I look forward to seeing it.

Been a while since I've checked in. So nice to still see pictures of your semps, Lynn and Greg! Mine are buried in snow until next Spring now. But I'm happy to have snow cover since we're seeing regular temps below zero these days. Quite cold for this time of the year for us.

Kevin, I bet your 'Dark Cloud' X 'Plumb Rose' will turn out to be a beauty, and I'm excited to see the 'Red Lion' x 'Dark Cloud' also!

Peter, 'Thors Hammer' is most impressive.

Calin, I'm also excited to see pictures of the land you're interested in purchasing.

Julia, I had to start from scratch collecting my plants when I moved to Oregon as they all died in MS. Polly Bishop had them all but she had passed away before I left for OR. Luckily she had given pieces to a number of other gardeners so I have gotten many of them back. Of course many of our dealers had them too, including a few that I received from Fernwood.

It was 105F the day I moved from MS. I had dug ~2K daffodil bulbs before I left and they were shipped in huge china moving boxes via FedEx. I shipped a few irises and daylilies and carried a few plants with me in the car, avoiding the state of CA so I didn't have to go through inspection stations. I also had 15 musical instruments in the car with me that did not want to be exposed to 105F either!

I had made HUGE crops of seeds on the iris, daffodils and daylilies so I was able to grow out thousands of seedlings of all of these here in OR. Seeds move very easily. That way I could carry on all my lines without interruption even though I might leave the parent plants behind.

The yard looks pretty full now, amazing that so many came from that box of seed brought from MS 3 1/2 years ago! Of course living in "horticultural Heaven" here in OR, I have bought a good many plants too!

Kevin

You have done so much work in just 3 1/2 years. What an adventure that must have been and yes Oregon is plant heaven.

Well, winter's here whether it's official or not! -22 (yes, below 0) at 6 this morning and a high of 8 above zero. And more snow to add to a foot from 2 days ago.

Oh my goodness Kate. You really get winter. Are the beds all covered for winter sleep?

Chris, may your snow stay put, and no winter critters come visiting this year.

Chris,

YIKES! I remember one New tears Day and it was -32F in MA. That was ridiculous. Of course there was also several feet of snow on the ground as wwell as mulch on everything that needed mulching.

Do not miss that at all. Our latest little brush with winter has gone I hope and up to 52F on Sunday. YEHAW!

Stay cool.

Kevin

valleylynn said:Oh my goodness Kate. You really get winter. Are the beds all covered for winter sleep?

Chris, may your snow stay put, and no winter critters come visiting this year.

Yes, all covered up (to keep off the black locust leaves). Gratefully, the semps come through -40 just fine. Although we haven't seen -40 in a couple of years; it used to be common in late January or February. Every once in a while I'll lose a few individuals to the cold, but not very often.

Brrrrr, I don't know how I would do in that kind of cold Kate.
I look forward to the annual spring uncovering of your awesome raised beds.

Toasty warm here this evening Kevin, 42 degrees at 9:30 pm.

Lynn,

Yeah nice and mild here today in Salem although the yard looks pretty dead after that cold spell, especially the evergreen daylilies that look as though they have been blow-torched!

The seedlings are growing nicely in my kitchen window. Not the best place for growing plants but at least they're alive. I have a desk lamp on them to add a bit more light as they were starting to look etiolated. You have my permission to kick me if I ever start seeds this early again!

It is sort of nice to have a few babies to think about in the winter. These should be fairly good-sized by spring though and my have a little bit of character to them.

Kevib

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year
Orostachys japonica

Oh, more pretty pictures from Laszlo! Also liked very much the pretty flower of the Delosperma.

Merry Christmas Laszlo. The photos are so beautiful, hope you don't mind that I added them to the database? Such wonderful close ups of the blooms.

Kevin, on my way to Portland, so haven't been out to look at the semps today. Hope to take a peak tomorrow after church. Sure love this warmer weather.
Tell the baby seedlings I said hi.

Lynn, thank you for the database.

Any time. You give us such beautiful photos Laszlo.

I just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas xxx

Happy Holidays to you Kate, and to all that have shared with me on ATP this year!!

And a big warm hug!

Merry Christmas to each of you. May your day be filled with blessings. You are such a great group of plant lovers.

Merry Christmas everyone!