Oh I miss peonies.

There are some things I miss about "the north" and peonies are one of them. But then I remember how short my growing season was, how it was cold windy and wet one day and then it was 100 degrees with no in between.(That was Delaware).
June was always a beautiful month there but unpredictable for a gardener.

aww debbie...being from Vermont myself, there are some things that you just never get to see here: lilacs, lily of the valley...tons of daffys n crocus....but, the upside is that we get to do all the neat tropicals that they only dream of there...AND..we get things here all year round, too! (or almost!) btw..I have some double purple dats to give away, if you're interested.. just let me know (I'm just north of you...maybe 20 minutes) Not sure what your main interest is.....

I am a transplanted North-Easter myself and i miss the cherry blossom trees the most. I have even considered planting one on the North side of my house but I realized it would get fried in August.

Deb I so hear ya on the peonies - they are beautiful flowers that we cant grow.

But we have the pleasure of gardening year round whereas I could'nt even step on my deck in January

I moved back to Upstate NY last Labor Day and let me tell you how much I love being back here.

There's no forest fires every May, no hurricanes, no drought that lasts 5 months...

I'm afraid that was part of the cycle of the seasons that I never got used to in the last 5 years I spent in Florida. And I loved living in Tampa for two years and Palm Bay for 3, but then I'd pick up Coastal Living magazine and see the pictures of the coastline in the Northeast and the Pacific and my jaw would drop.

Now I have all of that here in the Finger Lakes area, Lake Ontario, and the Thousand Islands. Autumn was SPECTACULAR all over again, winter became a good excuse to linger inside and hang out with friends and family, and when spring came it was like a miracle! And everything is so LUSH after such a bleak period that it opens your eyes to the wonder of it all!

But boy do I miss walking Fort De Soto, Captiva Island, Melbourne Beach, Sebastian Inlet and the manatees, Blue Springs State Park, Kelly Park...working at Rock City Gardens, listening to Pastor Mark at Calvary Chapel Melbourne...and being in the choir...waking up in January and being able to walk out in shorts or jeans and a t-shirt...

the bougainvillea, the plumeria, all of my orchids and succulents in hanging baskets...

So count your blessings wherever you are :) I'm glad I made the most of those 5 years in FL!

Oh Deb just stop it...ya just had to tell me. LOL Oh how I wish I could be there now. I think I'll check the airlines and see if I can find myself a cheap flight.
I'm thinking a shopping trip @ Christmas Tree Shop and the fabric stores, visit to Cape Cod to see new cousin, a ride to Maine to see 2nd cousin and her little girl (closest to a grandbaby I'll get) lobster, hotdogs, italian sub with chopped pickles, pizza at Bianci's @ Revere Beach oh and a frappe. LOL
Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip. Call me and we'll get together soon.
Marion

thanks everybody..glad I'm not the only one with mixed feelings..lol does it ever go away? I've only been here 2 yrs in August, still getting settled..and lovin' the great friends I've made..just through Garden Web and Freecycle! You guys..I mean women..rock! heehee D

Well said, Guapo! There's beauty and pleasure in every state, if we just look for it. And a downside, too. That old "bloom where you're planted" saying is true. I miss so many things about being in the mountains, but I'm trying to be happy with all the stuff that Florida offers. I don't think I'm ever going to get my husband out of this state, so it's important that I learn to be happy here, too. (Yes, I'm a Florida native, but my heart has always been in the mountains, and the heat bothers me more every year.)

Marcia

I'm heading to NH and VT in two weeks for my niece's wedding, and to visit with my daughter and grandson. I have been here 7 years now, which should make me almost a native, but I still miss the mountain laurel and birch trees and forsythia. My daughter just bought an old farmhouse (built in 1800) and she has NEVER gardened. I told her I will help her with the landscaping, a little, while I'm there. I think her housewarming present will be garden tools...

Hey Deb,

I've been here just 2 years also. My brother sends me pics in the spring of all the flowers I miss. But in the winter I send him pics of my yard while he's stuck inside until spring. If you get to missing spring, remember winter.

I was sooo happy to read this. I have always felt that by now I should be adapted to Florida Gardening....many of my neighbors do not seem to miss their Northern gardens. I have been here since 1979, and still miss Peonies, Lilacs, Spring flowers, and especially Fall. Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone. I would love to grow Hosta and Lily of the Valley....had a wonderful Rock Garden in Maryland that I still miss....violets and all!!!!!

I'm originally from New England too.
I've lived here for 30 years now, but I still recall the feelings I had with the change of seasons...the swelling and anticipation of springtime, the rapid growth and greening and flowering and life emerging from the crystalline white of the (too long cold) winter.
The thickness of the summer air as trees and meadows breathed out so much oxygen, the sudden coolness of a thunderstorm.
The long transition to autumn, Indian Summer, and of course the amazing color show everywhere for those few autumn weeks.
Even the gray days, rain, wind and snow that lingered forever.
It really is a special place.
However inhospitable it seems for half the year.

I was talking to a friend who who just returned from a trip up into CT MA & VT. He loved the beauty of the landscape, the lushness, and lilacs. But he couldn't get used to the weather there. One day sunny and hot in the 90's, humid as it ever gets anywhere. That night the temps dipped way down into the 40's. Then a couple of gray drizzly days with temps only in the 50's.
He was very happy to return home here in South FLA.

Got an e-mail from southern VT this AM. She says tomato plants growing very slowly with cool cloudy damp weather this week.

Anyway anybody want to post some springtime pics of your New England visits? Would love to see them.