LOL, I can remember the days when I could weed all day long and not suffer for it. Not any more for sure.

I draw a distinct line between gardening and yard work! Yard work is in the front...gardening takes place in the back.

As long as one can afford them and can take care of them then there is no limit!

Regina, Your gardens are beautiful. Would love to stroll through them. Gardening is how I relax too. I used to wish someone else in my family would love to garden as much as I do, now I'm thankful for this solitary hobby of mine. All the worries and stresses of life disappear when I'm working in my garden. It's my vacation from life's hassles. Might be cheaper than taking vacations every year too?

Well, I passed my limit long ago according to my wife. I can still take care of them though.

I think that's how you know if you have too many.If you can no longer keep up with the plants you grow. You have too many. I think my biggest problem, is I'm aging and can't do what I used to do or do it as fast as I once did it. If I were wealthy, I'd hire lots of help. But sense I'm not, I'll just have to down size. But I plan on gardening until I just can't anymore. If I have to wheel myself out there. I'm still going to get my hands dirty. Then when I'm gone, turn me into compost so I can continue to grow. Hey, they are actually starting to do this now!

Larry - I just now saw this thread! WOW! What a great response and so much excellent advice! This thread is pertinent to me, too. Thanks to all who answered so candidly!

Regina - I agree with everyone here! Your yard is amazing!!! You and your family did an incredible job. I grow all kinds of plants in my tiny yard (1/4 acrea). I have dedicated daylily beds though. The reason being is that I was worried about other plants competing for root room in my raised beds. Are there certain plants you feel work well with daylilies in close proximity?

Becky, there are other plants?

Prior to moving here, my daylilies were mixed with anything and everything, and they did just fine! The zone was much colder, so they didn't multiply like they are here, so I think that my daylilies would crowd out other plants here. They have their own garden here, but they seem to like sharing the space with weeds.

Natalie - I loved your answer that 80,001 is one too many!

Thanks for the info about "other" plants in a daylily bed. My climate means very good plant growth, really fast. My beds look bare (with just foliage) after blooming season is over. I WOULD like to have other plants in those beds to keep the interest and color going, but am at a loss as to what would behave itself among my daylilies.

Any suggestions of colorful plants that stay small and have compact root systems would be greatly appreciated!

Have you thought about annuals? I often planted petunias around my daylilies, for some extra color, and they went well together, because they give a lot of color.

Natalie - Oh! Brilliant! I need annuals that are real annuals here in Florida. I have had some of my petunia plants for going on 3 years now!

I wonder what would be a true annual here in the south?

Natalie said:Becky, there are other plants?

Joy said:Regina, Your gardens are beautiful. Would love to stroll through them. Gardening is how I relax too. I used to wish someone else in my family would love to garden as much as I do, now I'm thankful for this solitary hobby of mine. All the worries and stresses of life disappear when I'm working in my garden. It's my vacation from life's hassles. Might be cheaper than taking vacations every year too?

I so agree with you. I like garden help if they're loading up carts of mulch for me to distribute but I love the solitude.

Regina, your gardens are truly beautiful.

I think you'd have too many when you couldn't properly care for them or when doing so became a chore rather than therapy.

Becky, my Mom always grew petunias in California, and they were never annuals there either! She'd complain that she was tired of them, or tired of a particular color, so I finally got her to pull them up at the end of the year and start fresh again the next year. That is easy enough to do! I think they grow fairly easy from seed, too!

Becky, hop on over to the Annuals forum and see if anyone there can suggest true annuals for your area. I'm sure that there will be something that you like!

Natalie - Good idea! I will do that later today! Thank you for you great suggestions!

Owww! I think I got hit in the head with a couple of acorns!

You're very welcome Becky! Please let us know if you find anything acceptable!

I have scattered (sp?) seed from white Babys Breath, white and pastel (double!) Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and Cosmos in my borders.

They are not invasive, easy to remove when you want them gone and they often selfseed

Mayo - Thanks! Good suggestions!