The temps were in the upper 20's but those areas must be significantly warmer then the rest of the yard. Everything else got bit bad and I needed an ice scraper for my car. I keep my gingers in pots and let the foliage get killed back. Once it's dead I cut it off and stick the pot in a cool dark place that stays above freezing most of the time. A few freezes as long as the soil doesn't freeze solid doesn't bother them. The butterfly gingers are root hardy to zone 7b I believe. I will eventually dig up that peach ginger and store it for the winter. I have lots of toad lilies in containers because they haven't made it into the garden yet. They are a very cold hardy plant and do well in the garden. Yours might not be completely dead. There's a chance that it will come back from the roots. Most hellebores bloom in the winter or very early spring. Edna sent me a bunch earlier this year.

Jean, I think you liked the rhododendron photo since I forgot to post the rose. Thanks on!! The Rose..A poem by my talented daughter about the Michigan Rose.. The haven that my Mother built, outside the kitchen door; Begins with simple melodies, The wind defines the score. Beneath the chimes, a flower bed, with sprays of vivid green, the gentle rain, as if a kiss, bestows a brilliant sheen. And on the left, a maple tree, A rose does live beneath; It's petal grace the moistened earth, Their beauty they bequeath. This Rose has grown beneath this tree, And many trees before, It's lived at other house past, outside the kitchen door. It grows and speaks of presence past, and future yet to be; It does not boast or brag it's time, To flowers or to trees. And yet it speaks boldly of, the gift in Mother's hand; The mark of life she leaves behind, the Rose, it is her brand. So gaze upon it's fulsome blooms, As many have before, They tell of life and love of land, and the Mother I adore. Written by Leslie D. Brooks ngraham, I have many peonies but they are just starting to bloom. I bought 3 last year that are puny but will have one bloom, hopefully. The white Iris seedling is almost aggressive. I have given awys tons of it and have 2 clumps like the one I posted. Debra, if you want, I will save you some seed from the Columbines but they will be mixed up. Thank you very much Linda. Christine, it's to bad that some don't have enough space for oddball plants. I think they make a garden beautiful. Martha, thank you because I love the circa 1884 also. I also have Wabash that was the early 1900 but poor baby didn't bloom this year. I think I need to move it.. You are funny Avedon. I had rather see the blooms than have chicken soup anytime... Rita, that was a drop in the bucket, so to speak. I have La Iris blooming that is very pretty and the Japanese Iris are going to open soon. Most just have a flower or 2 open so I am doing individual pics but that's my thing anyway. I love the closeups. Thank you all...Have a great day. Ellie PS.. I have been hauling horse manure for a couple of days. I don't have nearly enough since I am going to reset daylilies this fall..

Really nice job, Linda. How much space do you have for seedlings? Looks like a large area. Some of my '08 seedlings are larger than bloom size fans that I bought & bloomed this year but I would be very surprised to get any scapes this fall. Several are increasing well already. Even if any do send up scapes it has been so cool that the few buds of named cultivars I have are not opening properly. STRAWBERRY CANDY was the excepton as it opened fine yesterday (we had 2 hot days even though the nights were still cool) but I all but missed it as it was only 1/2 open when I left for work and too dark to take a picture when I came home. I do think "magic soil" has something to do with it because all of my borders were enriched the same with 3-5 inches of sheep manure 3 years ago, and all seedlings were fertilized the same but the largest seedlings are those that I planted in one area that formerly housed a compost heap. Even though the compost was moved away the soil is still in nicer condition there. The seedlings there are noticeably larger than some planted on the same day just a few feet away. I also suspect hours of light has something to do with it. You may have that perfect combination.

Maryl - I have crossed Pink Aloha with two of my pink seedlings and some other pinks. Whether the seedlings will survive is another question. I lost nine of them to fungus gnats/ A lot of people I know have crossed Pink Aloha with beautiful pinks, and have not gotten anything registration worthy out it. Buntyn got two very nice pinks from it, and there are 12 other registrations with Pink Aloha as a parent. Several of them are peachy pink. One is even a UF - Sneaky Girls by Judy Davisson. It seems to me none of the kids have the super color that is Pink Aloha's unique selling feature. Several of them are peachy pink, one is a fuschia pink, one cream, and another is lavender. And I think it's more than a wee bit tender. Debra