dressed up in long dresses and it just seems sad to me that this is over (for now, I guess.)" My daughter got a short dress for several reasons, starting with the fact she had no desire to spend money on something she is NEVER going to wear again! I think that might be true for a lot of girls today. Teenagers dress uber-casually in their daily lives. And sometimes in their dress-up lives; anyone recall the girls' sports team who were photographed with Pres. Bush at the White House wearing their flip-flops?! Anyway my daughter was quite clear. She wanted to get a dress she could wear for other formal occasions. And, she simply didn't see herself or want to be seen as someone wearing a foofy long formal. As she said, it isn't her. We ended up finding literally the perfect dress in the first one she tried on. It is gorgeous, burgundy silk that has spaghetti straps that can be removed to make a strapless effect. She is already planning on wearing it to her graduation family dinner at a nice restaurant, and mentioned it would be perfect for holiday parties too. A full length formal would go into the closet never to be seen again. And for the money, I feel much better knowing she will have a nice formal party dress if she needs one. Ann

Stacy, LOVE these pictures! It looks like they had a great time and got home safe. Sydney is just gorgeous and Cody is a doll too. I think it's kinda funny they had the dance at the Seniors Center! lol Great pictures. Your azaleas are beautiful too. Did they do a Senior Promenade? My boys' was a Jr./Sr. prom and they had the Seniors go across the stage with their date. Then they made all the parents leave so the kids could enjoy their prom. It's such a magical night for these kids. It's so neat to see the girl's dresses and hair. Man, I feel old! lol