Buford the Vintage garden hasn't been open for a long time. Right now there is house demolition and construction too. I haven't been to the gardens at Alcatraz, but it really seems like a fun excursion. I think you would enjoy Filoli, though I was unimpressed with the rose garden. The Morcum Garden and the Berkeley rose garden are nice. The SJHRG and the San Jose municipal rose garden are minutes away from each other. There is also the Santa Clara University fence(near both these). It's a (I think) mile of climbers and ramblers. There is a small rose garden at Mission Delores(SF). I think it would only be an hours drive to go to the Sacramento Historic Cemetery Garden. This would be the one not to miss. I know you'll have lots of fun.

Linda, This is my 3rd year wintersowing. I absolutely love seeing those seedling pop up. I have several of my neighbors also wintersowing. It's addicting. I generally don't put my seedling out until they have gotten to be 1" - 2" in size and all chance of frost past - so late April/May. I do wintersowing a little different every year. The first & second year, I put lots of seeds in the container - well then you have to thin them out and generally I don't need that many seedlings. This year, I didn't put as many seeds in the jug - so I may only have 5 - 8 plants in there. Last year, I wintersowed daylilies for the first time - 2 - 4 seeds per jug. I didn't take the daylilies out of the jug until they had almost reached the top of the jug. The exciting part about the daylilies that I wintersowed last year is that this year I will get flowers. I can't wait until they bloom. I also wintersowed miniature hostas last year. They're still in the plastic salad container that I wintersowed them in - but the lid was taken off last year when they came up. They're already coming up - 1". This year, I will plant them in a clay container or put them in the garden. By far, the plants that I wintersow are more healthier than the plants that I buy. I don't buy many plants anymore. I usually take my extra plants/divisions to the plant swaps and get plants there. BTW, there is a wonderful Raleigh Plant Swap. You can see more info about the Raleigh Plant Swap under the Carolina Gardening Forum Exchange section.

Tammy: You're smart and nice. :oD Thanks for the sedums! I started them in a pot I have basil in so they get a little bigger before I set them in where the pansies need to come out. I looked up what the cleome plants my sister gave me look like, and I wanted some of those, so I'm very happy. Called my sister to thank her and discovered she couldn't find her original plants. Somebody had given her her original plants last year, and she didn't realize they were annuals, so now she's upset she gave away all the seedlings she found. But I'll just share seeds back with her, now that we know, LOL. Hey - how are those lizards settling in to their new yards? Agrowingpassion: Thursday afternoon or evening would be ideal for me, although I could do other evenings as well.

Last fall, when they had this, we all met at a park with our plants that we wanted to exchange. We all brought a dish to share at the picnic afterwards (which was delish). Our plants were placed on picnic tables under the shelter. When the announcer said to swap, we all swapped for one plant...that is we walked around a chose only one plant, for our exchange, while others would chose one of yours. After a bit, there would be another swap, this time two plants, next time three plants....and then there was a free for all! All plants were exchanged. Then we enjoyed the food. I found out that you can exchange more than just plants. you can exchange seeds, starts (rooted or not), plant related books, planters, etc. Oh, before the exchange, folks can go to this website and if you are looking for a particular plant to set up an exchange BEFORE the day of the event. Then at the event, you find those people and make your exchanges and you don't have to hope to get that item, or miss getting it because others got it. All in all, I had a fabulous time. Hope you can enjoy it this year. Get plants ready!