Most of my cherries, about 15 varieties, seem to mature about the same time. And while I grew Stella 10 years in Amarillo, it was of such quality I haven't planted it here. My suggestion for early would be BlackPearl, BurgundyPearl, or EbonyPearl. All bred in NY for eastern conditions. If you want to go later try WhiteGold or BlackGold also bred in NY. All are sold by Adams County Nursery.

I am getting things potted up for the swap. I am focusing on bringing a smaller number of larger trades this year. I stopped by a nursery to find some cheap pots and talked them into selling me some of their 6" square pots (probably about 1/2 gallon ones) for $.20 each. Last year Oakland Park had nice 4" ones for $.09 each, but they didn't carry them this year. So far I have rhubarb, chocolate mint, lemon balm, spiderwort, lamb's ear, evening primrose, Golden Tiara hosta, misc. var. hosta, and Michaelinsis daisy potted up into 1/2 gallon or larger pots. I also have quite a few small starts of Penny's Worth daylily, a nice little daylily with yellow flowers. It kind of looks like a miniature version of Happy Returns. I also have plenty of tomatoes. I have about 60 varieties started this year. Some I only have a few of, but many of them I will have extras of to bring to the swap. We will be potting up some other things to bring as well. We usually bring the dogs into Columbus with us when we visit. But I don't see how they will fit in the van with all of the plants. It looks like we will have to leave them with friends for the weekend. We are looking forward to seeing everyone on the 15th. James

Sounds like EVERYONE had a great time. Maybe next year I will make it there. I'm shedding my F.F.A. Alumni responsibilities. Our annual fund raiser for this group has been on the same Saturday as your swap the past two or three years. If any of you have any 'swapping' left in you and live near or feel like driving to Deerfield, there will be a plant swap and covered dish luncheon here on June 12th. Just thought I'd mention that. Between Akron and Youngstown. So far there appears to be about 2 dozen interested attendees. If you have no more plants to swap we will understand (800 out of 1800 plants ... someone is as bad as me) (95 plants taken ... again, as bad as me). There will be Door Prizes, Silent Auction, a garden themed craft project for those interested (very quick and easy) and of course extras available for those new gardeners or those unable to bring a plant. Oh, and we will have a local crafter of soap and other realted items. Perennial, houseplant, water/bog garden plants, tree, shrub, veggies, herbs .... it will all be there. Cheesecake ... with Raspberry sauce ... now that is just not fair. Mimi - thanks for all of your valuable information given. I really appreciated the input. Stardust

A lot of the cost is 1) what you are growing in it 2) how well it is constructed, and of what 2) the fuel type and your fuel costs 3) the proper sized heating system and distributon 4) the orientation of the house and microclimates. Actually, although it sounds hokey, the larger the g'house, the cheaper it can be it heat it per square foot of bench space. I think the most crucial factor in the total expense of heating a g'house is the needed temperature rise. I have long since (unless absolutley necessary to push a crop) stopped running my winter houses at the higher temps. This is referred to as the degree or temp rise . That's the temperature your heating unit has to strive for over the outside ambient. It's not a straight line, for every degree over 55 you demand out of your furnace, the amount of fuel it must burn for each degree temp rise increases. IT costs me a lot, lot more to run a small easter lily house at 72 for instance than a large bedding plant house at 55. I have my polycarb house with heat sink flooring and it gets a decent amount of solar gain, but once the sun it down........if a heater fails one can be in real trouble in about three hours. That's how quickly a house looses the stored heat. I'm not trying at all to discourage you. I think it's great and you'll love having a g'house. But, get ahold of a sales engineer at a greenhouse production or distributing company (somebody like Crop King who sells to the public as well as to the trade) and talk to them about your heating questions. They have all the formulae to hit it pretty much on the nose about costs. You won't regret it.