Please don't panic but...... I live on the eastern side of the Rocky Mtns - in Alberta and the temps did plunge last nite - -30C (-22F) and I talked to my rose grower sister-in-law this morning who lives 100 miles northeast of me and she said the temperature dropped to -38C (-36F) overnite. These temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year but what has surprised me is the massiveness of the cold air over Canada. The closer you are to the geographic center of Canada, the colder it is with wind chills of -50C(-58F) plus. And the long term projections (for what they are worth) are more of the same - even Vancouver/Victoria are not getting above freezing. So gulp, there could be cool air heading south. I've experimented with various winterizing methods over the years and have the following conclusions: 1) Snow cover would probably be all you need, but it doesn't address spring cooling/thawing conditions which I have found to be more devastating than cold temperatures. 2) It's easy to protect roses using carpet (used) and foil insulation (3/8" thickness - this is not fiberglass). If you have snow, shovel that on top of your covers for extra insurance. 3) Don't be in a rush to remove the insulating materials - if there is a chance of cooler temperatures, just leave it on. 4) Roses planted against a basement wall benefit from an additional heat source. 5) I haven't had much success with plastic. To define how cold it actually got under my insulating covers, two winters ago I installed a wireless temperature transmitter in a protected outside rose bed. It gave me continuous temperature readings monitored from inside my house. To my surprise, on a -43C (-45F) winter day, the temperature in the protected rose bed was -3.8C (26F) - my roses thought they were on the west coast - Zone 8. Rose bushes away from the house, but also protected by this method (i.e.rosa officianalis, Cardinal Richelieu, Comte de Chambord,Common Moss, Tuscany Superb, Charles de Mils and Le Belle Sultane) have minimal cane tip die back. The natural ground warmth is reflected back down to the roses and the extreme cold ambient temperatures are reflected back to the atmosphere - using the foil insulation. So don't be overly threatened by cold temperatures - just be prepared. What I have described above works for me, in my growing Zone, and could easily be modified for more moderate growing Zones. Carpet is all that would be required in many areas. There would be a problem with plants that could not be "bent over" due to sturdy canes. I wish you good luck! Doug

I like the look of mountains. In fall we usually spend a few days in the Smokies, crunching leaves underfoot while roaming around the park and the mountains. Now that, I find breathtaking. When renting a house, my main criteria is a spectacular mountain view with a house attached to it! A couple of years ago we visited Wa and I thought it must be the prettiest place on earth. But our travels were limited to the Olympic Peninsula. Again, we gravitated to the mountains, rainforests, and west coast beaches. Vera's terrain in eastern Wa is totally different. I guess the only common denomonater is lush, beautiful flowers. But in think Vera could grow beautiful flowers in concrete. Most vacations we spend on ocean beaches- Caribbean in winter, Gulf beaches in summer. Why do I live in Ohio??? Karen

para, We moved up here to NH from the eastern shore of MD and my husband promised me a greenhouse if I agreed to move. It took 7 years to get it but it is well worth it, but I've been enjoying it since the fall of 2001. Shrubs, I guess you were too busy admiring the covered bridge when you were here and didn't bother to look up to see our house and if you were here in the summer or early fall, you probably COULDN'T see it because of the leaf cover. I love living here now that I have a greenhouse to keep me sane through the winter. I'll have to post a picture or two of our view of Mt. Washington at sunrise...stunning! Here's a pic of part of the presidential range at sunset. This was taken from our deck. I also included a picture of a close friend that is no longer with us, his name was Sidetongue. He was hit by a car back in 2002. He was a regular visitor at our house and was kept very satisfied with leftovers and catfood. He LOVED pizza and spaghetti. He is fondly remembered and sadly missed. Kathy

Skybird thanks for the picture. What a way to start a morning. Now if only you would include the mountain smell when you post them. LOL. Les you said you set them out on the porch. Is it covered? If moving from the light shelves outside being that I work on the weekdays and can't gradually adjust a plant to sun shine I use several methods. Also remember wind is just as bad till they get acclimated to it. If I'm going to put them out for sometime I put them against the north side of the house with some morning sun and protected from the afternoon sun. Then I will move them to the east side of my house so they get morning sun. I have moved some out the last few weeks while I've been around on weekends and days off and even on the east side an hour around noon with the temps hitting close to 80 is enough. Then just gradually increase. The other method I use a lot is my cold frames. One has tinted windows and the other I just pull a shade cloth over. A person can use different things for shade cloth which also serves as a wind break. I've either hardened off on in the process of hardening off around 300 tomato plants already. I sunburned a few and windburned a few when the wind kicked up and I was gone for a few minutes. Neither hurts a plant long term. Remember when you set them out they are well watered. The water will go away fast. I had a tray I set out Friday morning that looked fine. Didn't intend to water it till later that afternoon. After 2 hours they were laying over. I took them inside and water them well and they were fine. The problem with them is they are 5-8 inches tall and needed potted up. So the small cells especially those with 2 plants in them don't hold enough water when their uptake increase rapidly. It was the last tray I was going to pot up and finished it yesterday. Now have some in 18 oz cups I need to pot up. Growing plants isn't hard but we all have had to learn the tricks and also I continue to make mistakes. I get busy doing something and don't get something else done on time. I enjoy it and also it is rewarding when all goes well. I'm experimenting with grafting this year. A total new learning experience. And at times I've been about to throw my arms up. But you never learn if you don't try. In your area containers might work well if you have a place to move them inside and back out when needed. They sell some with wheels. Mine are either nursery pots and the biggest are molasses feed tubs. Which are too big to move much. There is some new dwarf varieties available. I'm trying a few this year just so I will be able to recommend them if they do well. Best of luck with your gardening this year. Jay