I've never grown in zone 5 - so can't help you there, but thinking that columbines are easy from seed and usually an "early" flower. Foxy foxglove - though short - is usually reliable first year from seed. MarthaStewart.com has a Gardening tab that has Browse Plants and under that you can choose to browse plants by bloom time (you may want to browse spring and summer). I'd definately check before you count on her list (they have a dahlia as spring - unless it's greenhouse grown wouldn't even be blooming for me in zone 9 in spring ..). List a tad tedious as lists different varieties - say of tulips in spring - but an easy enough browse. Keep a notepad and pen in the car and make notes this year of things you see in others gardens/parks in bloom in June that you like. Another GREAT resource is a book Container Gardening by Paul Williams - browse it at a borders or barnes. If you're into Netflix get Rebecca's gardening Container Gardening volume - really fantastic ideas from different places (denver botanic garden, this grower/designer/that one..). You may want to plan more textures/colors from leaves and such than flowers to have good looking containers no matter what. (see next comment). Consider using a lot of "house plants" in your containers as you can grow them larger indoors over the winter and June should be fine - coleus is one I wouldn't winter sow for the event (unless you're doing it now) - take cuttings to grow inside over the winter of 2008/2009. Easy plants like "wandering jew" can give you good greens for arrangements - you could give them a big cutback 6 weeks before - stick stems in water (they'll root - that easy) them trim the rooted water cuttings for table arrangements. Also for arrangements - think greens. Note what trees have leafed out that you can insert small branches of, which shrubs - which are variegated or have different colors. There's a variegated leaf weigela that should be "in leaf" if not bloom at that time that would be lovely. Go through a "what's the worst that could happen" exercise (this will help you approach the day more calmly - you DO want to enjoy it - as you'll have reconciled yourself to the thought that things may not go perfectly). Say Rain that day - then you have tents if needed. Crushing rain within the week prior - then you have torn up flowers of the ones that were in bloom - so plan that you can trim and - worst case - spread lots of bark mulch for a very neat look (know where's the best place for mulch ahead of time). Totally different winter next year than this - say it's much warmer earlier or very late cold snaps - all your timing's off. You've already figured out the best places you can pick up flats of annuals and bark mulch. And so forth. Have some $$ in the budget for last minute fixes. Trim all flowering buds off your plants through mid-late May (say roses I'd go to about 5 weeks before the date) - push the plant to bloom when you want where it's possible. Fertilize roses around 2nd/3RD week of May. Every now and again remind yourself you're not superwoman. Coordinating the reception will be huge - the garden only a piece of it. And, you want to have enough energy left to enjoy the day itself. Don't plan on too much last detail stuff for the garden (you mention this is your oldest daughter - siblings and friends of siblings who'd be cheap labor you can train this year on how to spread mulch? plant a flat of annuals? You WILL be busy! Keep us informed and in the loop as you go through your planning this summer (we all love this kind of post - it's so much fun!)

Our 48X32 ft hoop house is up and the tomatoes are flowering amid cold weather. Our experience with the USDA people in North Little Rock, AR was great. They were helpful, knew what they were doing and were more like neighbors than bureaucrats. If they are going to help pay for it, they don't want to pay for trash that is going to blow away. We have been able to extend our tomato harvest and we will be able to plant lettuce for market all winter. They said this was a test to see if the value of an extended season would be worth the expense of the hoop house. In addition, they noticed that we were starting to build a sheep herd and told us about a pasture rotation program that would cut down parasite damage to our animals. They paid for the materials for building electric fenced paddocks that were secure and would enable us to move the animals every week, breaking the parasite cycle. We paid for or did the labor.I know all the arguments against letting the government help, but I see the government spending money on stuff I disapprove of and in this case, I appreciate the knowledge and financial help the guys at USDA provided locally.

I'm so excited to see so many people can attend! And so relieved Husky was able to chage her flight!!! (Even if she did mess up my name!!!) :) It's great to have all our repeat atendees as well as some new faces!! Let's do Sunday since a few people prefer that day...so it'll be June 4th then! Anyone have a preference on time? Maybe 11am? Let me know if that's ok for everyone or if people prefer a later time. I started some major garden renovations this weekend, so we may still be under construction when you all get here. I'm hoping to have them finished by then though!! We'll ready for plants at least!! :) Magicman and deprived wife and any other newcomers, if you have any other questions, feel free to keep posting them here or email me (or any of us who have attended previously) and we'll be happy to help you out. I'm going to start a new thread where you can post what you have and what you want. I would also strongly suggest listing it under your garden_web trade list as well! Looking forward to seeing you all in June!!

Hi all! I've had major computer problems since I've been back, and now I find that I can't log in. ????? Sorry I haven't posted, nor read; Ifinally gave up and went to the library--sigh.... Canada was wonderful, but seeing Zig and her DH was THE BEST!!!!!! I swear, she is so incredible; it seems like we've known each other all of our lives, and we just kept talking--(poor DHs--couldn't barely get a word in edge wise!! LOL!!) I got to met their son, too--he has the greatest smile--looks just like his mom's!! I'm not kidding--they made us feel so welcome, it was if I'd come home. And speaking of homes--their's is marvelous--I want their bathroom! (My first apartment wasn't that big!! Lovely, lovely paople--I am so glad to know them, and am honored to call them friends! Smootchies to Zig!! Rog surprised me by taking the last day of fishing, and poacking up and taking me to spend the night in Mackinaw City, and then we spent the next day on Mackinac Island. (I was thinking of our Allie when I was there--) WOW!!! It's so beautiful! It wasn't very crowded, and we had a blast! Although, I was disappointed that you had to pay $12/per to go see the Grand Hotel if you weren't a guest. I understand completely, but I would have liked to have gotten pics for my mom (she's a huge fan of the movie "Somewhere in Time, which was filmed there). A wonderful trip in all! :):) I didn't think we were going to get to go up til the morning that we left. The prior Thursady I had gotten something in my eye, and the optomologist said I had a severly scratched corena, and I spent that weekend in misery. I looked like I had a welding flash in my right eye, and when I went back to see him on Monday morning (we left Monday night), he put me on steroid drops, and today was my last day. He said that apparently what ever blew in my eye was maybe covered in a chemical (oil, gas, who knows?), and that I was having a sever reation to it. I'm OK now (and was as of Tuesday afternoon of the trip), but it was really scary! We're leaving early tomorrow for Cincinnati, OH and then Dayton. We're going to an aquarium, the Wright-Patterson AFB, and to see a Princess Diana exhibit at a museum--they have her wedding dress and a bunch of personal items that I'd love to see, so off we go again! :):)We'll be back on Tuesday, and hopefully, the ????thingy that he needs to fix the 'puter will be there--and then I'll get to catch up on thing! :) Hope all is well! Hugs, Maddie