I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, Janie, meaning I was intimately familiar with plants that need shade. That's what much of gardening in the PNW is all about. There are marvelous things you'll be able to plant now that you couldn't consider before. Think orchids and salal and trillium and Oregon grape and pipsissewa and blueberries and oh, just tons of moist, shady plants. (If you can muster the moisture).

Meanwhile, is there someplace where you can donate those plants that came from friends? The gardener down the road, perhaps? Or can she recommend someone?

Kat, sounds like you've laid the groundwork for a nice display this year! Don't rest on your laurels, keep adding those bits and it just gets better every year!

Bobert, I still have that second disk to go through and put up on the Mudcat Gardeners page. And Janie, you need to start yourself a page over there. It's quite easy. Kat as well.

Off to my little patch. It's overcast and nice this morning. Oh, I should mention that the scenery got altered a bit in the back yard last night. I went out to feed the dogs and the pit bull, who usually does a barking victory lap around the yard when it's dinner time, gave me the look of "stay there, I have something for you" and went into her stall in the garage. A moment later she dropped a fresh dead rat on the step, very pleased with herself. I guess she tucked it into her dog house in the stall to keep the other dog away from it until I came out. I looked around, wondering where she caught it and realized the lemon balm had been squashed at a couple of points. The smallish herb hedge has entry and exit wounds that correspond to the size and shape of a pit bull terrier doing her hunting thing. :) Good girl! I tossed the rat in the wooded path across the street where an owl or hawk or vulture will find it.

SRS