Well, I've never grown Lobelia but after doing a little web searching it appears that the Riviera Rose is a tender perennial that's usually grown as an annual. Although not always necessary, cold/moist stratification is usually helpful in regard to seed germination of perennials. Personally, I cold stratify all my perennial seed in the refrigerator. Even if it's not absolutely necessary, it can't hurt anything and usually seems to be very helpful. Some websites say that cold stratification is necessary in order for Riviera Rose seeds to break dormancy (others of course disagree. B & T World Seeds say that "Lobelia erinus Riviera Rose seeds need to be overwintered before they will germinate". In your post, you didn't mention anything about stratifying the seeds before sowing them. You may want to do that the next time just to see if it helps. As I said, it sure can't hurt anything. Art

Hi hanzrobo, I have an east facing and a huge south facing window. I was a little concerned that if they slow down in the heat of summer, seedlings may have a tough time right now. We are already 100+ and the room they will be in is warm! It's an add on to the house, but no cooling attached. I'm thinking of ordering seeds from Mesa Garden , unless someone has a better suggestion. :-)

I'm going to have to make a list from your suggestions! Somethings I don't even recognize, so I'll go look them up. Nell, I am in the PNW. In the Willamette Valley. I got a "Seville Classics" kitchen type rack for my set up. It allowed me to customize the size and have casters so I can move it around. It was an investment, but it's also a shelf that can be used for other applications in the future...if I didn't use it for seed starting. I'm going to start a few different carnations as well. I had some years ago and just loved them for cutting flowers. I'm going to mix more (cutting) flowers into my vegetable garden...try and make it more of a potager. I was thinking hollyhocks are so pretty too. In the past, I had to go out and pick the little black catepillar thingys off them...they would shred them up! I guess I'm up to doing that this year!

Hi Everyone, I'm finally home! And can I just say that coming thro Toledo on Interstate 75 was the same miserable experience it has always been. Never changes. These people need to work on their detour skills. Had a great visit with the granddaughters. My daughter and her husband just bought their first house, so there was a lot of packing, sorting, running back and forth going on! It's a nice little house in a great neighborhood, same school district and Tabitha is so excited - she gets to ride the school bus! Where they live now is only a block away from her school, so she had to walk. And I got to meet my grandcat, Aurora. Very pretty cat, American Tabby mix, quite nice and it only took her a couple of days to get used to me. Okay, let's take care of some swap stuff! First of all, a huge Thank You to Jeanne for covering for me. And at the last minute too. This visit was supposed to happen next weekend. Jeanne, I owe ya one! Thank you! Robin, Beth and Heidi, thanks for sharing the pics, your flower beds are just beautiful! Great Haiku, Robin! Congrats to Katie and Emily for guessing #s 2 and 5! Erica, how great it would be to walk out to my back yard and pick lemons! Margo, we got rain 3 nites in Kettering. The girls drew a picture of me with their chalk, on the sidewalk, and were really bummed that the rain washed it away! Breanne, so glad your sister had you to retreat to! Saying prayers for the flood victims. Melinda, hope all is going better for you. Please post when you receive. Here's an update on the Swap: Erica REC'D Katie REC'D Emily REC'D Margo REC'D Breanne REC'D Heidi REC'D Robin REC'D Beth REC'D Amber REC'D Amber sends to Melinda Amy REC'D Shirley REC'D Faye REC'D Okay, I'm going to finish unpacking and get some dinner. Got to check out Katie's swap too! Later, Shirley!