Cultural link below. The link says hardy down to Zone 7 and my AHS reference states to Zone 6. The USDA website data base shows it is native to VA down to FL. I had one at the back of my pond planted last fall and it did not make it, but as a child my father grew two not 65 miles from where I am and they came back every year. Could be my plant was not labeled correctly or planted too late. It was a fall bargain plant that was in good shape but planted in mid to late October last year. Could be my Dad was a better gardener! LOL Here is a link that might be useful: Scarlet Hibiscus

Flowers do grow in zone 3. I've had great success, at our cabin which is just into zone three, growing pretty much everything I grow at home here in zone 4. Actually there are zone 5 rated plants growing at my zone 3 cabin. The only thing different is that sometimes they don't mature soon enough to collect seed. However, this year I had plants flowering sooner at the lake than I did here at home, so go figure. Take your seeds with you and try. I'm betting you'll be able to grow a lot of what you currently have. Also, my aunt lives northwest of Bemedji and she has beautiful flower gardens and she's definitely in the heart of zone 3. Take a peek at my seed haves list and let me know if there is anything you would like to have. Sandy

As I was looking for ideas for the creamy layer I found this in the Greensboro Jr. League cookbook from 1981: Spicy Peach Salad 1 20 oz. can sliced peaches, drain, reserve syrup 2 3oz. pkgs. peach gelatin 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 t. cinnamon 1/ t. cloves 2 cups boiling water 1 1/2 cups peach syrup (with water added) 4 TB vinegar Drain peaches, reserving syrup and adding water to make 1 1/2 cups cold water. Dissolve gelatin, sugar and spices in boiling water. Stir in syrup and vinegar. Chill in a 6 cup mold until gelatin just begins to thicken. Add peaches. There is a topping for congealed salads that appears in a number of recipes: 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese 1/2 pint sour cream 1/2 cup sugar Cream together and spread on top of salad, then chill well. or for a sweeter topping 8 oz. cream cheese 8 oz. Cool Whip topping 1/2 cup powdered sugar and a very simple topping 1 pint sour cream (this is really good on Strawberry Nut Salad) Can you tell we are big on congealed salads in the South? ;o)

Terri-I planted it. My yard's not fertile enough to have things pop up usually. Although since I used my homemade compost for the first time, I've seen a lot of radishes and tomatoes in the flower bed. Silvia- I already made a sling for it yesterday. It just looked so pretty hanging there naked I had to take a picture. I planted it in an Earthbox with a bunch of other melons. It's Black Seeded Ice Cream from Baker Creek. I have another Orange Glo watermelon growing in the raised bed but it seems to have stalled out. Maybe it's nematodes?