I'm interested in: -Atomic Red Carrot - 25 available -Country Gentlemen Corn (a very unique variety, google it!) 10 available -Romanesco Broccoli/Califlower - 5-10 available -Chocolate Stripes - 5-10 available -Japanese Red Kuri Squash - 3-5 available I also send this same message to your e-mail. Please check out my trade list to see if I have anything you might want. Thanks,

I agree with Dave, accept that some leaves will be nibbled by bugs and slugs but, for the most part, they won't make much if any difference in your harvest. I do plant tight and heavy though, to the point that once the greens, such as kale, chard, bok choy and lettuces begin to grow, you can not see the soil any longer. They produce their own grown cover, no need to mulch, no weeds and good water retention. They may not grow as large, though I don't see any difference, and you end up with more food per sq foot. I then regularly "pick" from each plants just enough for a meal OR take a whole plant out here and there, making more space for the others. My bok choy seems a favourite of the bugs this year (slugs?) many holes but I eat those leaves all the same, and still plenty left without holes as well, further up the plant. My bok choy has bolted now, will plant more soon, but have just found out the flowers and especially the flower buds taste even better then the leaves themselves, like broccoli, bonus! I also do as lacyvail says, planting herbs and flowers that beneficial bugs are attracted to. Predators such as wasps, are a great help in the garden, attacking the veg eating pests. I keep dill and fennel out of the actual veg bed though, as they aren't always the best companions of veg.

Black swallowtails (BST's) eat rue, dill, fennel, parsley, etc, Giant Swallowtails (GST's) eat rue, citrus, etc. So your cats are BSTs. It should be fine to offer them other host plants that they are known to eat. The birds, spiders, wasps, lizards and other critters are probably what's behind the missing cats. If at all possible, protect them inside an enclosure which will keep out the predators. If that isn't possible, cover the plants with netting (to allow for sunlight and air flow) to keep the predators off. Some use the pop up hampers placed upside down over the plants to protect the cats. Caterpillars do not eat when they molt. It can sometimes take 24 hours or more for them to start eating again. They often will leave the host plant to molt since they are very vulnerable to predators at this time. I have several enclosures (cages) that I raise my cats in. These were made from plastic containers from Sams that had snack type foods in them, I cut panels out of the sides and cover them with screen, attached using bathroom caulk (so it is waterproof when I sterilize the cages). Good luck with your cats. Mechelle

LOL..I had experience at my old house digging up 4 oclocks. I think I got a 4'root that was shaped like fat legs of a man. I had three huge plants like that and a multitude of babies. I kept at it and finally succeeded. There are some nice native 4 o'clocks that are better behaved. I am sitting here wondering about Salvia chiquita. It is new in the trade (8 years or so) and in my yard, I am starting to think it is enterely TOO Happy. THousands of seedlings this year.Years ago, I was unaware of the invasive list when I planted ruella ( maybe it was not on it yet) at my old house and same with the tahitian bridal veil. they both took over good. I whish I had known that there was a list to get information from 30 years ago. I think I would have made some different decisions. I sold that house. I weeded it to peices before I left but I went back and yes it is back.I am a lot more careful now. I am taking the salvia to a plant swap with warnings to keep an eye on it. It is not on the list, but is it only a matter of time I am afraid. Maybe people in clay will have a different experience. I backed the salvia off away from the slope...Same with the Roman Chamomile. I am looking sideways at both now and feeling maybe this is the year that I start yanking. I googled for info on the net and I have not seen the salvia mentioned. I do know that California has problems with some invasive salvias. They have the wet winter dry summer rythm. It seeds out in dry winters and wet winters, just a lot more on wet winters. If there is someone out there that has experience with this in the central Texas canyon land area and has some thoughts about the seeding habits of these plants.