Ciao all, I hope everyone had a great day out in the garden today. I know it's a back to work day for most people, but my goodness, what glorious weather to be outside. Thanks to all of you for such interesting trades and also for your knowledge and wisdom regarding perennials. I have SO much to learn about them still, thanks for your patience in answering my newbie questions. Tristan grabbed some things from the middle circle which I have no clue regarding the names of the plants or what sort of care they need, so as soon as I'm able, I'm hoping to post some pictures of them for ID. I'm so excited about all the lilacs! They're small, but I know they'll fill that space nicely and I can't wait to discover what colours they turn out to be. I put the dahlias in full sun and just barely covered the root/tuber/rhizome thingies. I hope that's what they need. Tomatoes/eggplants/peppers/tomatillos/basil all got a full day outside and tomorrow will be their first major dose of full sun. I'm hoping to get them in the ground before the weekend. Duane finished 2 additional tomato beds as a birthday present for me and got all the 8' stakes in this morning. The soaker hoses are all in place and now it's just a matter of waiting a few days for the plants to get fully hardened off. Big hugs to all of you, I wish the weather had been more pleasant but it was still a very fun event and thanks again to sydseeds for organizing the swap and for everyone's wonderful enthusiasm and generosity. Get planting everyone!! Julianna

WooHoo! Nicole - so glad to have you getting the ball rolling for the fall swap. Ajax sounds great. Last year CherylnPickering got us swapping in the parking lot of St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering, and in the past years fall swaps we've been around the Oshawa area, but how about you connect with your easterly GTA newbies and maybe they can come up with a good location and then we can figure out a date. In 2005 we had it on October 1st; last year the date was September 24th - so our options are plenty with respect to an east GTA location and a good date for us all. Feel free to create a new thread on the Fall 2007 GTA East Tailgater where we can iron out the date and location - and I'll start ground layering plants that don't take to root division so I can brings some new things that are already rooted. I can't believe how well the rose of sharon twigs I got last year rooted and now are ready to come out of pots and into gardens - I'll leave them be until the fall in pots to bring them and a good supply of other rooted plants to bring for this fall swap. Cheers! Sydseeds

That is wonderful news!! Times are hard everywhere and it is pretty scary to me. I am praying for our entire nation...it just has to get better soon. Deb

The only months without Statutory Holidays in Ontario are November, March or April depending upon when Easter falls , and June. I understand there is a move to make November 11th a Stat so we just need to nail June. The neat thing about our holidays is that they are Statutory so employers MUST grant the day off OR pay holiday pay premiums . This weekend is Victoria Day weekend and marks the official start of cottage season here on our lake. Busy, busy weekend culminating in Fireworks. Traditional menu for my gang is BBQ ribs, potato salad, slaw and lots of cold beer........mind you the lobster and crab sounds better!!! Looks like a nice dry, warm weekend......Can't wait to kick off summer!!!!