Hi Robert: I love that peaceful picture that you posted, it does look like an oasis as Seil described. I have the herb rosemary here but my cooking is so bad that I need some tips on how to use rosemary in cooking (I tried on steamed salmon and it wasn't that good). I'm temped by Louis Odier, it's hardy to zone 5a - I'm too lazy to peg and wonder if Krista grows it as a free standing shrub, or does it need pegging on a trellis or wall in zone 5a? Hi lizalily in PNW: I took own-root Firefighter from my Rose Unlimited since I want to get it grafted instead. Hot Cocoa is always in bloom at the rose park nearby, zone 5a. This winter is mild, and I'm hoping for another mild winter. The last 2 winters were brutal, my Knock-outs died back to the crown. Does anyone know if winter 2012-2013 will be mild like this year? If so, then I'll add more Meilland roses like Pink Peace, Peter Mayle along with Melody Perfume and Firefigher (I believe these 2 are low-in-thorns?) Thank you.

Today is another nice day and I was outside this afternoon pushing off and taking off mulch that had blown around (fall leaves) off some of the tulips. The three new sections of Darwins (some are shown in the tulip picture I took above) which are now on their second spring are coming up really nicely. I planted them deeply not last fall but the year before. At this stage just from looking I can't see any difference between what they looked like last spring coming up and what they look like now. Meaning the beds looks full with lots of tulips so looks like great return. But I was also removing mulch from the section of the extra early mix I bought from Scheepers. Those are not Darwins, they bloom earlier. I had 200 but from the looks of what is coming up, nowhere near that now. Poor return. Looks like less than half of what I had last year. I am hoping that since it is still early more of those tulips might still come up but not sure that will happen. I should of planted more of those extra earlies along in that same section like I thought of doing this past fall but for some reason I didn't order them and didn't do it. As of now I deffinately plan to add more of them this fall. The section I am referring to is in the front yard between and in back of the daylilies along the stone wall. Then I also have a section in another garden bed. Some perrenials in the back (columbines) then a row of daffs in front of that. Literally a row because that is how I planted them. Then a row of clumps of tulips in front of the daffs. They were planted 5 of a type in a grouping in a hole. Then dig next hole next to it and five more and so on. Well some clumps comming up but bare spots between them which means certain clumps not coming up at all. These were non darwins, don't remember which class, that I bought because they were so pretty. Planted just as deeply. So no knowing if they might show up but not looking promising. I will have to replant there by just marking with a brick each empty spot in the row so I know were to put new clumps in the fall.

Sounds like Rodger is going to take care of you, but just in case you need to fill in some spots, some of the forums have exchanges, Tomato forum people grow mostly heirlooms. There is a link on that page to the tomato seed exchange. Some people want to trade, but some folks actually offer some of their extra seeds for a SASE-Self Addressed Stamped Envelope or will just send them to you when you supply a mailing address. They will let you know how they want to work it. At the vegetable forum, there is also a link to a vegetable exchange page. Sometimes the seeds or plants are heirloom. People also offer seeds for trade, SASE or will send them to you when you email a mailing address. Look around at any forums that interest you. Best wishes for a great 2007 garden. Mary

seasiderooftop I have Princess Anne as 5th-year own root, it's very tough with thick cane, and bloom best with chicken manure, it's in only 4 hours of morning sun: @joeywyomingzone4 I read your post on rooting roses with band-size containers with a mixture of pea pebbles, charcoal bits, and chopped up banana skins. Thank you for that fantastic tip. @rosecanadian Growing small own-root roses in the pot is so much easier than grafted. Plus own-root roses last longer. Evelyn roots VERY EASY here and yearly I throw away Evelyn rootings, which I wish I could send to you. I sent out rootings with zero soil & dunked in water before sending out, and they bloom well for a friend in Texas. Below is bloom on an Evelyn rooting I did. I kept it in partial shade thus the bee-leaf-cutter damage.