That's quite the list of exotics you have there!

I have a Acer palmatum ÂFireglow Japanese Maple growing in a huge pot too, although this year I had to give it a good pruning since there was so much kill back.

I also have a baby seedling of a Quercus macrocarpa Burr Oak that I planted last year, may not be that exotic but you sure wouldn't find any of them around here ;)

Sharon

A climbing monkshood. Where did you find these plants? I'd be interested to know.
Shelley

Shelley, the climbing monkshoods had come from Fraser's Thimble Farms ... though, have to say these rare monkshoods are not inexpensive! ... but, they're worth it! Fraser's has TONS of interesting stuff and remains one of the few mail order places with such an extensive selection. Due to the now VERY HIGH cost of shipping, many places no longer ship via mail. I had previously ordered LOTS of stuff from The Perennial Gardens and was disappointed to see that place no longer ship out to its customers.

http://www.thimblefarms.com/98prentfa.html

Terry

So do you have to bring most of these plants indoors for the winter??

Annie

Thanks for the info. Thimble farms will get some of my business next year.
As far as exotics for me this year- Princess lilies is on the list.
Roses is as well too. No one around here has a collection like I have. After all are planted, then I should have around 100. Not a huge list compared to some but definately a good start.

Until I discovered Gardens North and this forum I had a limited selection of exotics.
They were
Lewisia cotyledon
Meconopsis x sheldonii
Primula vialii

Since then I have started a variety from seed many of which are still seedlings & I shouldnÂt comment on until I have more experience with them.

Some that I have planted out are
Cyclamen purpurescens (set out only last week)
Escobaria vivipara
Hellborus hybridis "Lenten Rose"
Jovibarba (mix)
Leontopodium alpinum
Opuntia rutilans

Ian

Terry,
Can you please post more about your Horse Chestnut and Ohio Buckeye. They are on my list of trees to plant. My husband is set on the horse chestnut and we found very good one at Holes this spring. It was Pink Horse chestnut Fort McNair.
We went home to measure the space and by the time we desided on the tree it was sold. We can't find another one so far.
Anything you can tell me about these trees will be very helpfull.
Ella

Ella, I have 2 Ohio Buckeye trees. One's survived 4 winters, the other, three, with little winter kill(the first one I got, for some reason the main stem died, so I got a replacement, but it's growing a number of shoots from the base so it'll be a multi-stem tree or shrub).
They're not terribly fast growers from what I've seen, but maybe Terry has more info on their growth.

Laurie

Hi .... as for the Ohio buckeye, I have had this one for about eight years now ... it has done very well and is a very attractive specimen. BUT, it is not without its drawbacks ... firstly, it is not a fast grower (which is not necessarily a bad thing) and the autumn coloring is not overly nice and the foliage drops very quickly! BUT, otherwise the tree itself is very attractive and has the most handsome lobed foliage. Despite any drawbacks, it still ranks highly with me. There is a new one (but, not yet on the market?) called 'Autumn Splendor', which has very a nice show of reddish purple foliage ... but, when it becomes available and whether it will hold up to our colder climate, only time will tell.

As for the horse chestnut ... I had collected seeds from a noted tree situated in downtown Edmonton. I had terrific germination (72 out of 75) and have given ever so many away! I had also grafted a specimen from that very same tree. As for the hardiness of these seedlings? ... well, mine still remain potted, but I was told that one out of every three seedlings have proven itself tough enough to cope with our climate. As for selections made elsewhere ... I think this is a difficult call. We often have much cooler summers than most of the prairies, and I truly think this makes a difference in things not having time to ripen and mature their wood before going into winter. I know of selections of sugar maples that fair poorly here, while doing just fine in southern parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Glen3a, I don't see your comments shown here (or is it just my computer?) but they did come to my email. Really good to hear of all the interesting plant material you have. I love the Japanese maples !!! I'd like to try one outside, of course protecting it for winter. Until mine gets too big, I shall ENJOY it as container grown. Interesting you have thus far had success with the Korean maple, seems very few have experienced such. I'd again like to attempt one, though this time in a much more sheltered locaton. I am really keen on the 'Yellow Ribbon' cedar and especially LOVE the 'Concorde' barberry! I MUST try the 'Blue Girl' and 'Blue Boy' holly! ...

Annie, many of my plants are either given some form of winter protection OR container grown, though several just tough it out for themselves and are not pampered.

Terry

Well, thanks alot Terry for enticing me. I used to order plants from the Perennial Gardens too when their where in business, they sure had alot of unusuals to choose from. So therefore, I thought I would take a gander over at ThimbleÂs Farm and found some plants that I've been looking for sometime! The only thing is that they donÂt deliver to PO box numbers so I have to get them dropped off at my DHÂs work.

This is what I ordered.
Aconitum lamarckii Yellow Monkshood
Astrantia major `Lars'
Brunnera macrophylla
Cortusa mattholi
Corydalis lutea
Eupatorium cannabinum Plenum
Gentiana acaulis
Helleborus orientalis hybrid pink seedling
Hepatica nobilis `mixed seedling'
Penstemon strictus Stiff Beard-Tongue
Phlox paniculata `David' (I need a new one, something is wrong with my other, wilted leaves for the past 3 years)
Polemonium pauciflorum Yellow Jacobs Ladder (my wsÂd seeds didnÂt do anything)
Polygonatum odoratum `Variegatum' Variegated Solomon's Seal
Sanguinaria canadensis `Multiplex' Double Flowered Bloodroot
Saxifraga paniculata
Smilacina racemosa False Soloman's Seal
Thalictrum flavum ssp.glaucum Yellow Meadow Rue

and thatÂs just 1/4 of the plants that I want, wait till next spring! LOL

Sharon

Thanks Terry and Laurie for you info. I found Horsechestnut, Aesculus Hippocastanum, localy in Edmonton. Got it home and put the pot in the front yard. It is a very small tree 4 foot and well brunched. It is hard to imagine it will be huge tree one day. I will move it around for couple of weeks and to decide on the best spot.
Any special treatment it needs at the planting?
Ella