You won't believe this but try Wal-Mart! The super center here in Clanton have onion sets, seed potatoes (several kinds!), asparagus even! Those peas hmm, I'm not real sold on. I find if I don't sow them back in Jan/Feb, the heat saps 'em before I get enough for a stir fry! Also remember, since we are still experiencing some very cold nights, some of the more tender plants you may set out would benefit from a garden "blanket" (row cover) to prevent frost damage

Robyn, I can do a link to my thread last year, 5-20-2011, called Spring time montage of the back yard . Front not included. Link enclosed. Pea and pond gravel are used exclusivity in all my beds. No mulch. On occasion I will add a bag or two where it has become thin but not very often. I started with the front in 1998 doing 1 large island or two small ones a year. I finished my last two in the spring of 2011. The wife and I are now in a maintain mode continuing to critique, add and replace plants ad needed. Three photos of my last two islands. Actually 4 photos. Dave 3-31 2011 Left of center I added the Picea abies 'Cobra' in the circle as and after thought for balance and the fact it was a darn right cool focal point specimen. Here is a link that might be useful: Spring time montage

Eden (climber): 3 grafted roses in 2nd year. They are extremely healthy with amazing blooms. Last year they didn't repeat a lot but I guess because they were still young. They don't have any fragrance but with all their positive sides, they are perfect just the way they are. I think their magnificent looks on arbors or pergolas inspire people to grow climbing roses. Golden Celebration: the open bloom and the bud next to each other are just too adorable. Julia Child: this tree rose exceeds all expectations. Bewitched: this bloom looks like it was in a fight with a thorny cane and came out smiling with scars and all. I named it "The Survivor" :) Marilyn Monroe: every bloom is a perfect bloom.

Thanks, everyone! Re rose sizes - Wollerton Old Hall, grafted, will start its third year in my garden. I grow it freestanding - its 6 feet round and is only 5 feet tall as the canes have arched over. It will make a great climber. Strawberry Hill is 5 years old and also grafted. I grew it as a shrub and the pencil thin canes couldn't support the trusses of flowers. When it started throwing out canes 6 feet long, I started growing it as a climber by fanning the canes against a fence. It's definitely much better grown that way. The canes are thin and pliable, and if it weren't for the thorns, training this climber would be a dream. Unfortunately, it doesn't get too many laterals. The laterals are long so have to be tied back. It blooms on the ends of canes. It's now 8 feet wide in either direction, and only 2-3 feet deep. Flower size varies from 4 inches to 2 inches. Let me know if there are other roses you want to know the size of, Iris_gal. Nik - PAoK has powdery mildew and blackspot all through the year in my garden. Does that help to disenable you ? :-) Catspa - I started growing Austins for instant gratification and to be replaced once my tea roses were big enough. Well, the teas grew backwards and most of them died, and more than 7 years later the Austins continue on in my garden. I'll PM you. I'd like to know more about what you observed with your Madame Antoine Mari. I checked the roots of Mel's Heritage and there were no visual indications of any problems. I don't have gophers here. I had a daylily blooming in March which has flowered for the last 10 years only in August. In case you are interested, my post on Mel's Heritage is here.