How about a different Stewartia like S. rostrata which has gray ridged or furrowed bark. I don't know a lot about Stewartias other than pseudocamillia, but there are 8 or so found in commerce and not all have the lovely exfoliating bark.

Currently in flower: lobelia, liatris, Joe Pye Weed, tickseed coreopsis, phlox 'Diana', tithonia, agapanthus, echinecia, black eyed susan, yarrow, butterfly weed, butterfly bush, pineapple sage, fennel, globe thistle, cleome, obedient plant as well as some daylillies. Annuals: still have hollyhock, pentas, zinnias aflower. Clethra alnifola, hummingbird, ruby spice and Cinnamon bark still flowering (though their just beyond 'peak'). Crepe myrtle 'Zuni Princess' as well. On deck: asters, goldenrod, turtle head, franklinia altamaha. In berry: Aronia 'Brilliantissima' & 'Meloncarpa'. All hollies (including pudunculosa and verticillata 'Winter Red' & 'Harvest Gold' are full of berris as well as beautybush along with Ilex 'opaca' and various blue girl/boys. Hummingbirds are now back (since last week) after a long hiatus of raising this year's young. As the 1/2 dozen or so tithonia begin fully flowering, they should be constant visitors to these plants. Had Song Sparrow family in the garden today along with Caroling Wren. Paradise Waits...

Dee, great photo! I'm exhausted. Not as exhausted as poor George, probably, but I was in the garden all weekend and every night this week after work. We finally have the front beds pretty well planted and mulched (just a few things left to be moved when I have more time). There is a still a pile of mulch in the driveway waiting to be spread out back and lots of weeds to be tackled back there. I also remembered to sow my cosmo, foxglove and cerinthe seeds. The great development for me this week was that my son has taken an interest in the yard. He has always hated the time I spend in the garden (not that he wants my attention when I'm in the house, lol). This year I bought him a reel lawn mower, which he seems to love, and an electric weedwhacker, which he loves more. Tonight he helped me by loading the wheelbarrow and delivering the mulch, and was actually asking about some of the plants and voicing his preferences (so far, alliums are a big hit, mainly because not much else is flowering). Dirty fingernails here as well - - and telltale dirt on my heels when I get in to work in the morning! Moving on, here's what is flowering this week: Allium purple sensation - - full bloom Fothergilla Mt. Airy - - beginning to fade Cercis canadensis 'Covey' - - really fading creeping phloxes - - full bloom conifers are shooting new growth Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate' - - blooming on a very short stalk bleeding heart - - full bloom Salvia 'May Night' - - beginning to bloom Roseshell azalea 'Marie Hoffman' - - just starting to open Showing buds: dianthus peonies (lots - - and they were moved last year!) lady's mantle celadine poppy Still in process of leafing out: Hydrangeas weigela clethra cercis canadensis 'covey' fothergilla

"Watering really annoys praying mantises." (if someone could give me the tip on how to italicize, I would appreciate it) They apparently do not like to be relocated on newly purchased shrubs either. We were driving home last summer with 6 large spirea in the back of the car. After about 10 min, a huge praying mantis crawled out from behind the sun visor. He was right on the inside of the windshield staring at my husband. Scared the crap out of him! OK, he freaked me out too! Screeching halt!!! We got him safely out of the car. Phew! About 5 minutes later, a second one climbed out from the exact spot! We took the long way home so we wouldn't have to go on the highway in the case of any need to lock up the brakes! I scanned the car the entire way home hoping there weren't any more, and half expecting to see one perched on my son's head! They are beautiful in the garden, but I have to say they were a little scary in an alien sort of way when out of their element!