Help us name our new dog-to-be

Soon, one of these two funny-looking puppies will be MINE ALL MINE. By then he will be even cuter. I'm not sure yet which one, but we're thinking about names.

I prefer to stick with the native American plant name, being that the Boston Terrier is a native American breed and all. Hence big sister Trout Lily (pictured below, ears up with their mother, ears back). When I say big sister, I mean just that: The two have the same parents. Because if something is close to perfect, why mess with that?

So. I loooove the name Sweet William (my daughter's idea!) but I don't think "Willy and Lily" is a great idea. Too similar. My husband likes Bastard Toadflax ("Toady," "Toad," "Flaxie," etc., but not "Bastard," obvs.). Someone recently suggested Figwort. that's kind of cute. Figgy. Related to the snapdragon. Any other ideas? I'd like a woody plant maybe. Very masculine. Hey! What about "Woody"?



BTW, this picture was taken at the Boston Terrier Picnic. Check it out, if you're into that sort of thing.

The Houseplant that Ate WNY

Between gala preview parties, family holidays and deadlines, deadlines, deadlines, Maria and I actually have had one or two chances to deliver some UGJs and chat with our customers (and their customers). At Ebenezer Greenhouse in West Seneca, Maria found this fantastic flowering jade���������the owner's grandmother had given him the cutting, apparently quite a few years ago.

OK, so it's a greenhouse plant, not a houseplant per se, but still.

File under: Excellent uses for the UGJ.

Saw this today at the Rochester Civic Garden Center. The magazine is
taped to the inside of the front door, blocking the mail slot. Well.
We wouldn't want the RCGC getting drafty (however that's spelled).

I <3 <3 <3 Mike Tanzini

Excuse my juvenile text-speak, but I'm just as happy as a little girl since this treasure came into my life yesterday. I was hanging in the Ted Collins display garden at GardenScape with [genius] designer Mike Tanzini when I looked down and saw -- gasp -- SIX Acanthus 'Tasmanian Angel'. Big ones, too, not any of this plug or 4" nonsense. Seeing as it was about 5 minutes 'til 5 on the last day of the show, Mike must have been feeling giddy, because he let me have one. [Swoon.] Right out of the garden. What more can I say? Except thanks.

I know they're zone 7, so don't get all "They're zone 7!" on me.

I mentioned in a comment over on Garden Rant today that when I remember to look at them, I find the Pantone color palettes very useful in designing ads for the magazine.
Here's the one for Spring '08:

I'm not in love with the whole thing (Croissant?), but I do like the raspberry, aka Rococco Red, and the Daiquiri Green.



















Now for Fall '08:


That Shady Glade green is looking dangerously close to teal. Please, no teal. Ugh. I even had a car that color. Looks like brown and orange are still in, the brown (Shitake) moving toward grey and Burnt Orange toned down a little. That's a great color. I'm seriously not into mauve, but Withered Rose is OK. Love the Ochre, the color of my dining room. And the Twilight Blue. On the whole I like this palette.