As someone in the UK who is frequently finding "hardy plants" don't survive, especially when I grow much of my collection in pots, you might be interested to know that many garden centres and nurseries here give "plant guarantees" on "hardy plants". On the Wisley link below look for the box headed "Confidence" towards the bottom of the page. http://rhs.org.uk/gardens/shopping/… 3 or 5 years guarantees are common and I have even been to one seller who gave a 10 year guarantee. I asked at Wisley once what do I bring back if my clematis died a year ago and has long since rotted away, but did not get a clear answer. The receipt and the semblance of a plant is all that is needed apparently. If as I do you grow in a pot that is possible, but a rotted open garden plant might be difficult. At least with a clematis the roots can survive for months or years after the top has gone. Maybe I can get hardy biennials replaced every year after they die :-) To those of you in the USA who get "real" seasons, who might be thinking of trying to garden on an island climate, we had frost warnings only last week in the north and central southern England, as night time temperatures fell to just a few degrees above freezing. But I will try planting out some of my Crinums, as the pots are getting too heavy as I get older. Brian Whyer, zone 8'is :-) Buckinghamshire, England