My ginger lilies are doing well, in spite of still being where they were simply heeled in last August. The tall, salmon colored ones (I have no idea which variety they are) have buds on them. There is also a smaller ginger lily that almost didn't make it in the pot I had it in at the old house, and that I have not yet seen in bloom. Some folks I did some gardening for gave me a division. I understand it is white, very fragant, and blooms around Labor Day. Don't know if I'll see blooms on this one this year - it is up close against a day lily that also was simply dumped into the ground when I moved, and neither the ginger lily, nor the day lily are happy with the arrangement-or lack thereof. I'm just glad they are both alive, and hoping to get everyone better situated before winter. The ground here is a fertile but heavy clay - heavier than what I had at the old place, and is too dry and hard to dig.

I miss having access to a pick-up truck that I could use to haul manageable and affordable loads of topsoil and compost. I simply no longer have the physical capacity to dig up lawn and maneuver (sp) heavy clay soil with hand tools to do the levelling required before raised beds can be built and set. , and raised beds are going to be a "must" here because of the native rocks and tree roots.