Did we have a worse winter than usual for zone 5? My 1 yr sweet autumn clematis hasn't returned. Another established clematis, type 3, didn't return. If it's Venosa Violacea I'm going to be upset, I have to check my garden "map". My container spruce, which I wrap well each year and made sure to water during warmer temps is really brown. My 2 year Fothergilla Major Mt. Airy died. My 1st year Willow Hakuro Nishiki looks completely dead. My 3rd year Golden Spirit died back to the snow line, but this didn't happen in prior years. My "Grace" came back a real winner, no dieback at all. My Sombreuil Rose bush, which I usually bury the crown, wrap in burlap and cover each winter, though the only thing I did this past winter was cover the crown and nothing more, returned with very little dieback to my amazement. Better than any other year. Go figure. Some hostas, which I was warned last year after purchasing that they aren't hardy, never to be seen again. Some groundcover sedum which probably never had a chance to establish -- nothing. Also lost a Weigela My Monet, thankfully still under warranty. Very Bad year!!!! Oh, and don't fret about the Asters. I had several varieties and they've all disappeared. I suspect it's the rabbits.

I was making an order and came up with the dreaded "won't ship to Alaska" sign...I get so frustrated with that. But on the bright side, I went seed shopping locally yesterday, and got most of the seeds I wanted cheaper, anyway. My favorite place to buy seeds locally sells Seeds of Change, Renee's Garden, and Johnny's Seeds at a discount, plus buy 4 get 1 free. AND they didn't have one of the tomatoes I wanted; fortunately they had just put in an order to Renee's Garden, so picked up the phone while I was there and had it added to their order. Now that is service! For anyone reading this in the Anchorage/Valley area, if you haven't checked out Far North Garden Supply for those hard to find seeds, you might try them. I'm trying growing artichokes from seed this year. I grew them a couple of years ago, but someone else had started the plants and done the difficult work. I hope the ones I start do as well as those did. I also found cayenne pepper seeds yesterday...there are lots of pepper seeds around, but I haven't found cayenne for a couple of years. It's one of my favorite peppers for drying and adding to anything and everything I cook!

Thanks everyone! I already have 5 in the ground and they are getting really big, but they are regular white and the fundzui- the one that blooms all sumer, by the way, he had that too. I really wanted an evergreen bush to provide a little privacy onn my driveway, which is stoned, but is visible to the street. When I saw this red sweet olive, or what most people call tea olive, I thought it would be nice to use that, it is evergreen, and I can move it if I want. So, as it grows, it will be my privacy shrub. (I really should get something else too, the drive is wide). Lou, I totally hear you on taking your shrubs with you, I would do the same thing! The grower hasn't seen it bloom yet. They have a big one,and they grow them from cuttings, but their red hasn't bloomed yet. So, the challenge will be to see when it blooms. it may take a while, but I will wait. The white bloom young, you never know, I may get lucky and it may bloom next year. You never know.... I will post a pic here, you can count on that.

Wow. And I could use those matching shield-back chairs that sit to the side too! Yes, there is no doubt you got a deal. I have seen these buffets, sometimes billed as 'Duncan phyfe style' on craigslist for several years. They usually start at about $300 and some people ask as much as $600 for them, depending on condition. Very, very, rarely, do I see one for close to your price. And they disappear fast at that price! I had to drive to the San Francisco Bay area (about 3 hours away) to get the one I found for us a few years back, and I actually paid $325 and felt like I found a real bargain. I bought it late in 2005, to be re-purposed into a bathroom sink vanity. It's just the tiniest bit different than yours--it has feet but I think that the hardware is even the same! Check out my link for pictures! Here is a link that might be useful: My CL Duncan Phyfe buffet made into a sink cabinet...