It was a bit "dramatic"... My main issue was that people might get the impression that natural plant protections that are released in response to trauma might lead them to believe that these natural protections are strong enough to protect them from pests (or strong enough to naturally attract beneficials). The rest of it was rather interesting/fun. A plant can live and reproduce with horrible pest infestations, but it's fruiting output is usually diminished. The many-centuries bred, unnatural mutants that we call "vegetables" aren't well protected solely by natural chemical response to trauma. It's easy to forget that almost every veggie we enjoy has been selected and bred to a mutated and unnatural state of over-sized, over-produced, and quickly maturing state of being. They're not fragile, but they're not as resilient as turf grass or a wild-type vegetable relative that doesn't care if it produces small fruit or a small crop as long as it gets a chance to reproduce something.

In the summer, because it gets so hot, I leave my gh wide open, rain or shine, 24/7 with a shadecloth over half of it. I wait until fall to clean the panes, as dirty (i use 409 on my polycarbonate panels and it works beautifully. I rinse after cleaning with water), they act like a diffused shade cloth. On the hottest days, like we had here a few weeks ago when the actual temp was in 100's, I put a boxfan in the door blowing in. I found if you blow out, the gh actually gets hotter. The plants in the greenhouse do not seem to suffer with really high temperatures if there is air circulaton. I start seeds in there and plants I want new seeds from that are really susceptible to insects. The anole and skink patrol keep it pretty much bug free. I also grow tomatoes that I want to be perfect with no yellow splotches & such. I have learned that no matter what you do, you are going to probably get algae on the top of the soil. Most of the time I just leave it, or take a bamboo skewer and scrape it off. I haven't noticed anything different about plant growth/health with or without the algae. Be aware that if you leave it, it can fool you into thinking the plant has enough water. This winter I am going to install some lights inside and try to get a real jump on the season. This is my 2nd summer with my greenhouse and I must tell you it has impacted my life so positively that people have actually commented on it. I used to dread the coming fall and winter because I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder terribly, but last winter I was able to walk out of the cold and wind and into my hot and humid private jungle and sunbathe with the anoles. It really made a difference. X

You could WS directly into your plastic pots - or - you could create the recycled "greenhouses" that most everyone uses and sow your seeds in them. Then you can just pick and choose from your sprouts and pot them where you want them. I garden exclusively in pots and have been WSing for 6 years now. I've got a bunch of terra cotta pots, but generally don't use them for much of anything; since you're probably going to need more pots (!), you might consider getting some of those foam pots that look like clay. They're quite pretty, lightweight (which is good when you take a notion to start moving things around), and they take the winter weather very well. As for achieving a cottagey feel, using pots, you can get any look your heart desires. One of my favorite shots from last year - all pots; don't know if it qualifies as cottagey, but I really liked the look: And from a few years ago - again all pots: I have a feeling Winter Sowing will work quite well for you! PV

I believe she was referring to the plant as a member of the Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae), which includes about 14 Genera, including the common Daffodil & Jonquil (Narcissus). Other common yellow-flowered members of the Family are Zephyranthes citrina, Sternbergia lutea, Lycoris aurea, and Nerine humilis, but most are fall flowering and none of these are native to Texas. Another possibility could be Habranthus tubispathus, a/k/a Habranthus texanus, which usually prefers wetlands, but can be found in upland habitats. Rb Here is a link that might be useful: Plants Profile - Habranthus tubispathus (texanus)