They spend part of their time here and the rest at a big pond in a nearby park. We dont have enough safe cover for nesting but theyve brought ducklings to our pond twice so they must nest somewhere nearby. Since they were too small to fly they appeared to walk here from somewhere. Quite a sight to see!

Lisa — Thanks for the kind words and the reminder. I know Plays With Needles but havent visited for a long time, so I will go have a look!

You would be singing a different tune with temps still ten degrees below normal (were in the low to mid 30s), snow forecast for tomorrow and the snow total for the season just over 66 inches. But I will agree that our lack of winter and too early spring in 2011-12 was disturbing.

Nell — I literally just washed off the dirt and put enough water in the bowl that the roots would be in water. They all bloomed and every bulb sent up two flowers, one after the other.

Lisa — Since our first snowfall didnt happen until late December, I thought that it would feel like a short winter. February was awful with more than twice the normal snowfall and it just keeps on being cold and snowy in March. The only thing to be seen in the garden is rabbit tracks and chomped up shrubs!

Cindy — I was wondering about using my hand mixer, but decided I would follow it to the letter the first time. If you try it using electric mixers etc. let me know how it works.

Erin — I agree about the catalog. I think they are having a pretty rough time financially at the moment with the downturn in the economy. Hope they are secure as they are about the best in the biz.

Lisa — Sometimes a class just seems like the right thing to do. If you are taking one also, then I think this is a case of great minds . . . !

Thanks for all your commiserations and positive spin! I keep thinking about the incredible storm that hit the UK in the late 1990s (I think thats the date) and took out countless old trees and changed hundreds of gardens overnight. As Jenny points out Mother Nature does like to keep us busy!

I actually read the text in the design books which is hard to do anymore. I find I devoured old garden books when there were few if any illustrations, but the more pictures the harder it is to concentrate on the words! Marks show went very well. We just took it down yesterday. He had a big crowd for the opening and sold lots of work. So it was a nice end to the old year and beginning to the new.

My sister just gave me a copy of The Paper Garden so its nice to have a recommendation!

Altoon — I remember reading some Hawthorne and other American 19th century lit mostly in high school. But I cant remember if Moby Dick was one of the books. You would think I would know for sure but, alas, that is not the case. I have a faint memory of the language but dont remember the outcome of the story. But its only a few favorite books that really manage to stand out after a lifetime of reading. You are making art when I am reading. Thought I would get started on making art but it hasnt happened yet. My studio is currently filled with all the Xmas decorations that need to be put away.

J — The best thing about the brownies is that they are so quick and easy. Why bother with a mix when you can do this version! Kelly — Definitely more fun to store baked goods in tins than in Tupperware!

Erin — Same here; much prefer to hold off on clean-up if rain is the reason! Lisa — Looks like the rain is done but more is forecast for later this week. Hope it happens!

Erin — This is my favorite Viburnum but it takes up a lot of space!

Given your library background, now I dont feel so bad. Also as a graphic designer, I am so aware of how design savvy people are today. I think it is hard to sell anything that is poorly packaged.

Barbara — For some reason, cutting them like that seems to surprise people and they act like its a fancy dessert. They are the quickest easiest recipe I know! Lisa — Have to say I was really taken with the Irish coffee recipe. Even though its more work they were great.

Lisa — I think they are not worried about seeds of either of these plants as they are the lone residents in an area that is about to be torn up for construction. Altoon — I thought the blue objects in this garden were quite wonderful. And I loved those dusty hollyhock seeds against the dusty bricks. Looked so intentional but I am guessing it was serendipitous.

Pam — Since my maidenhair has been doing pretty well with the drought, I am not surprised to hear you can grow it with some moisture in Texas.

Curt and Jeanne — I bought it mail order a long time ago but local gardeners tell me it is not too hard to find. It gets some morning sun.

Barbara and Denise: To be honest, I bought it more for the artistry than to really use it and abuse it! Its really an piece of functional art — and yes, biodegradable.

Lisa — Wow! That is an amazing story. When I moved to Madison in 1972, the jobs were listed in the newspaper by gender: jobs for men, jobs for women. And I remember the first women here being hired in positions that formerly were only men. That had to be a difficult situation, at least at first, as I am sure there was resistance. Congrats for your efforts.

Lisa — That is a lovely compliment; thank you! Erin — Im still hoping to see you in person one of these days!

Cindy — We only grow Fargesia which is a clumper and so far has been well behaved. It is reaching its mature size and is getting a bit big for the space where I planted it. Our bamboo doesnt make canes that big; more like pencil thickness.

Altoon — I think this is one of those recipes that you can eat as a salad, a dip, a chunky soup or a drinkable soup. Just variations on the proportions and method. Jenny — My food critic likes chunky soups so Ill probably never make the drinkable version. I also loved that little reflection of the umbrella in the spoon. Mark took the photo with his phone while we were eating! Erin — Do you have Delia Smiths summer cookbook or Judith Olneys? I like both of them as well. Youll have to find them used.