Your winter in Alabama is so different from points north. That rose doesn't really know that winter's coming, in fact, it has slowed down, but is still growing and probably won't go dormant at all. Don't cut it back now. That would just make it put out new growth the first three day sunny spell you'll have. By February, the rose will have started its 2011 growth. In zone 7a your rose will probably start putting out new growth in early to late January, depending on weather in late December. Watch for the swelling of the new buds (the ones at the base of the leaves that will probably be hanging on. You want to dig it just when those buds start. Then keep it in a cool dry and dark place with a slight bit of moisture. Not wet, moist. That way you're extending its version of winter dormancy, and it will be ready to replant in February.

Thats really exciting, i'm glad you had a great day. Bummer about having to wait to get let in. Winter markets are always iffy for me. One of my markets is a year round Wed. 2-7 which i've been going to for 4 years straight. I've only taken a few days off when the weather was so bad that it's just silly to go. If market day coincides with a nice clear day we usually have a great turn out (like last week, one of my best of the year). Other times, not so good. By keeping an eye on the weather predictions you can usually harvest accordingly. Even if your market is inside (lucky!) the turn out will still vary by weather, holidays, etc. All in all, I love the winter market. People are cooking more than they do in summer and seem willing to try things they usually wouldn't (celeriac or parsnips for instance). There is much less competition amongst growers and many of the things I bring are less perishable. If you have enough produce to go through the new years i'd think you should try it. Next year you can plant more for winter harvest. As far as the lettuce goes,,,,people sure are funny sometimes, huh?

I just got back from Lowes, I went to see if they carried fusion paint. I had the lady check the price of a pot, to see if maybe they were marked down. The price in the store was $26.74, basketweave looking design 18 inches. They had 2 colors, I took both to have her check the price. Sometimes things are on sale, and not marked. The gold one was on sale for $9.74, the blue one rang up $3.74, I bought 12 of the blue ones, for less than $50. Now I do not even need to buy the fusion paint, I can just start potting up those plants. Thank you Jim, I would never have gone today, except for the paint. Barbra

Warm temps here in Ohio, could get up to 65 today and even 70 tomorrow. Regardless, I put down my leaf mulch yesterday. Normally one waits until the ground is at least frozen a little. It was a nice day and rain was expected over night so I did it, trying to keep the mulch away from the base of the perennials - which are still green! And I swear I passed an eye clinic that had beautiful green lawns that looked as though someone had mowed recently.