No snow here. Just a cold rain. I'm learning to watch certain roses to let me know when the rose season is over. Especially Rosa Rugosa. When it's foliage turns orange, then bright yellow then drops off, that's a pretty good hint. I do my winter garden different then most folks. Several yrs ago I visited Germany in Jan & Feb. Almost every lot and space had roses. I talked with a BUNCH off folks about their winter care of their roses. I liked what they did. Come early Dec, they take off the last blooms down to the first set of foliage. Then they strip all the foliage off each bush. If they have long wind whipped canes they put a long stake by that bush and tie them to the stake. I tried that method a couple of years ago and really like the overall effect. A little bit of work?? yeah, but come spring worth it. Even in a mild winter (last year), everything shut down for at least 90 days or more. No fungal problems at all come spring. No foliage for winter carry over at all. Plus, another good reason to keep my garden under 100 bushs. My garden is a place of enjoyment. NOT problems that tend to bother me.

Hey, maybe if we just do a new thread in both places, as "Spring Plant Trade 2013". Copy everything absultely pertinent to the event and go from there. I read some were unclear about it if they were not following it from the winter. GGG- I am told I am doing better than 99% of people who have this surgery, I am 'younger than most', healthy and active enough, the Ptherapist said he could they would have to put a bit in my mouth to hold me back. Almost, it is hard to keep me down, and I may be pushing it a bit. Mine is called a long segment fusion, illeac fixation, then from sacrum to T10. I also have a C5, 6 , 7 fusion that is over 15 years old. This surgery was a long time coming, the objective was a complete reconstuctive correction because of scoliosis, the spina bifida had caused a lot of my problems for 35 years, but the spine was collapsing, causing all the stenosis and nerve compression. Many problems, symptoms, affecting my whole lower body from armpits down. It was a tough pill to swallow, but it was not hard to decide to do it, the other options meant not walking, etc, eventually losing all function of my lower body. I was going to email you, but didn't see the option, hope your back doing better, maybe it would be best for just a smaller group. I would still be in, and have a friend who loves to trade, etc. she is just not active here. It is up to you entirely. I have been here about everyday, I'll keep checking in. :-)

yep - we know!

That's an issue that all small/shallow lakes have. When I was in Michigan, there were many kettle lakes (lakes created by ice blocks falling from glaciers) that would be unsafe to swim in by July due to high water temperatures. Unfortunately, ducks and other critters don't know the difference between a man-made retention pond or decorative lake and an actual lake which tends to be fed by some other water source, thus keeping the water fresher and cleaner.