Rob, We also live in NY. Last week it was in the 70's here, now it's been freezing again. We had put our potted figs out last week and they started getting small leaves, then we brought them in the house and put them in a cool sunny room the evening before the "killing freeze" returned. I was so suprised this morning to see a little breba fig on on of my new fig trees that I potted last spring. I am going to let the new leaves and breba live, they have brought such joy to me. This is actually my first breba...I will let put them back outside when it is warm enough. Terry

That's crazy that Calgary had an unusually mild winter - Saskatchewan had a colder and more snowy winter than we have had in years! Looks like all the fruit I planted last year has made it through, my honeyberries are just about to leaf out. I received my roses order from Corn Hill today, so despite the drying winds and +26 temperature, into the ground they went - with lots of water of course! I'm tempted to plant my garden with how warm it has become, but I think I'll wait until next weekend at least. This post was edited by weeper on Mon, May 6, 13 at 20:35

Papou--I still am praying for you and I hope your most recent scan proves to be very good for you and that you get to go to Florida and enjoy the sunshine there this winter! How did you pick Margate to winter over in, out of all of Florida? I grew up in Ocala/Silver Springs and lived there till I married and moved up NORTH!! :O) Joyce--that is some SERIOUS SNOW!!! I confess that I still love the snow after all these many years of living up NORTH! Beats the dreary gray skies we have if there isn't any on the ground!! It always seems like a good reason for me to curl up with a fire and a good book and let all the other 'dailies' take a rest! Carol--I've been too busy to really do any jewelry making but I hope I will finally get back 'at it' before too long--but I do have LOTS to do in the meantime! Good news--the baby has finally turned in the right direction--thank You, Lord and if he doesn't get going before next Monday, the 26th, the doctor insists she will induce her!! Our daughter does not want to do that so we are praying he will "come on down" before then!!! I love the idea of making organic soap!!! I know that could be really fun and profitable if you choose to sell them!!! I love the scent of hyacinths, jasmine, lilac and honeysuckle, peonies, lily of the valley, and..... 'Plantaginea' ;o) just in case you need any suggestions of fragrances! :o) Char--I've been wanting to do one of those penny bowling balls, myself and even have all the pennies to do it and I'm sure I have a bowling ball stored in the top of our garage, too! Please post a pic. of yours when it's done! I even have the instructions on making one---somewhere on this computer!!! Oh, Connie--hope you see this before you leave us---I bought the 'Fishdom' game (CD) from Amazon for $12.99 plus shipping--unless you buy something else to bring the amount up to $25, then it's free shipping!! Beats paying more for it online, especially if you want the back-up CD with it!!! Love that little game--way too much!!!! So good to hear from you all, and Papou--I hope and pray to hear more good things from you, before long!!

True blackberries are apparently wild in southern mn up to the Twin Cities, but I have never seen them. It's one fruit I could never understand all the hullabaloo about. Since the center stick in the berry is not removeable, I think maybe I just have an aversion to that. As I remember (many years ago), the canes were quite vicious. I would think the tip method would work though. If you already have wild currants or gooseberries there, I would let it stop you from planting more, but I would still choose the rust resistant cultivars. About the five needle pines, this will help you distinguish: http://www.bonsaiforbeginners.com/Bonsai_for_beginners-pine-pruning.html Scroll to the last photos. There are always inaccuracies on the web. You need to be cognizant. This one is completely WRONG! http://www.shohin-europe.com/ARTICLES-MATSU-differences.html I have never made pie with the honeyberries. I eat them plain with sugar (even better - honey), or make honeyberry brown betty instead of apple. Still working on the correct spicing, although they really don't need any. Juicing would be excellent, I'm sure. And there would be very little, if any, pulp left. Plants might produce a few berries the second year, but will really start the third. From two plants you should get enough for a pie in the fourth or fith season. I am not sure, but I would think they are quite pH adaptable, being a Lonicera. Mine are in a pH of 7. Yes, I think it is the exotic nature of them that keeps the price up. That, and that none are seed grown to my knowledge. A good thing in my opinion. Also, to my knowledge, I am the only one clanging the invasive bell. I understand it might be region specific, and there are relatively few people who have even grown them as long as I have, but in fact most Lonicera species are invasive here, at least to some degree, if not terribly so. I really can't understand the resistance I've encountered to the idea that honeyberries could be invasive too.