My brugmansia came back after the summer heat. Here it is right now and it's getting quite big. It does very well in the shade and it's been giving me quite a lot of flowers lately. Yes, elephant ears work here. I'd suggest getting some from the alocasia family, not colocasias. I've tried colocasias, they grow well in the spring and fall but they just cannot take the heat at all in the summer, in my experience. Here's one of my Borneo Giants in full shade They will die back when it hit below freezing for more than a couple hours, but if that happens, don't water them again for the rest of the winter or else the bulb will rot. Just wait for them to pop back up in spring. Same thing with Cannas. If you're going for tropical, get some Cannas, since they LOVE being in full sun here. another one I'd recommend is the Chinese Parasol Tree. Big foliage and can take some sun. I have mine in morning sun/full shade in the afternoon. The plant loses its leave in the winter and goes dormant. Here's mine now after a week from coming back from dormancy. It's already grown about 6+ inches! Birds of paradise are great as well here in Phoenix. They're frost hardy down to 25-26f I believe. Split-leaf Philodendron are great as well. Just plant them in the shade. Plus you can find these easily at HD or Lowes. I wouldn't risk planting a castor bean though since you have pets. They drop a lot of those red spiny bean pods all over, and from what I've read are very poisonous. I'm not sure about the brug's toxicity though. Their flowers might be poisonous?

Hi Linda, Thanks for the info. I was thinking it might be possible to bring them inside, and then if they eclose on a cold day, keep them inside until we maybe get a warm day to release them and they could head south? Yep, I know, crazy idea. But I'm sad that they may not make it. I found some more violets out front and in my neighbor's yard, so I may move them if they eat everything where they are. Who knows? Maybe it will stay warm long enough for them to make it to adulthood and fly to warmer climes. I am so excited about finding them. I am new to butterfly gardening. I inherited my garden from my home's previous owner, who I never met. We moved in in the fall of 2005, and the garden was tremendously overgrown as the house had been empty since June of that year. I weeded as best I could and cut everything back as appropriate, and my sister and mom helped me ID some plants. But it wasn't until the next year that I realized it must have been planned and planted as a bfly garden. So many great plants, both host and nectar! I've basically focused on maintenance and adding just a few things (like parsley for BST cats -- and I got some!). The garden has been a source of joy for me and my daughters. Actually, it was my 4-year-old who found the VF caterpillars. :-) "Mommy, come look, come look, a catahpillah!" The violets are actually growing in what is supposed to be a dry riverbed, so I'd been pulling them until I gave up a couple months ago. Now I'm smacking myself on the forehead for that! The dry bed is a nice feature but I'd rather have the cats. Now I know! Oh, I'm in Maryland, outside DC, zone 7 I think. I am scared to plant passionvine -- isn't it a pretty aggressive spreader? I don't have a good place to let something have free run. Amy

Lol, Mike, that's sooo funny about you shoveling snow, and the mites laughing at you..inside warm and cozy..lol Mike, I know it's temping, but don't bother bringing plants back out..the reason is, you'll haul them out, then it'll rain, nights will turn cold, and you'll have to deal with a muddy, icy mess..I've done this before, never again. I finally cleaned out the back room, planned on toting plants inside today, well, it's pouring. Not showering, but pouring rain..I hope and pray it doesn't get cold tonight..hopefully, rain will stop..I wish we had one more warm week w/o rain...even if it was in the 90's, plants would come in..that'd be perfect..each plant is hosed before coming in, water is cold, unless hose is hooked in the basement. Using cold water on plants is bad enough, but worse if temps are under 50. So, don't trust the weather, Mike. Mother Nature is playing a game..lol.. Again, you're funny about your idiot neighbors and their trees..lol.. Talk about idiots, our old neighbors planted a young tree, before moving..What the he** was the point? That little tree has grown tall and wide. It obstructs my southern windows. I hoped the tree would get struck my lightening, but unfortunately, never happened. This may sound harsh, but considering they moved 3 months later, a planned move, for the life of me, I had NO idea why anyone would plant a tree before moving. It's not like they're going to see the tree, especially since they've moved out of state. sheesh!!! So, I know what you mean about your neighbors trees. Are you seriously thinking of asking if you can keep your citrus across the street? Is there a spot in between your house and the neighbors, a gangway or entranceway, where your trees would get south sun? West light helps, since your front faces north, they should get west and east, right? I have the same problem, Mike..Most plants in the yard get north!! Some 'idiot' planted a maple tree out back, (detest that tree) that shades the yard from south. If I place them beyond the maple, they're shaded by neighbors' bushes..they don't bother trimming their darn bushes, so I end up doing it. Are you friends with ppl across the street? If so, maybe you should talk to them, ask if you can possibly add a 'few' plants on their property..lol.. Maybe if you offer a little money, like one would renting space, they'd agree..As long as you clean up any mess, (soil on windy days) felled leaves, etc, they might agree. But wouldn't you worry someone might walk off with a tree? That's my biggest fear when it comes to outdooring in summer. Especially my Gardenia tree and a mandarin someone gave me. Mike, all ingredients in the home-made insecticide are natural, except for dish soap, and soap if fairly safe. My favorite dishsoap is by Ajax..they sell grapefruit and lemon scent. The smell just might help deter insects, too. Besides, Ajax is, I believe considered a generic brand, so it's probably watered down a lot. When I use it to wash dishes, etc, I have to double the amount to get a good amount of suds. Still, 2-4 drops in even a gallon of water bubbles up. I wanted to tell you, you can experiment with dossages. The only ingredients I measure is soap and SuperThrive. Garlic, Citrus rind/juice/and pepper are added w/o measuring..I take a sniff after ingredients are added..when smell is noticable, it's enough..lol. A little more or less isn't going to matter. Except for ST, but I don't know if you plan on using it. Everything else is safe. Keep us posted if you're going to haul citrus outside again..Oh, what about your Gardenia? What are the temps up east? (the next 2 wks prediction) Leave gardenia out till temp is 40 or so. If you want it to bloom. One thing about gardenias and citrus, they bloom throughout the year. Same applies to Cyclamen, Azaleas, and Holiday Cactus..(Christmas/Thanksgiving Cactus.) Take care, Toni

Whats up peeps! Oh how I missed you all! Chell happy happy to see you back... Good to see your new profession... I hope no poop hangers like my Yorkie poo and Maltese...hahhah I am cracking up..:) I need to shave them... big cracking up......hahahhah I wished I could have joined life sometimes gets in the way.... Big time! Smiling now I think hahahh Gotta look in a mirror.... Cracking up again... At least I am laughing again.... I miss all of you alot you all will never know how much! Peace and quiet is good for me though hahahha I talk too much.... Hahahhah Well wanted to send smiles out to you all my friends! Love you all... Ps always send a smile hahahah Barb