I had "Goldheart" ivy, basically a yellow-green variegated small-leafed version of english ivy and was able to keep it going for several years growing out of soil in a rolled up garbage bag that I had slung between my half barrel water garden and my clematis container and I think I first put it out there ~1999. What got it was a winter when the temps hit the single digits with wind (I think in 2004) and it was growing over by the windy side of the balcony, so that didn't help either. I never tried to protect it during winter and the half barrel had heaters going in it to keep the water temp no less than ~50° F through winter (because I had fish in there), so there was some warmth radiating around them. But that winter, with the cold snap and the wind, this definitely would have needed something more to help it cope. I think if you have a mild winter (not below 0° F and minimal single digits), you should do okay. In fact, it could be that the regular leaf english ivy can take the cold a bit better than the smaller leaf varieties when potted.

Well-answered on the perennial forum, linked below, so I am moving it on down. Here is a link that might be useful: Baby Phlox question

One of the toughest things about gardening for someone new to it is realizing certain things have to be done certain times of year...and those times of year aren't necessarily when you have free time, when you see flowers blooming in the neighborhood, or when Big Box stores switch to nursery mode. (I think this screws up a lot of new home owners.) As a cubicle jockey, the seasons and weather are normally irrelevant to my life. What are "rooted liners"? Say...I got a notice in my inbox saying MizGG replied to this posting, but I don't see his reply.

I live in Calgary Alberta Canada, zone 4a. I've had no luck with hollyhocks, though I have a pine tree in the yard and many around the area. My neice has some goregous hollyhocks so I harvested seeds from her, Planted them in September, we're having a late start to winter but since late October I noticed seedlings and now they're about 10 cm tall, and green too! Covered them with last year's dead folliage etc. Anyone know if...well,if I'm doing the right thing for this area? I have seen a lot of hollyhocks around, but some people say it's better here to use bulbs....