Yes, I tested them after they dried out and the transformer is shot. The housings were all full of water when I pulled them out. Sounds like I should pick up any new set of lights and just plan on removing for winter. If anyone has suggestions on lights / brands, let me know.

bianca, below is the link to the Rocky Mountain District for the American Rose Society. There is an email address for a Colorado Springs rosarian in the local CS group who might be able to help you. Best wishes for your garden. Here is a link that might be useful: Rocky Mountain District - American Rose Society

Beth, I don't know if what you have are cold-hardy, so it's difficult to say for sure, but if they are, yes. Inside in the pots is OK, but if they're cold-hardy they'll grow better for you in the ground. TJ, Unless they're insulated (with snow, straw, etc) it's been my limited experience up here that plants in pots outside don't do as well as the same plants in the ground. Of course, you can conceivably make that case for almost all plants, can't you? As I said, I don't know nearly enough to tell you the whys and wherefores, but in my three years of growing here, I put all the plants that can grow in the ground year-around in the ground. My potted plants are just those that aren't Kamloops-winter-hardy - we sometimes get to -20 to -25C for a week or so, but it's usually not that cold. All of the cold-sensitive plants (the dormant Cyphostemmas and Burseras, the Aloes and the various Crassulaceae that are here) are all inside, but the rest of them (the Sedums, Sempervivums, and Opuntias) are outside and hanging out under the snow, waiting as I am for Spring.

Susan, does your SIL live out here in the Rocky Mountain States? If she does, here are a couple of websites that have a great selection of seed to choose from. Western Native Seed Plants of the Southwest High Altitude Gardens Like Plantlady I've bought many of the plants I grow. I'm just starting to grow things from seed. Some plants that have done will are Desert four o'clocks, blackfoot daisy or Melampodium leucanthum, Centranthus ruber, Salvia 'May Night', Penstemon eatonii, Penstemon mensarum, Penstemon pinifolius, Penstemon strictus, Penstemon palmeri, Gailardia aristata, Corydalis aurea, Liatris punctata, Polemonium or Jacobs ladder, Multiflora viguera, Delphinium grandiflorum, Ratibia /mexican hat.... to get you started.