Inside Out.

Last month the girls traveled to Sonoma and Healdsburg to see a few of the siblings - Joe put us up at the cottage at Toad Hollow and we were grateful for the accomodations: wine on the porch, wine at dinner.

When we travel to California -- we are always amazed . Amazed at the gardens. Amazed at the trees. Amazed at the trellising vines. Anything growing outside is amazing .

I can set my watch to when we begin the ooohs and aaaahs -- we are hardly out of the airport when we begin to practically faint over the verdant lushness - commenting on bamboo that grows like crabgrass and climbing roses that know no boundaries. We promise to pay more attention to our gardens. We endlessly list the trees we will plant, the arbors and shrubs we will prune, the beauty we will cultivate.

Why do we think that Zone 4 will ever deliver? We know disappointment. The zone will never satiate our lust -- just because we have promised anew that we will be diligent and persevere. We haven't learned from 20+ years of experience in the gardening department -- coneflowers: YES, frangipani: NO.

Now, where can I get bamboo that is Zone 4 hardy?