Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. What a great idea about the centerpieces! How about using succulents? The foliage looks great all year, they're low-water and very low maintenance, they last a long time in pots so if you can't plant them right away they'll be fine, and they come in a dazzling array of sizes and forms. There's a wonderful new book out called "Designing with Succulents" that has tons of photos of these plants in gardens, many of them in San Diego County. Most nurseries carry at least some succulents, and you can buy them in sizes from 2" pots to much larger sizes. You can see two great succulent gardens in San Diego County, too. In El Cajon visit the gorgeous Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College. In Encinitas visit Quail Botanical Gardens and see their Undersea Succulent garden (and other succulent areas as well). Here is a link that might be useful: Quail Botanical Gardens

Joann, i think the main things are it shouldnt be advertised, especially not an insert included with wedding announcement or invitation!! That sounds like 'you are hereby cordially invited to provide us with a gift from Macy's'!! I feel that our society has gotten so greedy and it used to be that you gave a nice gift period, then registries came along but people were reserved about using them, now alot of people it's like they expect to get lots of expensive stuff. I didnt mean to say brides are princesses, i was referring to someone who was wealthy and already had whatever they would need. When i was invited to their wedding, they included an announcement about where to buy their gifts. I was a single mom, and not knowing any better, felt pressured to go run around and spend money on something, while not even having money for some basics myself!! ALso with multiple showers, i think at some point, isnt the honoree responsible to say in good taste 'gosh, thanks soo much, but I already have had one (or two) showers, and just wouldnt feel right about continuing to have showers. I appreciate the offer, though" because while the idea that one can GO to more than one shower for the bride but not bring gifts, well, I suppose ou could..the ones I went to there was always that inference to bring something. If your a millionaire, fine. Having veyr limited finances myself, i felt this put me in a awkward position of either not going, or going empty handed

Tally_Sue, Yes, my typo.we have been very supportive. My older sister who is also being cut off (brother said we aren't "fun enough") went to great trouble to "remeber" nieces when she and her husband were unemployed -- hand making the most amazing dresses and dolls. When asked what happened to these gifts, she once said her mom told her they didn't match "her style" and they gave them away. Similar things were made for my children and I assure you they were priceless. My sister feels that this shower invitation is just to see what they can "get out of us" not a way to draw the family closer. I tend to agree, but will respond -- maybe not as generously as I would for other nieces who have not cut us out of their lives. Now, I have re-read this. However, I have always had a problem finding my own errors -- I read it the way I meant to type it!

I planted 16 Swan Island tubers next to 4 Dahlia Barn tubers and 1 Home Depot tuber - same bed, same conditions, same water/fertilizer. I planted them all on Memorial day weekend. Swan Island ones aren't performing nearly as well, only one of the 16 has flowered here in Illinois. Several are completely stunted (Bride to Be variety both stunted). Meanwhile all the dahlia barn and home depot tubers have flowered. My first time ordering from them and I'm pretty disappointed! Glad to see I'm not the only one.