I hibernate like my roses and watch the garden from a window. From my kitchen window I can see the blanda rose 'Betty Bland' with red canes next to Rosa pendulina, with its red flagonshaped hips. Other roses with hips near the house are R. moyesii, alba Suaveolens, R. stellata mirifica, the Portland rose and several rugosas. Pines, junipers, box and yew topiary add evergreen interest. The highlight of my winter garden is the round boxedged bed that looks wonderful powdered with snow while the sides are green. Close to the front door are two large box balls, mahonia, cherry laurel, Christmas roses and a clipped yew with red berries. I have put most evergreens where I can see them from inside or walking up to the house, redleaved bergenia 'Winterglow', rhododendrons, periwinkle, eight small box balls, euonymus 'Emerald'n Gold', cotoneaster 'Coral Beauty' and dwarf conifers like Picaea glauca 'Conica'.

What kind of camera are you using? Is it digital? See if you have something like Center-Spot under Exposure Metering and something like Center-Zone for your Focus Zone. That should make your camera focus on the object in the center. Also make sure you're camera is a the proper length from your subject so that it can focus properly.

Wow! If anyone says we are having a greenhouse affect, I will, blank my pants! lol Those temps are just ridiculous! Whhat gives? I can't beleive the snow you had Mike and for that area. Good golly! looks like you are just about to engulf your greenhouse into an igloo very soon as I did..lol Now, what's next, tornados? I is such a good feeling to ee the temps in there that warm right, those lucky trees. I lost my heat last night, ran out of oil. It was 55 in my home this am and it was 68 in the greenhouse. I almost slept in there this am.. Mike: The one thing that ALWAYS scares me, especially this time of the year is loosing the electricty while asleep or not home! Luckily, that is the one thing I can be grateful for. Pgde!!!! Now that is a bad dream you had! Oh wait, is that the real Macoy? Ice hanging from the fountain way down there in Tuscon? Your kidding, right?... What about your trees? How are they doing? Wow, and yet beautiful.. Unbeleivable... I will come back and show a few shots of my snow too, since it hasn't stopped for over a month. A snow storm about every two days! Mike

Glad to see everyone is getting their packages!!! :) and I'm also glad to see the trade lists back!! Had to update mine as well! (lol now I've become addicted to wanting to try snapdragons!) The little box to scroll and edit it tho, I would love for it to be bigger so I can see more of it at once! ( I am not complaining tho but just a favor if they are listening to us like they seem to be ;)) Today I am spending the day winter sowing and watching tv!! I need to relax and watch some comedy for once! Again I'm suffering from insomnia and taking pills which sucks! :( I can't wait for Spring, it is a life saver for me and I don't know if you can relate, but when I come in from weeding and planting and seeing flowers and seedlings, I am worn and the other hassles of life seem to disappear and all I see is flowers when I close my eyes! Lol Oh and is anyone having a tough time deciding what to winter sow and what to save till next year? Because I sure am! I got worried when I looked at my annuals to try this year(I winter sow these next two months) and wow!! TOO many. The problem is, I received alot of generic things like "marigolds"(LOTS) or "zinnia" in a few bad swaps and I feel guilty passing them to any other swap and I figure I might as well just plant them but here I am with way too many to do! LOL I gave some to Brad(moonwolf) and am trying to narrow my list! Anyways, everyone have a wonderful day!!! :) ~michael heavenlyfarm