Posted by seedmoney 8A (seedmoney@embarqmail.com) on Mon, Feb 18, 13 at 15:45 This offer is now closed. Tip...when responding to any seed trade or 'offer' it is a good idea to scan through the posts in the thread to see if the OP (Original Poster) has updated, changed, or closed the offer...as in this case.

On the subject of companion plants, my conifers actually started off as companion plants to the rest of my garden, which was a mess of perennials and deciduous shrubbery as well as a pretty big collection of hostas and ferns (note to Steve: try ferns!). For me, moving to conifers has been part of a move in my gardening to a more controlled, formal look as my gardening to that point seemed to be having the effect of uglifying, rather than beautifying, our yard. My experience of mixing conifers with other plants is that (a) anything deciduous or herbaceous messes up the look, and (b) my preference for intertwining/layered foliage doesn't always result in the healthiest conifers. A tall hosta or ligularia for example will shade out a conifer behind it and then, in fall, smother it by plastering it with wet dead leaves. I'm still determined to somehow grow conifers and other plants, but I'm finding it takes a good understanding of plant shapes, and some careful plant training, separation/grooming, and pruning depending on plant size at time of planting. And some things just DON'T work in my tight space, for example arching ferns just don't work next to certain types of conifers because planted as close together as they need to be on my little property, they try to occupy the same airspace. And a word for Firefighter about Rhodos: "boring?" You're looking at the wrong rhodos! If you really start looking at rhodos for foliage, you'll go weak in the knees and forget that they ever flower. I have a couple of plants on which I don't even like the flowers and grow them solely because of the beguiling foliage. I look forward to the emergence of new leaves way more than I do to the flowers, with very few exceptions. I'll try to get out and snap some photos, once it's gotten less cold and the leaves are looking good again. My ideal combo: conifers, rhodos, and Japanese maples. KarinL

Hi everyone , Well this is turning out to be a can of worms. Not at all what I intended. But then worms are good for the garden. I wrote to Blueiris because I was concerned that the saturday dates for the swap that I suggested were not good for a number of participants(Lilacislove, Gardeng8 who travels so far to come and Luckynes) and Sunday dates are not good for me so I asked her if she would choose a date so that I could know if I could attend . If it turned out to be a Sunday , so be it . It just makes more sense for me to bow out so that three others can attend. I dont have a problem with that . It just means that I may have to pass on the swaps I have arranged as I dont know when/where I could get your plants to you. If we can work out something that's great otherwise I have to cancel the swaps I have made with you all . Blueiris has very kindly offered to pick up and take but it is so far out of her way that I just dont feel right doing that and if past experience has proven anything , I am working on swaps right up to and including the last minute of the day of the swap . I just want to say that I appreciate all the garden plants I have traded all of you in the past.They for the most part are growing merrily along and increasing as I write. I now am working on garden number 40. Who do I blame ? The fault belongs to all of you LOL! This has grown to be quite the event since I started it all some years ago . So when you choose a date please choose what really works for you all . If you think we can still work out swapping outside of this swap let me know . I was ssssssooooo close to having a dark purple lilac !!!!!!! I will check in some time later to see what everyone has decided on , in the meantime I am all about making a Ladybug cake for 30 people for my neice's first birthday right now . Ladybug , Ladybug fly away home ....UGH!!!really this is a horrible nursery rhyme! Signet

I too would like to know how and when to safely transplant young castor bean plants that I am starting from seeds from last year's plant. I have soaked and planted 8 seeds in one large pot. Also...can I harvest the pods before they burst so I don't have to look for them all over the place? If so when do I know its time before they burst? I would like to put them in a plastic bag so they will burst in there. Lastly....how long can I keep the seeds? I still have many seeds left from last year and would like to save them. Thanks Terri