also looking for Fuki (Petasites japonicus) prefer Petasites japonicus var. giganteus

I'm looking for: Fragrent Spring Tree (Toona sinensis var. roem): I've tried twice to germinate seeds w/o a single sprout... I'd especially like a red leaf type, but i'd try anything of the this species. Red Currents, named cultivars & white pine blister rust resistant ONLY. I'm also looking for: Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis) Elephant's Head (pedicularis groenlandica) Any Zone 5 Pedicularis species Ostrich Fern Sea Kale (esp named cultivars) Skirret Licorice (can you grow this in zone 5? I get conflicting info) Sassafras Slippery Elm Non-Flowering Sorrel Potato Onion Currents, gooseberries and Jostaberries Goumi (esp dwarf cultivars) Seaberry Honeyberry i have lots of stuff, so if there is anything in particular you are looking for let me know and i might have it. Here are some things i have that come to mind: Mad-Dog Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) Lemon Balm Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) (few) Jack-in-the-pulpit (few) Anise-Hyssop Water Celery (Oenanthe javanica) Chinese artichoke (Stachys sieboldii)(few) Hardy Kiwi "meader" male and female (unrooted cuttings) Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina) Staghorn Sumac Chives Egyptian Walking Onions Evergreen scallions Mouse Garlic (Allium angulosum)(few) Allium nutans(few) Daylilly "stella doro" Sedum "autumn joy" Hens and chicks Sweet Woodruff Comfrey Valerian Catnip thimbleberry Rubarb Jade plants

I totally understand your question. I am gardening at 66. I would keep the mowing lawn small. Decide what you like and want from a vegetable garden....do you plan to can or freeze. Make a list of those veggies, figure how much space is required. I would start the garden small if you have never gardened before. You can get great info from your state extension people about how to raise anything for your area. If you can bend and squat without difficulty, I would certainly have some strawberries. Blackberries and other brambles are a bit of trouble, but delicious. Be sure you understand their growing and pruning requirements. As for fruit trees, most require 7 to 10 sprays a season to have good quality fruit. The one fruit that comes to mind requiring no sprays is pears and I don't spray my sour cherry tree. If you want to cultivate this as a semi-hobby thing for retirement. I would plant trees soon, most take 3-5 years to produce. Ornamentals.......I am trying to get more shrubs and grasses and ornamental trees so that I won't have so much to maintain as you do with perennials. Bulbs are great, once you get them in the ground, they just require feeding now and again; likewise clematis. At your age, I sure wouldn't hesitate to plant whatever I wanted. Think of the wasted years between now and whenever (if ever) when you can't garden. My neighbor who is 85 moved to her present home about 15 years ago and planted trees. They are now lovely shade trees. If she thought she was too old at 70, they wouldn't be there now for her to enjoy. As to layout, that is a personal preference thing once you are sure you have the right amount of sun and drainage required for things to thrive. Of course, you need the garden to be close to a water source. My biggest problem here is too much shade for my veggie garden. The trees were here when we moved in 1991. Be sure you don't plant anything that will shade your garden on the south side. Wow, I think I have covered everything. Good luck, don't let indecision bog you down. I wish I had planted my fruit trees the first thing; just did some last fall.

Herman if you want to get jujubes the best variety I have found is Honey Jar. It is a bit harder to find but the jujubes taste like honey and there are lots of them. The only problem I have had is occasionally the ants will get at a ripe fruit. They also sucker badly. The best news is no moths, diseases or animals go after them. I have a spare Honey Jar I grafted this spring which I would trade for some of your fig cuttings, drop me an email if you want it. I have had problems getting production off of my figs, they want to produce leaves only and they are five years old now. I have a couple dozen fruit this year from half a dozen trees. I did the pinching at 6 leaves trick this year and I got more figs than last year at least. Scott