Not very often, DavidL, and these were sitting under fluorescent light at the end of an aisle...pretty sad at that point. I did buy a Crassula dubia, however... I know there is a newer name for it but can't think of it this early! Haha Rosemarie, I am definitely a CartJumperer! After a few years of trying to downscale my collection to make room for a busy toddler, my addiction has rebounded big time!

I understand the desire to avoid dealing with bureaucratic regs, particularly when they seem complicated and/or expensive to follow, but I would ask that you rethink plans to avoid getting a phyto certificate. These things are intended to prevent entrance of pests and diseases into other countries. All you have to do is look at some of the sometimes enormous problems that have occurred because a pest or disease got in. Read a bit about the Asian long-horned beetle for example. Obviously, daylilies are not carrying a bug like that, and it's possible, even probable, that your own plants are bug- and disease-free, but the principle remains the same....as do the underlying ethics of the decision to abide by the regs. As gardeners, we have a responsibility to help preserve & protect, even if it inconveniences us sometimes to do so. IMHO.

No it is not much more expensive than ordering from a Canadian source and Mr. Shirley has over 100 different species available as cuttings. Mailing cuttings is not expensive but mailing potted plants is, it all depends on what you are looking for. You can also trade with members here or on the Hoyas.ca site if you have plants that are large enough to take cuttings from. Many of us rely on group orders from overseas to get the less common Hoyas and I am sure once you exhaust the Canadian sources you will want to look elsewhere. Believe me hanging around this site will have you neck deep in Hoyas in no time. Mike Here is a link that might be useful: Paul Shirley Succulents

Ohh, I wish I could return to Newfoundland. We circumnavigated it in a leisurely, stop and go way ten years or so ago. Our trip was typical of my planning. I like to go to the ends of things. I only regret that I didn't insist we take the ferry to Labrador. Our only planned stay was several days at Tickle Inn, which a woman on the ferry to the island had told us about. As did others who have commented here, we absolutely loved the island. My most vivid memories of life on "the rock" was the garden art--whirligigs, gnomes, other critters--that replaced perennial borders and rose gardens. And the memory of the sight and sound of them makes me smile. OH, and the little vegetable gardens along the road where the fill from road-making made fertile soil deep enough for gardens one after another, set off by string and twigs, maintained by people who lived miles away. And the cottages clad in beautiful pastel pinks, blues, and greens that lined the coast. As does the gentleman at Tickle Inn who proudly showed us his wood shop, and, in answer to my question about his favorite season said, "Winter." I must have gaped. He explained that spring was sodden muck, summer was hot and mosquito ridden, fall was also inhospitable, but in winter, with his snowmobile, he could go anywhere. He also told us about a polar bear, having crossed the frozen sea from Labrador in midwinter, that stood up, peered through, and pushed in the high windows in the dining room, then wandered off while he crouched down inside, gun ready if the beast came into the house, but hoping desperately that it wouldn't. And the several locals who invited us into their homes for tea and dessert, for conversation and sharing. I hope you can return soon. Thank you for evoking memories I treasure.