If you have metal purlins, I wouldn't be afraid. If the snow gets heavy, then knock it off. My PVC purlins were just not strong enough for the snow and the wind. they did bow in but none were broke. Also, my big buildings the purlins are too flat. This means the snow didn't want to slide. In knew that when I built it. The PVC one that is in a hoop shape was just fine. I went in and knocked the snow off and didn't have a problem. Bagardens: I did pull the plastic off the two big ones, but I did leave it on the small one and I am planning on leaving it on, the smallest one. I have some lettuce and spinach planted in there. I am just experimenting with how well it will overwinter and then next year I will probably try to have more. Jay

Not bad here today. Temp is 28 with no wind and partly cloudy. No sun, but very bright sky. I guessed that we had 10-12 inches of snow but after I went outside in it decided 10 was a closer number. The official total came in at 9, but it sure looked like more than that here. The county made two passes with the snow plow yesterday morning and our neighbors said the road to town was pretty good except for our very steep hills which were still a little tricky. He was making sure he could get out because they were leaving for a cruise yesterday. LOL We have only been out long enough to feed the birds and clear the front porch. I had cooked so much food in preparation for the possibility of losing power that I haven't even had to cook much all week, so I have had a little mini vacation from the kitchen. We have been looking at the Lee Valley catalog on-line and wishing spring would hurry. I have my tomato seed on my desk, but still haven't decided which ones to plant this year. I got some really good ones from Jay and I know I have to plant them. I have 3 types of Goliath which I am going to try for the first time. I think my main crop will be Sioux this year, but I also realized yesterday that I didn't have any Arkansas Traveler seed and I always try to have a couple of those. Luckily they are usually on the local seed racks. I have lots of heirlooms to choose from after my two trips to Baker Creek, the seed swap, and my windfall from Jay. I will most likely plant a number of determinates in containers so I have room for more big plants in my garden area. I can keep containers outside in an area outside my fenced garden. So many choices and so lille space..... I think I may delay planting my seeds a bit. I had planned to start some in mid February, but now I am thinking that will probably be two early since that is only a couple of weeks away. I did a small amount of winter sowing, but I can't even see the jugs right now. I know they are still there tho because I can see an elevated pile of snow. LOL If I start anything mid February, it will probably be peppers. I usually start them at the same time as tomatoes, but just don't put them in the garden until a little later. Instead, I may start them and when they germinate, I will put them under lights and start my tomatoes because the shelf above the light seems to provide the perfect temp for the tomatoes to germinate. I guess I am a cheap gardener because I don't own a heat mat, but have really not found it necessary. I have plastic domes to cover the trays to hold in moisture until germination occurs. After I put them under lights, I throw an aluminum camp blanket over the top of the shelves to reflect the light and trap a little extra heat from the lights, until they are a few inches tall because I grow them in a cool room. The peppers seem to grow a little more slowly than the tomatoes so I can handle them inside for a little longer. I try to get everything outside during the day as early in the year as I can, but it is a big job to carry things in and out once they are in larger pots. I have plastic pots that are a perfect fit to have 8 in a seed flat, so once they get big enough to be in that size pot, it takes a lot of trips to get them out into the sunshine. I need a greenhouse.

4" on the island. It had almost all melted by 0600. There were still some spots here and there. Since the weathermen/women were so accurate again in their forecasting we didn't expect either snow nor such cold weather so nothing was brought in. After working until 9pm I wasn't about to go out in the snow and sleet to try and find plants to bring in. Not to mention it's still a bit dangerous in the yard with the fallen tree and the mess that still exists. So once I bring myself to go look I'm sure there are a lot of dead plants. I think I'm going to just give up gardening. Ike,falling trees, no water, full sun, snow, freezing and now that AT&T has pretty much killed everything left in the front yard.... there is a hole about 10' long, 6' deep and 8-9' wide, it goes from the curb to the fenceline, I think they are trying to tunnel under the fence. They actually dug up a few plants, without digging up their roots, but mostly they just dug them up and buried them under all that muck. Their plan is just to push everything back into the hole. That will leave a totally disgusting muddy mess instead of flowers, a path, the sidewalk...... It was so sad I almost started crying. The only rose that survived was butchered and then thrown on top of the plants they didn't dig up. They threw all the stuff they dug into the middle of the beds, then they stomped through those. What a mess. I plan to yell at AT&T daily for the next few weeks. Tally HO!

After a 13-wk absence (except for the odd post) I am finally back home. No hostas in Dubai.....but I have some plans brewing in my head for the not too distant future, lol! Poolside at the Ritz, this past Wednesday, temperature 28-29C(winter in Dubai) around 4 p.m. Landing in Toronto around 3:30 aftn two days later - 13 1/2-hr flight I'm home! Brrrrrr Some pots frozen and snow covered on deck that I have to lay on sides yet. This is a great post! The photos are fabulous, starting with Sunnywood's and ending with Bruce's! Came home to find new AHS Journal amongst some mail. So excited, I ripped cellophane off and got into it ASAP. DAN, your Skywriter is the best picture in the Journal!!! I hope we Canadians don't have to wait too long to obtain one! I would buy two for myself immediately! Stunning, gorgeous, beautiful hosta. Glad to be back home....so glad to get into the forum too. Missed all of you. :-) Jo