I WS all my seeds, as Terrene can vouch for. Since all of my beds have fairly thick layers of mulch on them, it would be difficult to direct sow seeds. In the past, when I have, the birds have a field day with the seeds and if it isn't the birds then the rains relocates the seeds everywhere but where I want the seeds growing. With WS I have total control of where any and all my plants go. Last year i WS all my zinnias and dahlias on 3/27. All of the containers of both dahlias and zinnias germinated between 4/19 and 4/28. Where planted in the ground the first week in June. Some in beds and some in pots. and all where blooming by mid July and bloomed well into Oct. Most of my zinnias didn't fair well either last year. For some reason they became a preferred food of the chipmunks, but the dahlias where just wonderful. This year the zinnia's will be mass planted in hopes that the chipmunks will be kind enough to leave more of them for me. I don't WS cosmos seeds until mid April. In past years I've found that the seedlings germinate too quickly and a late overnight frost can do the seedlings in. last years cosmos, about 20 different varieties all where WS on 4/20 and they germinated anywhere from 4/29 to 5/6. again all planted out the first week in June. It depends on which variety of cosmos seeds you have as to how early they will bloom, as some bloom earlier than others, and they usually do far better with their beautiful display of color and flowers in the fall as the temps begin to cool down. They do bloom during mid summer on, but not with their full show until the fall. pink zinnia zinnia purity white zinnia envy single zinnias that the chipmunks where kind enough to leave for me I don't WS my cosmos till mid April. I've found in past years, that well established cosmos plants will survive some frost in the fall, the seedlings do not survive if we get a late frost in the spring. Last years cosmos seeds about 25 different varieties where all sown on 4/20 and germinated between 4/26-5/6. all where planted in the ground during the first and second week in June and where blooming by mid July. Some varieties will bloom earlier than others, but the don't put on their full show until fall when the temps begin to cool off. cosmos gazebo mid sept cosmos mixed bed cosmos candystripe cosmos seashells cosmos double click I WS morning glories towards the end of April. I sow about 50 different kinds, mostly japanese ones. Last year I sowed them all on 4/26 and they gerninated anywhere from 5/5-5/27. some take longer to germinate than others. All where planted in either the ground or in in various pots the first and second week of June. and all where blooming by the 3rd and 4th week in July. suigetsu blue silk mt fuji dark pink Mt fuji light blue I also WS the sunflower seeds, but give them away to friends. The neighborhood groundhogs devour them every year and I gave up trying to grow them. Anyways, I sow the sunflower seeds in individual styrofoam cups.. The where sown on 5/4 and all geminated between 5/12- 5/20 and where given away and gone to friends at my spring swap in June. Hope that helps with info for you.

The absolute gall! You can dig up her plants on your property and put them in a bucket on her side of the line so she can transplant them elsewhere. Then get a fence ASAP! Good gosh, I would never in a million years let a neighbor dominate me about land issues, that's what deeds are for. She wants to have her lilies on your property removing your use of that property. Is she paying the taxes on that land? No. Is she doing the upkeep or maintenance on that land? No. Is she legally responsible for any injury that occurs on that land? NO! This is your property. Dig up her lilies and give them to her. Remind your neighbor that you will be planting what you want on your land and if she wants to remain good neighbors she should keep her mouth shut and her invasives on her side of the property line. And did I mention to get a fence ASAP? If you are going to let this woman trample you over ditch lilies then what will she do when it's a really bad situation. Do NOT let this woman take control of your garden and with it your life. She's into control and she's already controlling you.

The black thing used to be our neighbor up the hill's pond until they put in a really big pond. They gave us the old one, figuring we'd recycle it as a planter, hillbilly hot tub or rain water collector. We ended up putting it near the front part of the gardens and keeping it filled with water to fill watering cans for watering the plants furthest from the house. We have 8 rain barrels near the house and garage that we use to water our other gardens. That's enough for 2 - 3 days if it's hot and dry, and with rain being all or nothing around here we frequently run that dry and end up using expensive county water. But we still almost always run the county water into a barrel and then hand water everything so that the water goes on things we want to grow and not in between to encourage weeds. It usually takes two of us about an hour to water everything - longer when it's super hot and less if it's been cool & cloudy so that the soil holds moisture longer. Using the black pond thing as a water station for my front gardens has been a huge time saver. Beats walking 80 - 100 feet back to the rain barrels every two gallons! If that sounds a bit primitive, maybe I should show you the fancy wheel hoe. :) I actually like doing a lot of this stuff the slow, old fashioned way. It's nice and quiet, and you end up really looking at every bit of the garden. Of course, that Mantis tiller was really handy for cutting up that much sod. Here is a link that might be useful: The fancy wheel hoe

Hi Virtuo, Sure, i will post a picture,the batteries are dead on my camara right now, but just as soon as they are charged, i will post a picture ok? Hi Trudi, Yes, i did alot of HOS,from the milk jugs,it worked out fine,i was a little wasteful,after planting SOOOOOO many seedlings, i placed to many in one spot, just to get them planted,but, being my first year,every thing was really lovely,not a lot that bloomed,(i am hoping this year)but i was very happy with what i did, so much so, i am doing it again this year.I have some very special streaked hosta seed i am hoping will come up for me,:0) I have not started to do any sowing yet,but plan on it the first of the year.Way to busy right now.It's nice to be back again,you guys are all great. Carol