I got to this thread late, but just want to say that I LOVE forsythia! Peonies too! I don't know whether this has to do with my having lived all my gardening life in mild zone 8 climates with long wet winters, but I never get tired of that blast of early spring yellow. Forsythia is common here, too, Suzy, so it isn't a question of rarity. When I moved from Florida to western Washington years ago, suffered through the long dark winter, and then saw first thing in spring the forsythia lighting up yards, I swore I would have it. Crocuses likewise, and for the same reason. Of course the shrub has to be allowed to grow naturally as a specimen plant and not be tortured into the shocking blobs one often sees, nor planted in masses. For the rest we're having a gray and miserable end of winter here too, even though we are in zone 8; still, quite soon we'll have spring which is lurking behind the current curtains of rain and clouds, so are among the fortunate. The snow has melted--at LAST--and the hellebores, sarcococcas, fragrant daphne, and first fragrant violets are in bloom, as well as Cornus mas in the woods. Suzy, about peony foliage, how about the varieties that color well in fall? I don't think their foliage looks bad in the summer; it may not be striking, but there's nothing offensive about it. Concerning the blooms, I'm getting fond of the officinalis varieties. They bloom ahead of the lactifloras, which extends the season, and they take our climate fine, which is not surprising considering that the species is native to the Apennines. And all the herbaceous peonies are fun in the spring when I go looking for their emerging buds and watch them develop. Spring is on the way! Melissa This post was edited by melissa_thefarm on Wed, Mar 6, 13 at 6:16

Michelle, After I left Avon, I went to Dollar Tree in Norwood where I had previously purchased these wire hanging planters and that straw kind of stuff. The planters and straw were of course $1.00 each but they were all out. They called around for me when I mentioned the Children's Hospital and the Alston store had 10 left. I drove over there and scooped them up. I'll bring some potting mix on Saturday and maybe we can do something along the lines of buy the basket with "straw" for say $5.00 along with the plants and we'll plant it for you. Try to catch Dads with kids and get them to buy them as Mothers' Day gifts. The kids could do the planting themselves if they want - I have some of those disposable gloves. This way they can customize what they want and tell their Moms "I made it myself". Could try the same concept (gimmick?) with the pots. Maybe you could ask your husband if based on his experience this would work! It was great to meet you and the so, so nice people at Cosco. I'm looking forward to next Saturday.

MASTER GARDENERS PLANT SALE & OTHER EVENTS AT THE BOTANICAL CENTER APRIL 30, 2011 News release, by Jeanne Duffey "It's how I started my garden when I moved here 12 years ago," said Barbara St. Clair. Now president of the Master Gardeners of Greene County, St. Clair is enthusiastic about the group's annual plant sale to be held on Saturday, April 30, at the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave. Many of the hundreds of perennials and vegetables for sale are Master Gardener-grown plants gathered from the Xeriscape Garden on National Avenue and the Demonstration Garden at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. "These are successful plants, plants that our volunteer gardeners have thinned or divided from these two gardens," said St. Clair. Proceeds from the sale, chaired by Christy Jenkins and Mary Brown, benefit both public gardens. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. rain or shine, the event attracts thousands of area gardeners. "People line up at the gates at 6:30 in the morning to get the best selection," said St. Clair. "Quantities are limited and we close down when we run out of plants. Most plants are priced from $2 to $5, and some extraordinary specimens are $20." In addition to perennials and vegetables, the inventory includes house plants, herbs, bulbs, grasses, vines, ground covers, shrubs and trees, potted up and donated from Master Gardener gardens. "Just a few days ago, I saw some beautiful variegated Solomon's Seal, a wonderful shade plant, potted up, and some Japanese anemone, an essential in a home garden that blooms in the heat of August," said St. Clair. For more information about the plant sale, call the Master Gardener Hotline at 417.881.8909. After the sale at 11 a.m., the newly created Lois K. Boswell Memorial Library and the Robin Coulter Crabb-created stained glass in the Botanical Center atrium will be dedicated. The browsing and reference library is named in memory and honor of the mother of Friends of the Garden charter member Susan Boswell. Master Gardeners is one of several nonprofits that partner with Friends of the Garden to fulfill its mission of inspiring the discovery, understanding and appreciation of nature by creating and maintaining the more than two dozen botanical gardens that dot the countryside of the 114-acre public park and arboretum in southwest Springfield. Tax-deductible $25 annual memberships and contributions to the Friends of the Garden Growth and Maintenance Fund can be sent to P.O. Box 8566, Springfield, Missouri 65801. For more information, access FriendsoftheGarden.org, or call 417.891.1650. Here is a link that might be useful: Learn More About the Botanical Center & Gardens

mountaingirl - most everything I say is redundant as we have really beat on this tent subject here on this fourm! But you never know when you might hear of a new idea or a new style of tent. Obviously, since your shopping large tents, weight is not a big factor, at least not critical like for a back packer or even for Brian and his motorcycle. Let me ask, have you ever considered two tents, maybe two mid sized tents, rather than one large tent? I have a mid-sized nylon dome tent, 9'X 9' (6' center height), that I use for an overnight canoe trips, or even a short overnight or weekend "car camping" trip (I really have a pick-up truck). Now this tent is touted as being able to sleep 4-5 (and I suppose it could in an emergency), but there's plently of room for two and their gear and with my thinking, just comfortably right. What I like about this sized tent, and it being a dome tent, is it's weight of about 18 pounds and the ease of setting up and taking down. Should say that I also use this tent along with my small Starcraft popup camper - pitch it close to the camper and use it for a storage shed to keep camping and fishing gear out of sight. Over the years I've had different type tents, all the way from the small "pup" tents, to a large old timey canvas wall tent and even an umbrella tent that connected to the back of one of my station wagons of years past. Seems there were some other kinds of tents, too, but the point is all of them had their advantages and dis-advantages. Looking back at all of this mess, for what I do, I have to say I like canvas. Yes, it's a lot heavier and it cost more, but I don't think it required any more maintenance than nylon. So the bottom line for me, if I were in the market for a tent as my main stay (meaning that I did not have my tent trailer camper), I would think two tents: one like I presently have, a 9'X 9' nylon dome tent for traveling light, and a Kirkhams "Spring Bar" canvas tent for long stays. (Here's the idea what I'm talking about) - www.kirkhams.com Hippy touched on the subject ... just about everything has gone out of this country for manufacturing, except in this case, the Spring Bar tent, and that makes me all the more interested in having one. I realize there's a cost factor, but having two tents is a far cry cheaper than having a popup camper and a tent ... considerably so! Anyway, that's the best "profound wisdom" I can come up with today! Dale