@duluthinbloomz4 I know I have at least three types aside from my Dream Queen, because three are HUGE greens, one is small green and one is varigated. I'm going to a local hosta farm this weekend to try to locate some "different" varieties, and relocating my plain jane green and varigated ones to a different spot. I have a Dream Queen I need to plant, but I want stuff like Brave Attempt, White Feather, Blue Ivory and Stained Glass...anything but the solid greens! Although I *might* get a Niagara Falls because it looks so neat. So, on the theme garden front, so far I have: Sea Shell Cosmos Yellow Sand Coreopsis Sand Love Grass "Nautical mix" petunias Lake Currants Cottage pinks (Dianthus) Summer Breeze Hosta Beach Music Day Lily Great Lakes gold hosta Coastal Mist bearded iris Toy Boat dwarf Iris Beach Dance iris Ship Shape Iris Lake Effect day lily Lakeside Pebbles Hosta Aye Captian day lily Great Lakes Gladiola Sea Lavender Sea holly Queen O The Lakes rose Sea thrift Rosa rugosa/beach rose The area is probably only about 6' deep by 10' or so wide so I won't need a HUGE amount of plants. I plan on making a list, then researching zones, heights, sun/shade requirements and bloom times to create a garden plan. This one won't be going in until next year for sure, although I might pick up some plants here and there as I come across them.

Willow can be an important early spring pollen. I think it is actually rather low in nutrition (protein) but it comes early and the bees take what they can. Red maple is another early source of both pollen and nectar...again I think the pollen is fairly low in protein. I have been told bees will work coltsfoot in spring but I have never seen it. I thought most species of witch hazel bloom late in the fall and experienced keepers say the bees will certainly use it if the temps are high enough for them to forage. I guess in some regions it blooms early spring instead? Fall pollen storage is pretty critical for honeybees. "bee bread" is how they store it, a mixture of pollen and honey that is cultured with yeast and fungi. In the north, It's what they use to start rearing their first rounds of new bees to begin replacing the old spent winter bees.... and it happens before their are any blooms coming off and snow is still on the ground. I think many of the native pollinators overwinter as either dormant stocked larva or solitary mated females/queens so I don't know if the timing of their needs coincide.

I live in Vermont up high in the mountains. I have the same problem! Anyone that can share any wisdom, I would be really appreciative. Had the worst, coldest winter ever. Have a pond that is ~5 feet deep. Ice has been off the pond for a couple of weeks now, still no sign of any koi. Last 5 winters had no issue, always saw them come back, and swim. Is it still too cold? (only saw a couple of small dead ones floating, pretty normal from year to year). Have about 100+ koi. The pond is roughly 20,000+ gallon pond. Should I give up and think they are all dead? Why wouldn't I see more floaters at this point if they were? I do have fox... coyote, bear, racoons, but they've never been an issue before. It's just so strange not to see them at all, despite the very cold spring we are having, after the cold winter. Again, any help/thoughts would be sincerely appreciated.

Carly, from your e-mail address name I'm assuming you live in Ontario. If I'm mistaken, sorry, I'll just assume then you don't. Two hours out of Toronto....that speaks resorts...and two hours north/north-east/north-west of Toronto and you are in the Lakes District.....water, water everywhere and by the time you want to use it, not a drop to drink...its frozen. Ontario is ice-fishin country. Ontario is Snowmobile Country....on planned trails where the resort you attend will pay a fee for its guests to use. Ontario Lakes Dristricts are resort country....pick and choose from hundreds of such places to entertain and dine you from large in hotel/motels type accommodation to individual cottages and part of the resort. Some of these would be house-keeping types...others you would stay in a cottage but be entertained and eat in the main house/lodge. Ice-fishing depends on just how cold it gets between now and then. Lake Simcoe...a rather large lake..just a bit smaller than Lake St Clair....will freeze over and then its the ice-fishing capital of the world. Whitefish and Lake Trout are the price catches. There again, most resorts will take you out to a ice-fishing hut and supply you with all the gear necessary to set up shop. On Lake Simcoe....one hour or so north of Toronto this is one of the most common of tourist entertainments. If the chosen spot is close to restaurants and such, meals can be delivered to the hut by hut operators. Visit "Ontario.ca.com"....and follow the information that is readily available. Ontario Touring is another site. Ontario Resorts is another. Most are family friendly and cater to children of all ages. Santa can be counted on to visit.