Here in western NY, we are also being hit by tons of rain. We HAD flood warnings but that was 4-5 days ago. What is concerning to me is that the temps are not warming up enough for my plumeria to do anything. My DSP only has 2 inflos compared to last year when it had 8 or 9 by now. One of the inflos aborted it's flower buds, while the other has a few that are opening slowly. I hope we can get some heat soon, or my trees will just look green for the whole summer:( Andrew

I'm new to the whole wintersowing thingie, so I'm just trolling around looking to see what people are saying about setting containers out in this cold. Looks like it will be OK? I'd started 14 containers back last month, but, of course they're under snow and I won't have a clue as to how successful they may be for quite a while yet. However, I just received some dynamite seeds in the mail from a GW friend - many of which need cold treatment. My normal method in the past would have been to stick them in the fridge for a month or so and then sow under lights, but now I'm thinking maybe I should wintersow these as well. Things like different kinds of asclepias, penstemons, and larkspur. No rain in our forecast, prairiemoon, just more snow and maybe some more minus temps, though hopefully we're past the minus 20's now. Whew! Any words of wisdom to add, anyone? - Alex

It's gotten unseasonably cold here too - we're looking at a high of -8C to -10C here tomorrow. And with a skiff of snow on the ground, it feels most unHawaii-like, I must say.

About a year divided and moved a truckload of plants from our former Woodinville house to a new location just south of Seatac. Wow almost a half zone warmer here and 20+% less rain. Forest/Meadow Edge habitat changed to Meadow Edge/Prairie like habitat. More clay/loam/sand soil here rather than prior thin forest underlayed by old Puget Sound bottom sand. However, I do miss finding those intact sand dollars and clam shells! First thing dug a fish pond and staged plants around it. 15'x8.5'x3'. Honored Woodinville with a double wine barrel falls. Fish doing Great! Working to scare away a pesky raccoon. She's been messing with my Lotus side pond. Cedar Grove Compost has been my saviour in both yards. I did it a half dozen bags at a time over years in Woodinville. In new yard all at once via truckload(s). On my 2nd load of 20 cu yds now (btw 20 cu yards = 495 bags)! Below is what it looks like getting a delivery. Used an 80' tarp below and on top the pile to protect from rain. I've been installing root pits scaled to support adult plants to support especially hydrangea and other moisture requiring plants. Oh yes, True Temper's iron digging rod and home made rock screening saved me out here. Other methods don't work. Slow but effective. Hydrangea and Honeysuckle plant footings for one side of Gazebo. Hard to beat Canna 'Tropicanna' = Durban = Phason for a little drama. This was in a one gallon pot when I got it early that summer. A 4" pot start of hardy Basjoo banana made it to 4' in one summer/fall with offsets to make a little grove this next summer. A drama banana needs a drama backdrop. The Golden Vivax Bamboo 15'×5'x2' barrier zone with 3 clump starts now needs to catch up. We have 9 kinds of Bamboo pits, mostly timber types. As a pond backdrop a baby 5' Chilean Gunnera has been planted in an 8'x8'x4.5' bottom/side lined bog pit. The huge pit was installed for water supply. I left a ~12'x12' growing space for the current Gunnera-ette at 5' now. But GeeZ that big Gunnera that went down this winter at Pt Defiance Park's Japanese greeting house area, has me worried. G. tinctoria's smaller footprint and more angular dramatic leaf shape compated to G. manicata lured me in. However, I now fear I may need a bigger machete to keep her in bounds. Cedar Grove at 50% v/v may be my down fall this time. We have almost 80 different kinds of hydrangea including a huge aspera 'Sargentianum', Edgeworthia and many unique things to make a nice effect. All things were sorted for our micro light climates. 2 to 3' deep water supplies with those pits is extending where hydrangea can do well. Amazingly was able to plant them all through summer last year and not have them suffer from heat due to those pits. My wife's goal is a largely grass free yard, which works well with my plant lust. Also explains why I like taller plants. Don't be fooled the photo above was all staged as tub planter tests to pre-test light conditions and play with visual arrangements. As for freezing yard and plants ... glad it's almost over, so we can get back to garden installing. Want to see if some of the new warm color Echinacea and new Red Hot Pokers survive our wet cool winters here.