hostaholic, zone 4, huh? Is it usual to have a wait for spring every year, or is this year colder than normal? Mike, I donâÂÂt know about planting out ferns this soon. IâÂÂm in 6a and IâÂÂm playing it safe and not planting anything out for a couple more weeks, just to be on the safe side. I know itâÂÂs tough if you already have potted plants that have to go in and out all the time, but if your lows are in the 50âÂÂs maybe you can just leave them out unless there is a sudden cold snap. But if you're really in a hurry, you could always just plan to protect them if it gets too cold. Kevin, Minnesota, huh? Well, really weâÂÂve had snow here in Massachusetts in April lots of times and once in awhile, even one in May. I hope you are only getting a flurry and not actual snow on the ground. Robins are too cheerfulâ¦.lol. YouâÂÂre a riot, Kevin! Hang in there, all! It canâÂÂt be much longer now. rouge21, I really have just a Canon Point and Shoot camera. A Powershot A630. I almost always just leave it on Automatic too. I have two methods of getting a photo IâÂÂm happy with, one is I take a lot so I will get at least a couple of good ones, (g) and I steady the camera on something solid when I can. One of those hellebore photos, I took three of them freehand and then I took the same shot from the same direction by stabilizing the camera on something and it was so much better than the three I took freehand. So you might try that with the camera you have and see if it makes a difference. IâÂÂve also taken photos with a tripod and thought it made a real difference too, but I rarely use one any more, itâÂÂs just too much trouble. Oh, I forgot, there is a third consideration that helps, and that is the time of day you take the photo. I always try to get out either very early morning or late afternoon and not usually in the middle of the day. And that is my entire repertoire of photo taking tips that I remember and useâ¦lol.

I couldn't see that closely, Linda. It was too high up in the tree. The feathers on the Carolina Wren do not look long enough for this bird that I saw. I checked out the wrens, knowing they were smaller birds, but nothing looked really similar, but it's hard to tell from that distance. Maybe I'll see it again. The birds have not been coming down into the yard since I've been letting one of my cats out to play. George dearly loves it outdoors, but his mere presence in the garden prevents many birds from coming closer. I'll have to leave him inside this week so I can check them out. I do have resident house wrens and was just thrilled to see the cedar waxwings, although I think I broke my neck trying. LOL! I just use a lot of Icy Hot! Hee Hee. MissSherry - that is a beautiful moth! I just love these decorative moths! Is it a geometrid? Susan

Oh, my goodness, that tulip is GORGEOUS, Mikey! That whole area of your garden is so pretty. Thanks for sharing the rock rose image, too! I'm still waiting for mine to bloom. The rain (as I type this, in fact) has kept mine plastered to the ground lately. I'll be so happy when it springs back up and starts blooming. :) Brenda

THANKS for commenting everyone. Jean, you are right....Zeus will always be MY baby. I am glad you are trying foxgloves. I hope they prosper for you. Here they re-seed like crazy so I keep getting more. Linda, that little primrose keeps coming back every spring and blooms it's head off. It was a potted grocery store flower I got as a gift one winter and I planted it outside that spring wondering if it could survive and it most certainly has! It's the very first thing to bloom here, even before tulips and other spring bulbs. It's been in bloom for 3 weeks already. Andrea, I also have 3 grands under age 3 so we have that in common....(counting the one in utero)....and I agree, they sure do wear you out. I just babysit the other 2 but this baby coming will be living with me so I don't anticipate getting any sleep after this month...haha. Debra, so good to hear from you! I walk around my garden and think of you when I see the daylilies from you growing and look forward to your gorgeous photos soon. Avedon, LOL....Zeus probably wouldn't even mind wearing a diaper he is more human than feline! Mantis, these are the daylilies that didn't come back from the winter: Berry Cheesecake, Rapid Eye Movement, Navajo Princess and Siloam Cinderella. I dug down yesterday and there was nothing there, just a trace of mushy roots so I know they're toast. I had each of them for at least 3 winters and never had a problem. Rita, my tulips could never rival yours but they are what's left that still blooms. Probably this will be the last of them since tulips usually only bloom well a couple of years here then just come up as leaves. I do enjoy them but hate having to spend more money to replant so often, so I will just enjoy yours! Celeste