Kristi, even though I would hate your warm summers, your springtime looks so good! This is the LONGEST cold winter toward spring I think I have ever been in...another day of 38 degree temps with intermittent rain. I did work with seedlings in my growing room where I am starting my flowers for cutting, but my tomato seeds have not even sprouted yet in the growing room, and look at the plants you are setting out! As to your San Remo, the 2nd one is rather nice with the stripes but neither really looks much like the others I have seen, including the 3 I had this year, other then being the same colors. It will be interesting to see what they look like next year, whether they revert to a "normal" San Remo" or are off in their breeding.

Rita - Yes my roses always get a lot of damage from winter and I have to cut them back quite abit in spring. Last year was the same and they still did well come July/August but yes, definitely late coming. I am excited this year as I planted some hardy roses that were bred specifically to withstand our rotten Canadian winters. One is from the Explorer series and three from the Parkland series. They are supposed to have little to no winter die back. I still love the english roses and the hybrid teas but they just don't like our winters very much. When I post pictures in July and August you'll see how much they will have grown. My daylilies are coming along but yes, they seem very slow this year as well. Our April was so cold and dry and now our May has been so cold and wet. I hope the summer is a lot better! Jason

Rita - I don't know about "magic touch".....I think maybe it's just luck?! HA! Marg - Yes spring bulbs do give some colour to a garden in early spring when everything else is looking rather shabby. We have a free compost centre where I live. I go out there a lot and have found so many things there that people just discard. Last year someone threw out a bunch of hyacinth and tulip bulbs along with some grape hyacinth bulbs so I brought them home and planted them and that is where these hyacinths came from. The tulips also have buds. I will get some pictures of them when they bloom. It'll be a total surprise as to what colour they are but I won't complain as it doesn't get much better than free! ngraham - Yes that hydrangea is new. I got it half off at Home Depot. It is HUGE and for 8 dollars it was a bargain. I had one the same at my last house and it came back faithfully every year and always had the bright pink blooms. I have two other hydrangeas already, an Annabelle and a Summer Lace. Jason

Wow, what a stunning plant. The shot of the whole plant takes my breath away! This cooler spring we have been having has resulted in some darker colors for me too in some roses. Lets hope for a cool summer!