HI, I live in Ontario and am looking for rhizomes/plants of red ginger (Alpina purpurata). Most of my tropicals have originated as bare root bulbs which I planted in the spring and kept out over the summer. In the fall, I either bring the plant indoors to a cool and dark location and allow it to go dormant, or cut it back, dry the roots and save them. I guess shipping up north will be the same. Ship in peat moss and paper in late winter/early spring so that the rhizomes will be as fresh as possible. I am currently growing ordinary cooking ginger from a tuber bought in the grocery store. It is doing very well and even if I can't harvest it, it makes a beautiful plant. Also, elephants ears (taro/dasheen) are easy to get hold of. Just buy them in your grocery store and plant them up. I have a huge one that is about 4 years old. Cheers, flowergirl2010

Thanks for the nice comments! I planted so many new ones last year (and this!) that it's been fun to snap 30+ photos each morning of daylilies I'd not seen before. Berry Patch has really wowed me this year. I bought it through the Auction last year, and the seller told me he broke off the fan at the crown and sent me the little nubbin, along with two great replacements. Since planting, she's increased quite a bit, and every bloom has been perfect. Dreamy Elegance was a bonus from Ledgewood Gardens -- they always send great stuff. (Remember my fans with four prolifs? Those came from Ledgewood and I'm happy to report all the prolifs are planted and doing well.) Jane, thanks for the info -- I'll try Woodside.

Wow...yeah, well, it has to go far! I would suggest setting a budget and selecting the trees that interest you the most. Then just biting the bullet and ordering from Four Winds. Their trees are excellent. Harris trees are also good, but if I was going to pay that much for shipping, I'd just order from FW. Before you do that, make sure you have a winter setup that you can work with and that your trees will survive in...don't spend all that $$ to lose them over winter. I plan to winter my trees indoor again this year, as I have for the past four years. Granted, this year I will have more to cram in...well, quite a few more,..LOL..but I have made it work. To supplement the window light I have in my house, I ordered these daylight bulbs that Steve recommended to me and found $15 floor lamps at IKEA. I plan to use those near the plants that are not as close to the window. Of course, you will have mites, so neem oil is must for periodic spraying.

Such nice plants at your garden, and I also love your Bluebird of Happiness in the last shot with your found chair.....Do you have to shape your Weigela much? I have read it's a one trick pony with a short bloom period then the blahs the rest of the season. I think not with that variegated foliage. That elevates its appeal to me.............Batik always wows me.......Maryl