Where is everybody at?

[pauhaus]

Hi Dr. Dave and everyone else who's checking in.

Dave have you checked out Family Tree DNA? It's a pretty interesting idea and website pertaining to genealogy, I participated because I was trying to find some info on my father's side.

http://www.familytreedna.com/

[digs57]

Hi, Hooked, Pieter, ViolaAnn, and everyone else - Happy Spring - another Ottawan checking in here.

As of yesterday, only one hosta in my garden, a plantaginea wannabe on the warmest side of my house, has above ground eyes. All the rest are still asleep. Right now my garden still belongs to scillas & crocuses, though trilliums, heucheras, primroses, pulmonarias, tulips & irises are up & at 'em. The pulmonarias are blooming already, and the trilliums just about unfurling! Mind you, I have four platforms of hosta seedlings sown 13 months ago and overwintered indoors, and they've kept my hosta winter withdrawal symptoms at bay

I'll add my support to Hosta Choice and Fundy Beauties. Locally I visit Rideau Gardens and Whitehouse Perennials which also do mail order, and last summer I detoured to Handlebar Hosta Farms in Uxbridge for a nice little Blue Sliver.

There are a couple of other Ottawa hostaphiles on this forum, I'm sure they'll say hello eventually....

Any of you passing through Ottawa during the summer is very welcome for a garden visit, folks!

D.

[ViolaAnn]

Hi Digs,

Long time since we've heard from you. I have to get out to see your garden this summer. I think I'll be around more than last year.

What do you plan to do with all those seedlings? I've got quite a few as well. I was thinking of our friend in Metcalfe (not sure whether she's here or on DG) with all the woodland. Maybe I'll offer some to her.

Ann

[Candy]

Great to see so many familiar names and hear how everyone (and their Hosta) have fared during the winter. Like you all, I'm in Spring Cleanup mode but have checked in several times. Loved the thread listing the Top 20, but my own personal opinion is that I don't know how any Hosta can top Sagae!

[digs57]

Yes, Ann, I look forward to our mutual garden tours. I'm really curious to see how my garden fares this year. I'd both created and expanded garden beds last year, with a number of new hostas (what else? ) planted. Without regrets and of necessity, I had two small old & rotten trees and one third of an old maple cut down, which I see as very positive, since the garden will now get better & more even lighting. Even hostas need light, after all.

All that said, I do find early spring the hardest part of the gardening season: days are getting warmer by the day, and other plants waking up apace, but our faves are such reluctant risers. Not to mention kind friends like Pieter, teasing us with their LotusLand gardens while we're still weathering snowstorms!

Give me a shout if you want to get together, Ann.

D.

[Pieter]

Not to mention kind friends like Pieter, teasing us with their LotusLand gardens

Digs, I won't even say a thing about the scapes I saw developing on an Undulata over the weekend.... caught even me by surprise.... but seriously, those Maui Buttercups you sent me year before last are doing quite nicely now, one's got 5 shoots, the other 6. I found some Rainforest Sunrise to go along with those this spring. It's been a very cold spring for us here, or a long cold winter, depending on how you look at it I suppose. Reality is that I figure we're a good 2 weeks behind where we were this time last year in terms of growth and those in the weather know-how are saying we'd better get used to that for the next 20 or so years, we're getting back into a cycle of colder winters again out West.

[flowerchild59]

It has been a glorious few days here in southern Illinois. My DH and I actually had a few days off together, which is very rare as i work weekends and he works during the week. We got loads of stuff done in the yard the last couple of days.
Wanda, I still have chicken fever. I want my chicken house this year for sure.

[jody]

It's awfully quiet in here for spring. Nice to see so many folks still here! I've peeked in a few times this winter, just been so busy. I tried to get the garden cleaned up in January, but didn't finish. I've been out there the last several weekends trying to finish clean up. Needless to say... since it took me so long, me and my gracefulness now have too many stepped on hosta eyes/fingers Fortunately the worst of the damage just looks like bugs ate the leaves from the tip towards the petioles, making the plants look like they only have 1/2 leaves. Then we had hail storms the last couple of days... every years it's always something

Most of the hosta, (other than the so many stepped on ones) should be looking good this year. Most were dug up from MD in 05 and replanted in VA spring of 06. They have had time to "set their feet" and settle in now. I'm having a "garden get together" May 16 if anyone is in the area (VA eastern shore) or will be "driving through" and wants to stop by.

[thy]

I know I haven't been here a lot, but somehow the landscape gardenere i ordered to fix the garden with plenty of deep good soil and who left it with a few inches of compost over a conrete like layer of construction grit ( the stony thing you use for roads and drive ways and send me a bill spoiled my garden fun..
I did pay 28.000 D Kr out of his bill on 40.000 D. Kr, and will pay no more.. it was more or less worthless for me I still do not know if he will sue me or just asked a layer to mail a letter.

Beths great hosta pics will get my bud out in the garden tomorrow..at least for a look

And then I have been on vacation for nearly a month.. things are greening up here

[ViolaAnn]

thy - if he sues you , I think you have good reason not to pay. I hope he leaves you alone.