Ya know, one that has scientific name, growing conditions, etc., etc.. I have some vegetable & flower seeds along with some small plants I would be willing to trade for one. =) Please let me know (msg through here). Thanks! - Steve

MG - We recently switched from a commercial-grade DSL account that came with lots of server space, which we used for one web site; we were also able to serve several more sites from our home using a little linux computer - an old PC. I've moved all of those sites - some have gone to pro web design-host outfits, one (a band) moved to MySpace, and one (local league of women voters) is being hosted by Network Solutions (that's the main registrar for domain names). Garden photos, which I used to slip into one of the little non-profit sites that were on our home server, are now on Google's Picasa server (highly recommended for ease of use). I also have a blogspot blog - that's another Google thing - which I completely neglect most of the year. It's easy to insert images stored at Picasa onto blogspot pages. The blog format takes a little getting used to, and it's not perfect for everything, but is a great way to store things like short articles.

Books are a very personal call. Each of us has our own favourite (or favourites!). Below is a list of some books that may be useful arranged into three categories: General/Overview Books: Best Clematis - Stefan Buczachi Clematis for Everyone. Previously called Making the most of Clematis - Raymond J. Evison The Gardener's Guide to Growing Clematis - Raymond J. Evison Clematis For Colour and Versatility - Keith & Carol Fair Clematis for all Seasons - John Feltwell Clematis - Barry Fretwell Trouble Free Clematis - The Viticellas - John Howells Choosing Your Clematis - John Howells Clematis And The Ranunculaceae - Deborah Kellaway Clematis - Christopher Lloyd Clematis - The New Plant Library - Andrew Mikolajski Practical Clematis Growing - Ian Murray Success with Clematis - Lesley Young Growing Clematis with other plants: Companions To Clematis - Growning Clematis with other plants - Marigold Badcock Clematis as Companion Plants - Barry Fretwell The Rose and the Clematis as good companions - John Howells Reference books: Clematis The Genus - Christopher Grey-Wilson The Genus Clematis - Dr. Magnus Johnson The International Clematis Register and Checklist 2002 - Victoria Matthews An Illustrated Encylopedia of Clematis - Dr. Mary Toomey, Everett Leeds and Charles Chesshire Clematis Societies: Joining a Clematis Society is one of the best ways to get information and meet other people who love clematis. Most societies offer advice and information about growing, pests, diseases, new cultivars and other informational meetings and topics. Other Resources: There are many resources on the web for clematis information. Ranging from the comprehensive list of species and cultivars found at 'Clematis on the Web' hosted by Hull University, through the many personal sites put together by clematis enthusiasts, to the many specialty nurseries with on-line catalogues and cultivation information. Either a search engine or URL references posted on the GardenWeb Clematis Forum will give you links to these sites. We cannot post URLs directly on the FAQ pages.

I live in New Zealand and we have fairly cold and very wet winters. I keep my outdoor potted gerberas fairly dry under the house eaves through winter, with just enough dampness to keep them alive. They completely die off all winter, but act deciduously and pop their heads up above the soil again in spring. Don't throw those plants out, sick or if they die back in the cold. Sick and dead looking ones come back as well. I use a systemic fungicide to keep them in good shape, but if you do lose them, try keeping them as dormant plants, only just damp and cool and they might just come back again for you. Mine often do after an attack, often in autumn. If they die by being left in full sun and heat, same thing, they will go underground for a while and then return - perennials. They cannot stand our bright sun during summer and I have mine under shade cloth. I would split them up when in full growth, say late spring/early summer, depending on your climate - never in autumn or winter though. Then any damage to rots etc can recover quickly. When plants are dormant or slowed down in growth, they are less able to resist disease.