A waterspout just like those came in off Lake Huron two years ago and devastated a town 15km. from my place. It was hidden behind a torrential downpour and took the town completely by surprise. Massive amounts of damage.

Brian, when I first moved to the Kenosha area back in the early 1960's, a big one came on shore and not only dumped tons of water but fish also. I remember seeing children running around in an area used as an ice skating rink, knee deep in water catching fish by hand. And fish were flopping in the street as I drove through the area. Some were up to 15 inches long. Three years ago, we had a bad one and lost power for 4 straight days. No damage this time, just rain--which my lilies were waiting for.

Here's a link to Porcelian Doll http://www.bdlilies.com/l9043.... featured in B&D's Spring catalog. Click on the photo to enlarge. Take a close look.

Notice anything different in the photograph? Now, how about something like this:








For years I've been trying to figure out the identity of this nice upright Trumpet. Now, I think I'm about to finally find out. The clue features are the unique right angle raised mid rib with a razor sharp pin strip running down the entire length of it.

I Really have to give credit to Arlene and Leon for the discovery. Had it not been for their posts about deceptive colors/photographs, etc. in another thread, I never would have been browsing through lily catalogs at this late hour!

Note: this lily was dug at an estate sale and brought to me many years ago. A few weeks ago, I started six scales in cloning. Color fast to at least 107'F, with full, bright sun with a 30 mph wind component.

And we think we've got weather problems? Photos of huge rolling masses of tumbleweeds taken by a friend yesterday as they invaded his neighborhood on the outskirts of Clovis, New Mexico. Because of their physical nature, they say it's impossible to rake these--very difficult clean up, he says.

Wow, that's almost funny ~ as long as it's not your own house.

Yesterday, I got this hair brain idea of taking the snow blower out and blowing some snow back on the lily beds, but the wind was from the wrong direction. That would have been even funnier!

Those tumbleweeds look like a major fire hazard! I saw this story on the news the other day.

So now are they going to have a thousand tumbleweed seedlings per square yard coming up next year?

That's funny Rick.

In a bad year!

Sad expression. This one didn't like it inside. Actually I think I let the bud get too close to the lights near the end because it appeared very normal right up to the last day. I think I goofed! At least I had fun growing it. It's from a scale bulblet of longiflorum X henryi, which is no beauty queen by herself. Probably hardy as the dickens, though. The bulblets from this lot didn't come up until late Oct/early Nov. when I decided to grow them inside just for the fun of it.

Dec. 11th


Feb. 28th Stiff petal substance.


Mother plant, last summer.

The mother plant is nice but I think the inside version needs a little Viagra!

I was thinking more like some plastic surgery.
I'm sure Lorn's hands are quite steady...

Livin' Good! Off-Topic. We usually wrap the burning bushes with burlap, but totally forgot about it last fall. They're out of sight and so they say: 'out of sight-out of mind' So, six dwarfs, chewed from top to bottom! Turds galore!

Ah, yes... I have a lot of 'pelleted fertilizer' in my gardens too. The little gift-givers should be pelted with pellets.

Moby--I removed that photo because I thought maybe some people might think it was done with 'bad taste'.

I'm very offended Lorn! Lol

I'm offended that anyone might be offended by the offerings of the offending critter.