Joe Thanks for answering. I looked up a picture of the Kangaroo Apple that you mentioned. The flower did look like a potato bush and there was also a picture of the Apple and that really jogged my memory. It was the Kangaroo. Mystery solved. Thanks again.

I sowed 12 containers, but the ones I sowed with significance were: Faith - Callicarpa americana - I've had a hard time germinating this Remembrance - 20 Sunflower "Elf" seeds, for the lost children in the Newtown, CT massacre Mother Nature - Cornus stolonifera, for the crone in winter Life - Monarda, Panorama Red, for the bees, and maybe hummingbirds? Hope you all had a wonderful day - in addition to solstice sowing, mine included candles, spiritual readings, Trans Siberian orchestra, dance, and the first stitches on an embroidered tablecloth for my daughter. Oh, and a posy of rosemary, sage, and holly for my hair. It doesn't get any better than that.

Hi Andrea...do you still have 1 penstemon smallii 'violet dusk' left? I'd love to try it out on the hummingbirds! And maybe a cerinthe major? I'm going out to the garden shortly to see what I might have to offer. I did see your mention of orange crocosmia - would you like some red 'Lucifer' crocosmia? A small seedling of Solanum 'Kangaroo Apple'? I'll email you after my tour of the garden. Patrick

My neighbour came over during the christmass break and asked me if I knew what plant was growing in his back yard? He, nor his wife had given it any nurturing since it had started growing in their garden about 3 weeks prior, but now it was in full flower, with large seed pods, its roots were exposed to the dry conditions we were having and yet it thrived!. Ray was happy that he grew something from nothing and it was beautuifull to look at! I told him to keep away from it for a while untill I went to consell "the magic of herbs" ( I had a bad feeling about this plant)as it turned out he was growing a Common Thornapple otherwise know as False Castor oil Plant. All parts are poisonous, this plant you don't want to have around, especially if you have children and animals. My question is how did it get there in the first place? in all my life I have only seen the panlt in books and never in a garden! When I showed Ray what my book said he very carefullt pulled it up and disposed of it.