Lisa b., I started out with with conifers in the Picea abies family (Norway spruce). My first conifer was Picea abies 'Acrocona': If you want a dwarf version of it there is a 'witches broom' dwarf called Picea abies 'Pusch': Anything in the Picea abies family would be a good start as they are hardy to zone 3. Pinus mugo (mugo pine) are also very hardy(Z2) and there are dwarf versions that are very bright gold in winter (P. mugo Carsten's Wintergold,P.mugo Zundert) also variegated(P.mugo 'Kokarde','Marand', 'Pal Maleter') Pinus mugo 'Teeny' Finally any of the Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce)dwarf cultivars might also be a good start. ('Montgomery', 'Glauca glabosa', St. Mary's) Picea pungens 'St. Mary's'. Picea pungens 'Mrs. Cesarini' Please be aware that I am no expert on conifers. There are probably much more qualified people on the conifer forum to give you advice. These are my personal opinions though, based on my personal experience in Zone 5 . Hope this helps .^^^Dan^^^

The shrubs are so beautiful. It's amazing the rhodies can bloom in that shaded wood. I lost my Beauty Bush to that last windstorm. It was such a gorgeous thing. I need to get my sis to start me another one. She is supposed to be doing an old fashioned spirea van houttei for me too. I love the old ones. Your weigelas certainly outshine my two.

Well, no I don't mean for you to be doing all that work of digging them up and replanting. I mean just add time periods you don't have. So if you have lots and lots of late flowered ones, then look for early bloomers to add. Or just got for a long blooming mix. The reason I love that Scheepers mix I bought is that it is a no brainer. They have figgured the selection mix of early to late, I didn't have to work on it. In fact I didn't even realise how well it would work out until after I saw them all bloom last spring. So this spring I knew what the mix would do. In fact I intend to order more of Scheepers mixes to plant around the yard. Besides the Long Trumpet mix that I already have, I am going to order their All white mix, Fragrant Mixture, Gold Medal mixture and the Rinus Rim Mixture. Then I also plan to get some specific types. Like I will get February Gold for very early and Ara for early. My earliest I have now is EARLY SENSATION, which I have by itself and is also included in the mix. Camelot another I will order is a late bloomer. It is something like my daylilies, you know I have a long bloom period. I figgure I can do somewhat similiar idea with the daff bloom season. I do love those daffs. For years I just bought mixed bags locally. But these from Scheepers are so much better.

CELESTE: I am so sorry that you are sstill in pain from the dog attack.I know its horrible to be in pain every day,cause I am, too. use to not be as bad as it is now, since a heart DR gave me a very high dose of statin drugs for colestrol.he sure didnt know what he was doing, and I am the one thats paying he price for his blunder. but oh well, I love your tulips, especially th purple ones between them big rocks.Gorgeous.The daffs are very pretty, too, but them tulips really steals the show. i Love your last picture of the mountains, too. I love snow capped mountains.They just so pretty. wonderful pictures celeste and thank you for posting them for us all. Jean