I sowed seeds of white betony (which is almost impossible to find) and got 0% germination. ZERO! What a waste of money (seed + international shipping added up) and certainly a disappointment. Planted some "Nancy of Robin Hill" evergreen azaleas last year and they look terrible this year - not a single stinkin' leaf on any of them. I'm not sure if they're dead or not but if they're not I'll probably rip them out, I doubt they'll ever fully leaf out again. Definitely a waste of $$$ and another disappointment.

Aw. You remind me I have four or five that I can NOT get to germinate regardless if I've done it in the past or they're easy to germinate. Including pink betony. Took me forever to find seed, and nothing. Not one :( I couldn't get an Alcea [ficifolia] to germinate. sigh

white betony (which is almost impossible to find) and got 0% germination. ZERO!

==>>> i hope you see why.. its near impossible to find ... eh ... or if you did find it.. it might be cost prohibitive ...

We had a resident (formerly ?) rabbit in our garden last summer and fall. Today we saw a rabbit in the garden accompanied by a baby version. The only noticeable damage so far this spring was from a rabbit eating a few of the crocus flowers. Guessing it's now time for some more rigorous action.

This winter I ordered white cedar trees from my (former) go-to nursery, Cold Stream Farm, and they sent them back in early April. What!!??? I contacted them, explained that the ground was still frozen, and that I live in ZONE 4 (verging on zone 3), and they never offered a refund or replacement to be sent later. They said just put them in a cool place and they will be fine. Of course they weren't. CSF have always sent trees at the correct time in the past. This year they apparently lost their collective minds.

So I ordered 4 new white cedars from a different nursery, and still no sign of that order.

The biggest frustration this Spring has been that there was no Spring... just sustained miserable, overcast, 10 degrees (F) colder than normal all thru April. (The preceding month of March was a series of snow storms, at least one per week, at a time when the hubby was laid up from surgery and it was up to me to shovel snow because I don't know how to operate our snowblower and probably couldn't anyway with my bad knee.) The weather guys keep predicting warmer, sunnier weather, and their predictions continue to fall flat.

Then there were the plants and trees that were eaten by rabbits, rabbits starving because the horrid weather delayed the appearance of the green shoots that rabbits normally eat in Spring, but that is in another thread.

Spring frustrations? Yeah I've had a few, and it feels great to bitch about them, so thank you, rob333, for creating this thread!

but ken, I germinated and grew several successfully when I was a novice gardener. I think I bought them off ParkSeed, I'd not call them exotic seed.

I got 10 deep plug trays with 50 cells each, probably spent 4 hours filling them with soil and seed, built a mini hoop house to go around them, set them outside to cold stratify in January, and got less than 50% germination. Some things germinated then died with the wild weather fluctuations. Some things grew but are way smaller than they should be by this time. The potting soil I used drains like mud, Im betting that is part of the problem, and was avoidable just by adding perlite. Yet Im determined to try again next year, with some modifications.

Not all were pinky purple! I had every imaginable issue with germination this year. Weird year for this seed grown plant lover. Sorry I'm not alone with that!

I have large planters against the side of my house which gets great sun during the summer - so for the past five years I have successfully grown garlic, planting in the fall and harvesting the following summer. Last fall was no different - except I said it would be better than ever, so I amended the container soil with lots of mushroom compost, and really thought this year’s harvest would be fantastic. Of the 50 cloves I planted, only FIVE came up! What the effity EFF. Big FAIL for me. I actually just dug in the containers today, and pulled up a clove - it had sent out a few little roots but didn’t grow past that - funny enough, it’s actually quite preserved - firm, white, fresh (?). Bizarre. Oh well, lemonade out of lemons, I’m using my nicely amended containers to plant heritage tomatoes for the summer and will try again this coming fall with the garlic. And this time, it best be happening...

Sped, that's frustrating about CSF. I ordered some trees from them, but called and had the ship date set to the end of May after we get back from a family wedding a loooooong distance away. That's very frustrating that they won't give you better service. Have you tried calling back for any refunds?

Johnny's sent me Asparagus just before we got snow so I didn't plant them. They said to put them in the fridge with a damp paper over them. I did, a barely damp paper that was not touching the asparagus but only on top of the packaging, and 17 days later pulled them out absolutely covered with mold. I contacted them and they gave me instructions, but I'm assuming if they don't produce they'll make it right. Sent them pictures. They are washed and in the ground now. I will spend more to do business with a company that treats me with value.

I retired from almost 30 years of teaching special ed last July. Our two old dogs had calmed down enough that they weren't digging or chasing in the garden beds. Created a new hosta + other shade plants garden in the fall. Spent the winter dreaming of creating tons of beautiful containers on the patio and deck this spring. I have the containers and I started planting. Seven-month old puppy (don't ask-a gift sort of) loves to dig the plants out-I am constantly sticking them back in if they haven't been destroyed completely. Put some coleus in the shade garden. Put red pepper flakes all around and pepper on the leaves. He didn't miss a beat-I was able to save one. I have now moved chairs and a bench around the already planted containers and will figure out what to do to protect the ones yet to be planted. Of course, now I can't see my flowers. Sigh. That is my spring frustration. Looks like I have a few more years to wait until my dream is realized.

The hot and mild temps of spring in the last week or two. Most of my native plugs are looking crazy with the hot temps and now the rain we've had. The weather can't make up its mind here.

Yes, first the April snow and now the rain! I hope all my annuals don't turn to mush.

Planted trios, only to discover they came back as duos...frustrating!