Jodi: I hope you don't loose your mind Jodi! lol I feel your pain, although what's strange is that the snowy conditions are all around us in every state while just the warm rain storms move in here, even with over 50 mile an hour winds..But before and after that it's frigid.. It was in the teens Friday and today in the 50's..Tuesday, back to the 20's again..I wish this was over already. Have you seen what our friend "Nancy" is dealing with in Florida? She say's it is going to be in the mid twenties again with the destruction of many tropical plants, including damage to her Mango's last week, let alone again this week. Sheesh, at least her Jades are coloring up fast...Crazy I say.. By the way, please watch your back with shoveling the snow, and please post us some nice picks when your pretty bulbs bloom? It will be a site for sore eyes by the time they do so..:-) Jojo....How are you? I like the black bottle idea too! That will be a fun hobby..The paints are on sale at Michael's this week and pretty cheal at HD.. I wish I could use this method. No container dark would warm up for me in full sun around here..The sun only acts like a flashlight until about Feb now..Even if your weather should be colder, I can only imagine the warmth of your sun against any wall, or protected area..I have walked about in your area with snow on the ground with my t-shirt only..I loved it.. I wonder how your jades are doing this time of the year? You must be getting some cooler temps to turn them color.. Dormancy dance? lol... I finished that dance weeks ago when the leaves to my fig tree fell off due to frost..Now they are being stored in the dark and in my shed, where the temps hover in the mid thirties or higher until the spring..I guess I can finally say I have an advantage with the cold this time around..It makes winter a bit more bareable knowing that some of my plants will benefit from it..:-) Josh...That is the best news I have heard all day in regards to this dreay dark weather! Thanks for the reminder, considering that we still have another week or so for the sun to lower even further in the sky. It gives us hope that just as soon as the first day of winter arrives, the sun will start it's climb up hill again, thank God..:-) Hey Mrlike2u! Good to hear from you...You are right, Jodi's plant are much better, but your's are still nice looking..lol, In all serious, when those decide to bloom, we want to see them. They should do very well in your care..By the way, the tops of some of my Desert Roses just rotted right off on the seedlings..:-( Donald: Very good looking fruit..Great job there..Congrat's on your Orchids too..Wow. Ykerzner:Fungus gnats, sugarcane, bagged mixes, and light frost's..Guess which two I like the most? Hint: It can be very sweet when slightly cooled....:-) Josh: P.s.. What nice looking cactus you have there.. Mike

Hi again Everyone..... I haven't been able to post to thank the rest of you for your responses due to work and...guess what? We are still digging out from a huge snowstorm which started last night and is still going on late tonight, although less heavily. (Plus another snowstorm for Friday!). We got an extra foot of snow out of it so far. It takes forever for DH to snowblow us out (our driveway is very long) and we have tons of steps up to the house, which is fun since tonight I went grocery shopping and had to lug in tons of bags! Don't you just love it? cindi...you are very ambitious, doing all that shoveling yourself! Yikes. In years gone by, when my kids were little and I was a divorced mom I used to shovel out my driveway and steps all by myself because I couldn't afford to have someone plow it. I am quite fortunate to have my DH now who not only takes care of all the snow removal, but is my right-hand man out in the garden all summer. Carol....sorry about your toe! I know what you mean about being cooped up inside....in the summer I take a 4-mile walk everyday, but the road has been too snowy and icy all winter for much exercise....I feel so lazy and sluggish now. I really think we should all hibernate all winter like the bears and such. Karyn...That is so cool that you live in Sanbornton!! I work in Tilton as a nanny. I live in Belmont, but am on the Gilford side (Durrell Mountain & Belknap Mtn. just down the road). Can you believe how HUGE the snowbanks are around here? I can't even imagine how much flooding we will have in the spring, not to mention the worst MUD-SEASON ever. Looking out there, its hard to imagine we will ever see the end of winter. That is wonderful to hear that the sap will be running in a few weeks....it gives me hope! Pure New Hampshire maple syrup is the best! Lesley...Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed the thread....we are all waiting patiently for spring and keeping each other hopeful! Ruth....Thank you for the tip on the Botanic Garden in Ontario. I had not heard of it but am now putting it on my list of gardens to see. I have not been to Ontario (my son has and loved it) but I have always wanted to. We enjoy visiting Canada every year....have been to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec City and Montreal many times. (DH and I honeymooned in Nova Scotia, as did my son and his wife). Ronda....I am a rose-book fanatic....I keep collecting more and more rose books, mostly just for the photos. Believe it or not, I have about 20 or so more than the picture shows! Thanks for the link to those gorgeous, amazing garden photos. What a treat! Silverkelt....Great photos, and I'll bet you had fun out there last night and today (and tomarrow, and Friday, etc.) snow-blowing. My husband owns a hardware store and they had a lot full of snowblowers at the beginning of the season (like 60 blowers) and now they are all gone, with people begging to get their hands on one. DH repairs snowblowers, ice augers, chainsaws, woodsplitters, etc. and had to hire extra help this year, when usually he is a one-man operation. I believe we will reach that snowfall record quite easily! And I know what you mean about driving in the winter....that aspect of winter is what I hate most of all. And it always seems to wait to snow to coincide with the morning & evening commute. Peggy....What would we do without flourescent lighting? It is such a delight to have something growing inside when all is frozen outside. I have always been fascinated by orchids, but have never tried growing them. Better I don't get into another addiction....lol.

Both the oakleaf and the Annabelle are bare bones at this time of year. You need to focus on something evergreen. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and see what they have to offer. At this time of year, the plants are fresh stock so haven't been abused or neglected and the price is hard to beat. Just pick what looks good right now for you to market the house - don't worry about what it looks like in winter. The new owners can change it out if they don't like it. If the shrubs are not as showy or full of flowers as you like, spend a little extra and get some seasonal color to accent the new plantings. And for a pot of color on the front porch.

North53, I received the lead plant from Lindenberg a few years ago and last spring my local nursery was offering them as well, though not again this year. I had been reading up on amorpha nana and would like to obtain it as well, where had you gottern yours, had you grown it from seed? Love the anemones, this one I find quite reliable for my short growing season and has wintered rather well for the most part. Anemone 'Serenade'