Oh great, thank you for pics and info!I can now clearly see the tan colored Echinacea seeds. I had rubbed them off the flower head, together with the black spikes. It will be a job to separate them... or, since there is plenty, should I start all over ? But how do you poke the seeds out from between the spikes without also getting the spikes ? I don't seem to see well enough... Re: portulaca, how do you know when the seeds are ripe? Yesterday I had collected several of these soft " buds" and left them in an open paper bag to dry. I just looked again, some of these "buds"are still very soft, when I squeeze them they turn into a mushy mess with nothing remotely like a black seed in sight. However, I can also see some tiny black dots sticking to the inside of the paper bag....obviously some of the buds contained them, but which ones? In other words, what am I looking for that will contain ripe seeds? It's pretty cool and rainy now here in Toronto, the portulaca stopped blooming a while back, I am assuming that the seeds should be ripe now, unless they already fell to the ground?

Hello Echinaceamaniac I noticed you were complaining about some other echinaceas in an earlier post. I would be very interested in your comments re Razzmatazz, Pink Poodle and Pink Double Delight. I'm using them as a Frame/Border for Phlox "David", Valerian "Coccineus"/Sedum "Frosty Morn", Veronica "Royal Candles" and "Fairytale". This a new flower bed and as it takes a few years to develop, I would be very upset if the Echinaceas disappeared in a year or two. Thank you in advance.

I thought I posted the problem with these last year. If you buy one of these, make sure it has flowers on it already. These are not reproducing true when they propagate them. Many are just Double Decker plants. Others are single petals with no double blooms. One out of every 5 or so is the correct form. Terra Nova knows about this problem and hasn't issued a response to anyone I know who inquired about it. I personally sent them photos showing that they have a problem. They don't seem to care. I know someone who sells these and he had to stop selling them because only a few had the correct bloom form. Terra Nova really needs to step up and take responsibility for this problem.

I love all of the canna posts and pics. So nice! I see so many around the Valley with browned leaf edges--it's nice to see some that look so perfect! You're giving me a craving, hah! Beautiful echinopsis bloom, dusti, thanks for posting it. So nice! I'm getting an occasional off-season flower these days and hope for some more this autumn. Just for fun here's a passionflower I grew from seed (sown indoors in January), Passiflora foetida 'Belem' making its very first bloom this morning. Pretty little flower with a nice floral scent. Full hot sun and water 3x a week this time of year. Enjoy these gorgeous mornings! Happy gardening, Grant