So sorry, PV, to hear that you were not well.
But can you take a few pounds from me. :-D
Just kidding.
Get well soon.

Your garden is gorgeous, as always. Is that Clematis Madame Julia Corevon? Looks like she's been in bloom before mine. I just saw one open up today.

I'll go look some more.
Great photos.

Looks GREAT!!

pvick - so glad you are better - that must have knocked you out for a while... glad to know you recovered from it..

You always amaze me how much you do on your patio - I get so many container ideas from you... but then you can also make socks and cupcakes??

Great pics and everything looks healthy.

Carrie

PS Do you overwinter your penstemon huskers in pots outside or bring them in?

So glad to hear that you are better. That flu must be a killer to knock you out of action for 3 weeks. You are the first real person I've heard of who caught it.

Your plants look great. I ordered 14 trailing coleus from Rosy Dawn in the Dave's coop, but missed the flirting skirts. That one is really pretty. Please post some pics of it later in the year. I might have to try that one next year. I'm also going to try to overwinter a few cuttings from my trailing coleus this year.

Like Carrie, I'm really impressed with the socks, too.

Karen

Those babies look so strong and healthy! Nice job.

Looks great PV, sorry to hear you caught the flu, but glad to hear you are recuperating from it. This cool weather is something else isn't it?

Alberta

PV, I'm so glad to know you're feeling better, too bad you had to be sick for so long, I had no idea it could put a person down that way. Your plants look great, I wish my basil was as big as yours, the cool weather has kept it from growing.

Mary

sorry you have been sick.

Thanks all! Went to work yesterday; today, I'm totally exhausted. It's not the work, but the commute back and forth that's killing me. But the doc did say it'll take a while before I'm back to "normal".

Carrie, the penstemon were outside for the winter, in small (5" ?) mulched pots. There were in a somewhat sheltered area, but I was surprised to see that they stayed green pretty much all winter and did so well. I try not to bring stuff inside any more - couple of years ago, I fought whitefly all winter and decided it's just not worth it. Plus, Gracie has to put her teeth in everything.

As for the socks - I'm an old-time knitter/crocheter, but had gotten away from it. Last summer, I decided to stop smoking (10 months smoke-free now), and I started knitting again to keep myself occupied, especially in the evenings. I'd thought socks would be difficult; turned out they're not hard at all. I'm working on my second pair now - they're kinda funky, but fun.

This weather is weird, Alberta. I like the cool, but the plants need some sun and warmth. Looks like today will be another rain day for us ....

PV

Hey PVick, I'm so glad you are on the mend. I had no idea you were so sick. You must have done well to get through that.
What do you do at work? Your plants look like they hung in there for you. Have you ever grown catnip? I tried it this year and now that's all my kitten chews on. He doesn't get weird about it either.

The socks got me too!! Knitting is definitely becoming a lost art. I've done some washcloths and handtowels off and on. It's relaxing.

I noticed the comment on your Japanese Fern. So true! I have some and love them. Using them to front a border in the shade garden and it's looking good. :O)

Happy to hear you are up and about.

Sorry to hear you were so sick! I've got some extra weight to spare if you need it. I'll be happy to send it to you - postage paid, lol! No SASE needed!

Your plants are looking really good. You'd never know they had been neglected for a few weeks.

Hope you are feeling better very soon!
:)
Dee

My goodness, you have so many things going there, I don't know how you keep up with it. That food made me hungry.

Oh, Julia, one of my two has gone crazy, covered her trellis, looped on neighboring one and circling down, ordered a new one for her. She blooms early and covered with flowers, surprised by that.

So sorry you got zapped with that flu, sounds like you had a bad case of it so I guess it can be very serious if it lays you that low for so long and weight loss. I don't think some get it that bad. Glad you're on the mend, don't overdo until you get your strength back! Guess I don't have to tell you.

I make that red velvet cake from scratch but haven't made one for awhile. I ditched the special frosting and just make buttercream (looks white).

PV,
I'm so sorry to hear that you were ill, but glad to hear you are getting better. There were quite a few people around here who had the swine-flu too (one of them who looked like he should have still been in bed when i saw him). Just take good care of yourself.
Congratulations on 10 months smoke free! :-) This is on my list of things to do this summer.
And you're a knitter? Another reason you should be my neighbor (or I should be yours). I love knitting. Post a picture of those socks when you get a chance...I'd love to see them. (are they from a 4-kneedle pattern or a circular needle? I haven't successfully completed a pair of mittens that match yet!)

Linda

Linda - this link is for you:

Needlework/Crafts

PV

So glad you are feeling better. Great photos; love the dark blue clematis. Your knitting/crochet is wonderful. The socks are beautiful and some of the yarns shown later in your photos are so lovely---such colors and textures. I would love to see what you created from them. Take care as you continue to recover.

Debby

Sorry to hear that you have been ill with swine flu, please don't rush your recovery and take care. Your ws sprouts look healthy so don't worry too much about them. I still have some that are in the same container from '08. The socks look great.

So glad you are recovering PV!

Everything is so beautiful as always....love those Penstemon lol! I must give Clematis a try, but don't know if I can keep up with who needs pruned this way or that way...it's frightening :O

Vera

Wow, I'm glad you're ok! Like kcqrna, you're the only person I "know" who got swine flu. To be ill for so long must have been scary. Congrats on being smoke-free, I bet it helped with dealing with the flu. Doing handiwork when you quit was an excellent idea, since most people turn to snacking when they quit!

I want to make socks! Just socks--silly, isn't it? I just want to do the really hard thing, without learning on scarves and hats and stuff. My sister crochets, and I found some patterns for her to learn and teach me. I guess they're confusing patterns, and she lost interest. And she has my blue wool in Florida. Wah. Maybe when you come to the Chicago plant swap next year (driving a little truck cross-country) you can teach me how to make socks! :)

LOL, stage! I've only made one pair of socks - doesn't exactly qualify me as a teacher! (But they are surprisingly easy to make.)

Don't tempt me - driving that little truck cross country would be an adventure.

I am feeling much better, thank you all very much! This flu is still popping up all over the country; all I have to say is, if you get any inkling at all that it might be coming your way --------- RUN!

PV