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Links

Resources - pictures, articles etc. Hosta Library best hosta reference Photo Gallery (Hosta and Daylilies) icangarden Quid Novis - Peterborough & the Kawarthas' Arts, Culture & Entertainment Listings' www.mydayliles.com Clubs Ontario Hosta Society Ontario Daylily Society American Hemerocallis Society

Where to stay or visit when in the area! Garden Route (Peterborough area tour) Lift Lock Bed and Breakfast (just around the corner from us!) Lift Lock Boat Cruises Hutchison House  (Tea Room) Craft Works Still Water on the lake B&B  Beacon by the Bay B&B Westben 'Concerts at the Barn Riverside B and B Lancaster Resort The Avant-Garden Shop Lang Pioneer Village Plantation House

Other Gardening Sites www.DaylilySearch.com Nut Trees Grimo Nut nursery Other point of interest in Ontario Wolf Den Hostel in Algonquin *If you would like us to consider adding your web site link

2012 Comments:  Just a sample.

May 31,  The 'Komodo Dragon' arrived happy & healthy. Thank you so much.
While I could not find anyone else who wanted to put an order in with mine, I passed your name on to a woman who admired my garden. I don't know her but she seemed very nice. She & her husband just came to collect some stones that we were giving away as they are in the process of fixing up their backyard. Hope she does contact you.  Kindest regards,   Sharen

May 16, Hi Dawn,  Just thought I'd let you know I received my plants today already and they look great. Thank you!  Gina

May 15, Good evening,  Just wanted to let you know that my order (consisting of three daylilies) arrived late morning today and all were well packed, nicely tagged and in great shape. I heeled them in this evening until I can plant them in their permanent location this weekend.  I'm very pleased with your mail order service and attention to details.  I will highly recommend Gardens Plus to my family, friends and neighbours.   Thanks, and all the best this gardening season!   Othmar

May 14, Hi Dawn  I received my hostas today, Monday.  They look great.  Thanks   Pat  BC

May 12, Hello Dawn,  I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful plants.  They're all in, and I was just out in the garden: they are all looking terrific.   Hope business is brisk!  Regards,  John

Hello Dawn,   Just received my new hostas ..... they were in wonderful condition and the roots  are now soaking.   I believe 'Wheee' is my new favourite .... I just love it.    Thank you so much  ... and would definitely recommend you Monica

2011 Comments: Just a few for your reading pleasure!
June 24,  Good morning Dawn:    Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our visit to "Gardens Plus" last Sunday.  I do know that we will be out there again to make more purchases - I have started a new list - Hosta I want!   I am now up to 56 different hosta that I know I have and others I do not know the names as they were either given to me from splitting or my old house when we moved and I just thought a hosta was a hosta.  How silly was that?   Anyway - just wanted to share my visit with you - it was awesome! See you again!  On our next visit perhaps I will bring some pictures of our gardens if you are interested.   Take care and happy gardening.....Pam and Herco

June 15,   Hi Dawn!   You convinced me. I read your e-mail this A.M. and by noon had flight reservations to Ottawa on Sat.
I am picking up my granddaughter, and she is driving us to Peterborough. Look forward to seeing you
on Sunday or at least on Monday.  One question: your directions are very clear, but would appreciate it if you can name me hotels and
Bed and Breakfasts in your near vicinity. We would only need them for Sunday night, but I want to
book ahead. I am very excited!
Gerry L,   Winnipeg
P.S. All the plants from fall 2010 are doing great, good plants, and a l-o-o-ong cool spring.

June 7, WOW, my order just arrived and I am so happy.  Thank you so much - so easy.  Filled out the order form, emailed it and you even worked with me for my zone for shipping times!  Nice plants I am looking today to order more!  Marg

June 7,     Hi Dawn,
  I got my lilies the other day, and I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was.  The fact that I could tell the plants  were hand dug, cleaned, labelled  and  wrapped really made me smile.  I even liked the smiley sticker on the outside of the box!
  The root systems were so impressive, and the prices were great.  I was a little leary, but you never know 'til you try!  I'm definately going to be a return customer...I've got my eye on the coral bells right now.    Thanks Dawn,     Laura.

June 6, Hi Dawn, I just wanted to let you know how impressed my mom and I were with our recent order of hostas. We could not believe how healthy they were and certainly are doing well. Thanks again.  Michelle

May 20, WOW, I have never been so impressed with mail order.  I had given up but read the comments of your customers.  Glad I took the chance.  I will be ordering again for the fall.  Just unable to tell at this point what I need and your seleciton and prices are awesome!!!  Thank you soooo much  Dianne

2010 Comments:

September 13,  Hi, I just wanted to let you know we are so impressed with your service and quality!  Keep it up Dawn - just keep doing what you are doing!  See you next season and looking forward to your next Newsletter!  Peg

July 9,  I can not put into words how much we enjoyed the tour of your gardens! WOW, Your place is the most beautiful I have ever seen and I do not know how you do it.  We will be back and we came to see just where the mail order plants we have been so delighted with were coming from.  Thanks again - see you soon!  Donna  PS will look up Gardens Plus on facebook (thanks for the tips too!)

June 21,  Hi Dawn, I was so surprised when the hostas were delivered today....... and it`s Monday! This must have been a record for Canada Post! They were all absolutely perfect, not a blemish or break on any of the foliage. I spent some time finding spots for them in the garden. Have put them in potting soil and watered and will plant tomorrow.  I`m impressed at how large Ginsu Knife is.   Thank you Dawn for making this such a happy experience. My friends are envious so may be ordering at some point.  All the best, Sylvia  Vancover Island, BC

June 2, Hi Dawn,  I just want to say thank-you for opening your gardens to us yesterday. What a phenomenal amount of work you have done to create your little piece of heaven. Your gardens are an inspiration to anyone with a lot of shade and teaches us what one can do when the right plant is put into its proper place.
Judy

May 18, Many thanks Dawn. Received my order this afternoon.
They look terrific ! I am one very happy customer !   :)  Regards, Chris

May 17, I am not sure why I didn't stop earlier when passing by - ( I guess because your sales area isn't seen from the front where your display beds are)  WOW I will be a loyal customer now that is for sure.  I have never seen such selection all in one place for all my favorite perennials.  Your set up is amazing - so easy to shop and your gardens.  They took my breath away and it is early.  I can not wait until early July for Hosta Fest and when the daylilies start blooming - Thank you Elaine

May 11, WOW thank you so much.  I am a first timer and not the last you will see my name.  I know
we are way ahead out here but didn't expect your plants to be such quality this early.  I ordered Empress Wu
from 3 places due to the shortage last year and although all about the same size your price was 1/2 and wrapped
with TLC!!! THANKS>  you are the only one that advised they will take a bit to grow and honesty is the best policy.  Jane

May 13 - thank you so much Dawn.  Looking forward to you uploading the 2011 so I can add to my collection again
from your awesome stock.  I am glad I ordered in January as some are already sold out!  Have a great season!  Mel
2009 Comments:

Aug  Hi Dawn,  Thank you!!  I hope you get enough of her that I actually do get one.   I did know that there is one called May.  I saw it a couple of weeks ago at a hosta place east of Ottawa. Did not get it, but it is certainly on my wish list.  I did check for it yesterday at your place. Didn't see it and it was just as well.  I bought enough to take care of for now.  I will get it from you when it is time.  Allot of things at the other place were very expensive compared to yours.  Plus I liked getting the free ones and the discount from you.  Takes the guilt off of being so impulsive when plant shopping.
When Empress Wu is available...I will order for mail delivery, but we want to come back again in person.  There is nothing like actually being there.  Much more fun than internet shopping.  We all agreed that we enjoyed the visit to your place.  Well worth the drive.    Thanks again..take care, May (Ottawa)

Jun 17 Hi Dawn, It's Kim A. I just received Empress Wu which I ordered this week from you.  Thank you so much-she's a beauty, nice and healthy. It's already in my garden(had a gigantic spot picked out just for her).  I have to say, great service, fast and friendly two thumbs up from me. I'll definitely order from you again.
Take care and have a wonderful day, I know I will now,  Kim

Jun 16 Hi and Thank you:   Plants arrived a day or so ago and everything OK.  Wonderful looking hostas and i look forward to seeing the cone flowers..'soup and macaroni' in bloom.   look forward, also,  to finding more space in the garden/yard so I can get EVEN more.   Heather in PEI

Jun 15  Hi Dawn just to let you know the hostas that I ordered are all planted up and going great guns they are wonderful healthy plants. Now if I can just stay away from the catalogue things will be great. Have a great day thanks again for such nice healthy plants Marj

Jun 6  Just back home from your Gardens - Please add me to your email listing and we will come back soon.  Nice job a little paradise.  Gong to speak to our garden club and come as a group.  Mary, Kingston

Jun 2  I have been ordering Hosta and daylilies from various web sites and just discovered yours this year due to a friend that also loves gardening.  She has been ordering from you for 8 years - I do not understand why this hadn't come up earlier?  You are at the top of my list - thank you for not shipping in April when they are dormant and so small they should be sold in a 2" pot!!!  Even the newest ones are of great size.  You really do a great job - thank you again Ruth

Jun 1 Hi Dawn!  My order arrived this afternoon and all the plants look FABULOUS!  I have already planted them and I am expecting that they will do really well.  Everything I ordered from you last year is up and looking great too! Please keep me in mind if you are able to get "Big Kahuna" hosta.   Thanks for all the effort you put in to supply such wonderful perennials!  Heather  AB

May 20 WOW, I am so glad I came for a visit.  I am hard to impress and I just do not know how to put into words my thoughts.  YOu have an amazing place the gardens are something else.  You enspire me and I have decided to order a truck load of dirt and add more!  My dream would to have half the gardens you have and have them so beautiful.  GREAT plants and such knowledge!  I will be back often.  Hank, Toronto

May 18  THANK you so much for my Hosta order.   So nice to have a place to order online that cares.  Great prices and service mean a lot.   I heard about you from some gardening friends and will now be placing a daylily order.  Will get back to you as soon as I can get me list together.  At this pont I have reached the 'L page' and have 28 picked!  OOPS.  Sandra  QC

2008 comments:  Just a sample of some of the feed back I have received
Sept 19  Hello Dawn   WOW...I have had tons of plants through the mail over the years but I have never been so pleased with an order as I am with yours. Everything looks perfect. Thanks so much and I will order from you again come Spring. By the way, the bloom was still on the coconut lime. Thanks Griffin

July 13, Re: Workshop on Daylilies, Dawn I really enjoyed yesterday's daylily seminar, especially when we got into the garden for the demo (great shovel!) and learning what the written descriptions of a blossom refer to.  That part was very helpful.  Thank you for so kindly giving us each a lily!
I would come to any seminars you feel like giving later in the summer or fall, if you do them then.    Thanks again.    Freya

Jun 22  Hello,   Wow!!  I just got my package delivered (on Sunday morning which is odd but perfect timing).  I cannot believe how fresh and big and beautiful these plants are.  Unbelievable!  All the other mail in orders I did things came like little sticks small and still not grown to full size even after a year.  I will be back for sure in the fall if you have any bulbs for online or next year.
Thanks very very much for accommodating my late order.  I think it is worth paying extra for shipping because of the distance and then you get perfect plants just like I went this morning to pick them form the nursery.  DARIA
{shipped on the previous Wednesday with the expected day of delivery Monday>?? ON to MB}

Jun 11 All plants arrived in good condition and are very nice!  I will certainly be making future orders!  By the way, how late in the season do you accept orders or stop shipping? Thanks for everything! Heather

Jun 10  Got the plants in the mail today.  Awesome!  The hostas are huge.  Don't know how you got the dirt off the roots, but everything looks really good.  The heuchera have the most interesting color.  Can't wait to see how they do with some sun.  Thanks again,  Jen

Got my order today.  Hostas arrived looking great.   Do have any suggestions for planting depth ?
Are you still accepting orders ?  Thanks,   Susan

Jun 6  Thanks Dawn.  As usual your customer service is fantastic.  The Canada Post box was sitting at the front door when I was sent my husband off to work this morning.  The quality of he hostas is superb (as usual).  Will carry the pen with me at all times and share your contact info with everyone.  Enjoy the rest of the season.  Maybe see you in the near future.  Sincerely,     Jocelyn

Hi Dawn, We picked up our order at the post office this afternoon.  The daylilies all look really healthy and are just begging to be planted.  Thanks again for the good service and great daylilies.   D.  Crawford

Jun 3    I received my plant order today and am VERY happy with it!  Thank you so much for sending me such gorgeous BIG and healthy plants-I can't wait to get them planted.  Hope the rest of the season goes well for you.  I'll keep watching the website and will DEFINITELY be in touch with next year's order.   Chris

May 30  Received order in good shape. It always seems like Xmas when your parcel arrives. I`ve been looking for hosta May for some time. Enjoying last years acquisitions this spring especially hosta Seafire.  Thanks for the bonuses. Until next time  Al

May 26 WOW,  I have been ordering mail order for some time.  Just discovered you and thought I would give you a try.  I had heard on a gardening forum you had great stuff.  Thank you great size and value for both Hosta and Daylilies.  I will be ordering again soon!  Nice you are still shipping!  Marg  Ps I really think I may visit too as you are only 2 hours away!

Hi...not sure if I am on your Email list, but if not please add my name and address.  Also, if you have a printed catalogue I would appreciate it.  I only have dial up and it is so slow browsing your day lilies on the Internet.  The plants I purchased off you last year did very well, and I'm looking forward to purchasing more this year.  Also last year, I purchased some of your $1.00 day lilies that you were selling.  Every one of them came along just great. Don

Nice changes to your site.  Nice that you change it up for our benefit.  Love your enthusiasm. To others please note the old email address for Dawn has changed.  I learned the hard way!  New one that gets a response within hours is info@gardensplus.ca.  Sign up for her emails - not spam.  Just useful information.   Sally
 

More comments
Tips

Hosta

Snails and slugs - We strongly suggest purchasing the more slug resistant (SR) varieties and try 1 part household ammonia, drop of liquid soap with 9 parts water in a spray bottle (or watering can or hook up a pump to a garden hose
and drop in a water barrel?). Once a week from early spring to mid summer.  Best done at night or on a rainy day!

Spray the eyes and soil the first round if you can early when they are just emerging. Then again once the leaves start to unfold. Then a third time once they are totally leafed out.  This is usually all within a month or so.  If has been an extremely wet season no harm doing it more often.
If you are reading this and they have already been leafed out for a bit - not too late.  Same solution just do it once a week for three weeks.
You can even get a head start by doing this in the fall to be one step ahead of the spring.

They just watch if you have any holes weeks after just do these plants and no it doesn't hurt
other plants around your Hosta.  Just do not do it when the sun is out!
If you see any frogs or toads - do not do this area they will do the job for you!

Cutting back perennials
The rule of thumb is cut back the flowering stocks after the plant is finished blooming.  Letting it go to seed takes energy from the roots.  If the plant looks ragy cut more back.  If I had the time I would cut back most in the fall. At least all the spring blooming perennials.  I never cut back my grasses as they have great seed heads to admire all winter long.

Dividing
Again after it is done blooming is a great time or keep in mind; Spring bloomers 6-8 weeks before first frost and Summer/Fall bloomers in spring.

Heuchera
The one thing to watch for is winter heaving - with the thaw - freeze back and forth
they do tend to push up out the ground more than a lot of other perennials.  We try
to get out early with the lawn is blooming with crocuses and inspect and push the
plants back down.
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