Such a long time since I have added an entry to this journal. I've been thinking about selling my home, as Sarah is away at Interlochen and I am rattling around in this house by myself. But, today the weather was freakishly warm - 60 degrees - and I spent part of the afternoon outside, affixing supports on to the walls for my climbing roses, Alchemyst, Polka and New Dawn, checking out my plants, and making a list of my roses lining the front walk way, so that I can make a list of the 13 that I have, and, perhaps , make some labels. Am thinking about a rose hedge, with Blanc Double du Corbert and Stanwell Perpetual, where the obstreperous smoke bushes are growing.

Nothing is blooming, yet. The weather will turn cold, again, in the next day or so, as it should.

I am like St. Augustine - grant me a condo, just not yet...

Am thinking about going to the NARGS Annual Convention during the first week-end in May in Asheville, NC. There is a two day extension to botanize the wild azaleas in the Southern Appalachians. I do think that I need to go.

Lat week-end at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market I found a 4' tall Franklinia alatamaha tree for sale - $75.00. I bought it. This very rare tree was found by John Bartram in 1765 or so in a small cove in the Alatamaha River in what is now Georgia. By the early 19th century, it had disappeared from the wild. My tree, as well as all other snow growing, were taken from these few cuttings. I was told by Greg Prior, who was helping the seller, that the trees (he had three) came form excess stock from the Ohio State Botanical gardens.

I am tired from the very large, deep hole that I dug for this tree, now planted on the east side of the patio. It likes a well-drained, acid soil, so I mixed plenty of soil conditioner, peat moss, soil acidifier, Osmocote and rotten oak leaves in with the soil. This tree is finicky.