Thanks Mary, that is a lovely blue, but you can't send roots to Canada unless you are certified, which I understand is quite costly.

I get to see my neighbors yellow clematis, it is huge and climbs over my fence, it is in a good spot, up against a SE facing cement retaining wall, well sheltered. The flowers are small, I know I have a photo somewhere but can't find it right now.

Now Margaret. Your birthday must be coming up soon. I think the phyto is$50 at most and the plant itself is free so allow me to give you an early birthday present. Unless you would prefer not. I would understand that it isn't like a REAL clematis. But who knows, it might just burst into song for you.

That is very sweet of you Mary, my birthday is in January, and I don't think I want to pay $50. for the pyto. It is a lovely plant even if it is not a "REAL" clematis.

Oh no!!! I would pay the phyto as part of your 'birthday present!" lol. I would love to do it for you. Just Dmail me hour address.

I think a Canadian Phyto is more like $100.
At least that is what I was quoted if I wanted peonies from Holland.

Ouch. That would certainly jack up the price. So phyto from Holland then phyto into US then phyto into Canada.

Mary, I really appreciate your generous offer, but I think I will decline, that is too much money for a plant that may not even survive here. That was so sweet of you to want to do that for me.

Hokay. Just a thought. We clematis lovers must stick together -- even if we can't grow them

Maybe when you move you will be able to grow them, as I recall you mentioned Washington State, that would be the perfect place to grow big beautiful clematis, and fuchsias, that's another plant I love.

Tulips and bearded iris are just about to open here. The bergenia and pasque flower have been blooming for about a week.

conniepr27 said:Tulips and bearded iris are just about to open here. The bergenia and pasque flower have been blooming for about a week.

Holy moly, Connie -- you are WAY ahead of me!

Sandy, we have had an extremely mild winter and even more extremely mild Spring. We keep wondering if mother nature is hiding something nasty for us just around the corner. But we're sure enjoying this weather! 20 degrees Celsius today and 28 expected for three days this coming week!

LOL, I know just what you mean about waiting for mother nature to come along and smack you back down, after giving you a taste of good weather! Best to enjoy any of the good stuff that we get and deal with the rest when it happens

28C is really nice and warm -- 82 Fahrenheit, I think? We're supposed to make it to 70F/21C on Friday and I'm ecstatic about that

Alberta is experiencing warm weather which entices us to start planting out.
But we keep sheets ready to cover our plantings,---- if frost is predicted.

DH put my drip system (stored in the garage for three years) into my raised beds. I am so grateful and excited. It was 31F (-.5C) this AM so I think that I need to hold off on putting anything in the beds. I really want to harden off dahlias but I doubt they would make it through that temp at night, even covered . I made an offer my daughter and (hope) future SIL couldn't refuse and he is coming this afternoon (is job hunting though he is headed for Antarctica in Oct for a year) to work on my 'list.' I walked through the garden with a notebook and wrote up four pages (very loosely written so not as terrible as it sounds) of things I want to do but cannot due to my back. So very frustrating. But I am thrilled they will help. Laura will come over when she gets off work. I am so blessed to have her and Eric.

I planted more poppy seeds indoors yesterday. Just one flat. It is getting awfully late for that but I wanted to assure I had a good mix of colors and a source for fresh seed this fall. Also enough to share with my MIL.

Mary, hooray for getting the drip system installed, and for having help with the garden labor!

I winter sowed several kinds of poppies -- some of the seed was at least 4 years old, so I was pretty generous with the sowing... I now have a LOT of tiny seedlings to pot up (and then figure out where to plant) . Whew, everything should sprout as well as those older seeds did!

I planted more poppy seeds also. And I also tend to be too generous so end up having to scissor thin them out. Got some Kale, broccoli seedlings out in the raised beds. Tomorrow I will sow seeds for lettuce, broccoli, pak choi succession planting.

Bugs! Swarms of little bugs flying everywhere!! LOL, I don't know what they are, maybe the "lake flies" that come out every spring in huge numbers... they don't bite or anything, and I assume they make good eating for birds, so they're a good sign of spring for me

Mary, you are way ahead of me.
The only vege I have started is the peas.
I have them growing in 20 inch pots,-
with large clear plastic bags over to keep the critters out.
The squirrels and magpies raid my pea plantings if I don't cover them.
And the small birds like to pick off the first vines.
The peas are now about 3 or 4 inches up.
Several varieties: Alaska, Sugar Snap and Swedish Red peas.
The last is for pea soup next winter.