No Pro-mix--still have enough Fafard left to finish spring sowing--and no manure but a gallon pot of blooming woodland phlox that are SO pretty!!! Also a hanging basket of petunias, a pot of campanula/bellflower and a couple stacks of various size pots for this year's WS plants. My daughter came here to plant shop on Saturday and left with several milk jugs of seedlings, a kousa dogwood I grew from seed via WS last year and a few other potted WS perennials. Hope Mother's Day was special for all the WS moms out there!

Thanks, you guys! I'm not sure why this particular Clematis began blooming so early... a lot of things here seemed to start early this season. Normally, the east coast would be ahead of us by a little bit, I think... but this year, it seems like we're ahead of them! All I can say is... you just never know with Illinois weather! This is the first year for the Giant White Alliums, and I actually do hope they spread! We've got a really big area to fill in, so volunteer or by offset would be fine by me! Anything to help choke out the weeds and the poison ivy! There are several different types of Clematis... early, mid, and later bloomers... I think we've got all three represented on the dog fence... the only real difference is in time of bloom and how you prune them. I just let them go wild! The blooms are huge and spectacular on many varieties, and the shapes and colors are numerous, so the choices are great! They tend to take a couple of years to get settled in, but after that, they go nuts! I prefer growing things that don't take a lot of maintenance, and Iris, Daylilies and Clematis are three perennials that can be left to their own devices for several years before needing any work. Columbine is wonderful for early color, and for attracting hummingbirds! No maintenance there, either! I love an eclectic garden... one that keeps changing throughout the seasons, showing off different shapes and colors... and I love plants that continuously bloom from around May or June until frost claims them in the autumn... from the first bulbs to pop in early spring, to the last flowers to fade in fall, I try to plant things that keep the garden looking fresh and different all year! Gardening here is like a dream come true... except that it isn't all really mine. But I'm not complaining a bit... I get all this free experience and beauty, and when we move, I get to take armloads of plants with! What's not to love?!

Almost to late to send out Mothers day wishes Here in Ontario where I am , after several days of pleasant warm weather, today I awoke to snow on my garden beds. It was gone by ten oclock but is cold and windy YUK Did go out photographing wild flowers in bloom Some didn't look so happy with the weather either

I'm fortunate to still have both Mom and Dad around, 76 and 81. I have them to thank for my gardening addiction. I was told "don't bring me any more flowers I can't take care of what I have". Being inspired by this great web site, I put together a little planter for her. Since Mom's only 20 minutes from Cory's, I better take some cash and boots, never know when Mom's up for a road trip. Happy Mother's Day Steve ps Ken-your kidding right LOL