I have bee balm coming out of my ears! I always thought you couldn't grow it from seed as they are sterile-I guess I had better get out there and get some of those seeds!! I have Marshall's delight (pink), Panorama (dark pink), Fireball (mine is a dark fushia this year), Coral reef (shorter pink), Cambridge scarlet (red with double bloom), and violet queen (purple) If you want seeds-I have hot them...I will go and get some right now :o) Would love to trade :o)

I have blue stocking which is a lavander, jacob cline red and a burgandy purple don't know name. I would be interested in your yellow dwarf canna, marigold firecracker, and maybe a mix of your giant zinnias. thanks, Tanya

Monday my worry over yellowing of small new leaves on bottom of Bee Balm (not Jacob Cline but red) got the better of me and being new I had to do something. I searched the internet and these forums to find a "diagnostic" but they talk mostly about larger top leaves yellowing from the outside towards center or yellowing of tomato plant leaves. All I could find about small new lower leaves yellowing was either a nitrogen deficiency or a deficiency in a micronutrient that helps uptake of nitrogen. They suggested working in some nitrogen source (Blood or Bone Meal) and I just happened to have Blood Meal because some other articles said it would deter raccoons/squirrels. It didn't so I had a little of it left and worked it into ground around Bee Balm and watered it in. Didn't use the Bone Meal as yet other articles and posts on these forums said it attracts critters. I read too much from not enough actual experience! I ran out to check my Bee Balm when I saw your post to make sure and the small bottom leaves are greening up very nicely. Only the garden gods know if it was the nitrogen in the Blood Meal or not but that's my limited experience. If the leaves yellow up again I'll be searching for another answer but have my fingers crossed. Now I'm worrying about too much foliage and sacrificing flowers because of other people warning me about using too much nitrogen. Hopefully I didn't throw the whole nutrient thing into a tizzy with that little bit of Blood Meal. I can't wait until I know more about what I'm trying to do in the gardens!

A drainpipe trellis? Ah...now I'm in heaven! I just planted a honesuckle on the opposite end of my wall where our gutter runs up. I searched out the tallest trellis I could find and planted it as close to the gutter as I could so the honeysuckle disguises it - to a certain height anyway. (dropmore scarlet honeysuckle) I just purchased 19 clematis this year...my first clems...I'm hooked (as if you didn't already know!), but I have no idea about caring for them in a planter, or how to overwinter them in zone 5 in a planter, but I do like your idea. As far as the meter, they are all read digitally from the street and the electric co. only comes once every three years to perform a routine check. They already came this year. Dee, regarding your sidenote - I don't recall the exact variety of the red Japanese Maple, and I'm guessing you are going to lecture me about the area in which we have it planted - that's ok, you aren't the first! LOL My uncle has had them for 20 years, and they really don't get very large - maybe double in size and nothing that would push up our sidewalk or anything - and he has his plopped right next to his foundation - at least 5 of them. If anything we'll have to do just a little pruning at the base when it branches out, but nature will figure out on its own which direction it can grow (i.e. not the house). As you are probably wondering why we planted it here, let me explain. Our neighbor on the other side of the driveway removed ALL their shrubs (a beautiful lilac tree that gave both of us privacy from eachother) and their trees, and nothing is left in their yard but flowering perennials, and there's absolutely no privacy. Our lots are really small. This wall faces east - full sun from noon on. Dee, I will check out the link you provided and comment later. Thanks for the feedback.