The Flowering Quince is in our older nursery. We had no idea where we had gotten it from, nor what kind of plant it was. The last two or three years it has been just gorgeous with bloom. Unfortunately, we had not gotten it transplanted it. Last weekend we were visiting the people who moved into Marjorie's house. They wanted us to see the beautiful Flowering Quince, and even wanted us to see if we could get starts off of it. They even mentioned, as Marjorie had to Lorna, that they have not known anyone to get a start from it. After coming back home from seeing the tree in Marjorie's back yard that she loved so dearly, we discovered that that was what matched the one in our nursery. We had not known where it came from! We have three or four growing very nicely.

Judy's sister, Jill, is making plans to retire in October 2006. She will be moving from Washington State to somewhere in eastern Tennessee. For the time being, she has asked us to "plant sit" some of her plants so she can move them from Washington and, eventually, to Tennessee. As time goes along, you will find more pictures of various plants that we are "plant sitting" for Jill.

This is a treasure for Serendipity Ranch. It was given as a house warming gift by Emily, niece of Mary, whom Lorna and Wanangwa had cared for in the nearby rest home. Mary was 103 when she died, but still very alert, and a real walking history book. She was a retired school teacher. Mary was the one who talked with Lorna and Wanangwa about getting clippings from people to start at your own place so you have a big variety of plants, with little expense. She would visit even historical places and get clippings from their plants. Mary claimed that she had gotten the clipping for the Lenten Rose from George Washington's home at Mt. Vernon. Mary always said that you are not to thank someone who gives you a plant, or it will die.