I believe Sue is right. One time a patent holder posted on a seed offer of mine and complained I was infringing on her rights! I sent her a private email and reminded her that seeds were the by-product of sexual, not asexual propagation, but it also gave me a good excuse to write Spike and ask that he pull the thread, which had already been bumped back up from out of the blue, and he did. I've also heard that reps from Austin Roses cruise the rose exchange page looking for people who want to exchange Austins under patent. I try not to get patented plants since I trade so much I'd never be able to remember what was and wasn't patented. I'll never understand how they can even allow some plants to get patented, such as sedum - all you have to do is break off a leaf into the dirt and it roots on it's own! But it does protect those who try to make a living at plant hybridizing. As for Kate's original question, Helpmefind has detailed information on roses. All you have to do is look up a rose through their search and it will tell you if it is patented or not. It's my personal opinion that you would be much happier with old garden roses than the patented hybrid teas that need tons of chemicals to keep decent looking anyway. :) Jeanne Here is a link that might be useful: Helpmefind Roses

Thanks for responding. I have purple, pink, or white butterfly bushes. Unfortunately, I dont know which is which because I planted them as seeds last year and some bloomed this year and some didnt. Their in 5 in pots now. I know for sure two are purple and thats it. thanks!

Hi Buck, and welcome. I just skimmed this thread, but I didn't see anyone address your question about walls-o-water. Funny, just yesterday I was thinking, no one ever talks about them and I think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Until I discovered winter sowing this year I started my tomatoes indoors then set them out in WOW as early as it made sense. I consistently picked my first red off the vine on May 1. My plants were healthy, and I picked green tomatoes the afternoon before the first expected frost, usually sometime in November, and let them ripen indoors. I often still had homegrowns on New Year's Day. In effect, I had homegrowns 8 months out of the year. I tried winter sowing tomatoes this year, and will try it again next year. I believe our extremely bizarre weather this spring and summer precluded optimal results. I don't think the method was the problem. I fall into the camp of people who want the first tomato and the last. Tomatoes are served in some form in my household 365 days a year, and homegrown is better. I contend that WOWs are an adaptation of, or at least a close cousin to, to winter sowing. They get the plants into a natural environment as soon as possible. In 2008 I plan to blend the two methods by sowing in milk jugs, then setting the jugs in WOWs. My hope is that I'll get earlier germination than traditional winter sowing, without having the hassles of indoor starts. I also plan to winter sow traditionally, and do a few indoor starts as well. I won't be in a position to compare the three in the strictest scientific way, but I'll share my results. I found winter sowing cucumbers to be an absolute delight. I'd never had a reason to handle cucumber seedlings before; therefore had never noticed they, too, have that intoxicating cucumber fragrance. Planting out was like an afternoon at the spa. Regarding what to plant when, donn has a thread somewhere that lists many items that need cold stratification. I think it's called hooha. Trudi has lists on wintersown.org. Seeds requiring cold strat would be the ones to plant first. Cool weather veggies like cabbage, peas and broccoli would be sown next. Don't worry that you are sowing them too early. Mother Nature, with the help of winter sowing, will take care of you. Sow warm weather lovers like marigolds and okra last. Now is the time to start tenancy negotiations with your boyfriend. I predict you will love this so much, you won't mind the temporary clutter he will call junk. It may take him a season of growing success to realize that your happiness outweighs the clutter. Good luck, and welcome seedmama

Dream is GREAT to have you back. I check on you thru your blog to see what you are doing, but really want to see you here again too. Your little girls look darling in their costumes! If I am remembering correctly, they always are dressed up by your tree for Christmas? I'm glad you are joining in with the three toddlers here! I can hardly wait for Teegan to arrive. But maybe I'll find her a Halloween costume meanwhile. You sure gave me a big smile today. hugs, Karen