First I live in North West Florida and am unfamiliar with what zone it is. The pine cone lilies are green when they first appear at the base of the plant and when mature they turn a dark reddish color and are about 2 inches in diameter and 2 1/2" in height. They die back in the winter here but come back from the root in the spring. That's about all I know about them. Someone gave me a start years ago and from experience they require very little care.

Would you be interested in a Crinum fimbriatulum - common names Milk and Wine lily or Confederate lily for iris cristata? I'm also interested in some rose campion if we can agree to a trade. I have a large crinum bulb the size of a softball (and some smaller) if your are interested in trading. Thanks - Just let me know, Diana

I don't think their sap, which is clearer and doesn't flow as much as daffs' sap does, is harmful to other flowers. Tulips do benefit from being wrapped so their stems are straight, then conditioning in water or preservative for 12 hours or so, wrapped, before being unwrapped and arranged. If that isn't done, the stems tend to bend way over. Tulips combine with other flowers nicely. I haven't combined daffs with anything else; early in the season when they're in bloom here, nothing else is. I haven't sold them, either, because the market I used to go to starts after the last of the daffs are done. Tulips were a big hit, but I had to grow only the late-blooming kinds, because, like the daffs, the others were done before our market started. As for what to put in the water, there are several powdered (and maybe some liquid) mixtures, and some home-made solutions, that you can put in the water to increase vase life. Which of those you use, if any, is up to you. Powders are easy and fast but more expensive than home-mades. If you're going to be selling your flowers, it's nice to give the customers a packet of Floralife or something similar with their bouquets. I have a home-made formula I always used for harvesting, conditioning, and display, but I gave my customers a packet of Floralife Crystal Clear. I'm not selling flowers any more and find that I use my home-made formula if I'm going to be cutting and arranging multiple large vases, but use the packets if I'm only cutting for one vase. The powdered kinds are available in buckets as well as packets, for big users. My formula has bleach; the powdered things usually have a different biocide. If you're going to sell flowers, it might be worth your while to experiment with what you use. What is in your water can make a difference from one solution to another. Also, there are some flowers that don't like preservatives and are better off in plain water. Zinnias are like that. Some say sunflowers, lilies, and glads are also, but that hasn't been my experience at all. Jeanne

The guy that cuts my grass and is the same one that does my hardscape projects was here this morning and cut the grass. But before he started he comes over and makes me follow him to the Lupine Garden. He said he never saw anything that looked like them before and of course had to know what they are and all about them. Said they were so beatiful and of course I agree :-)) Said my entire yard was just so lovely and that it looks so nice he loves to come here. Made me smile as I love it when people love my garden.