echinaceamaniac, thank you so much for that information! Wihtout knowing it, it seems that I was doing the right thing, my plants are very close to one another, and I let the bees and butterflies do the job. All I did was harvest the seeds, sow them and wait for the results. And the results are beyond my best dreams even if they are not spectacular. I do like your plants a lot, they are very nice! Congratulations! I did't expect that, but I'm still discovering new stuff in my first batch, the 2007 batch. Most carry many blooms on branching stems. I found this pink one that looks similar to your double white one, very short florets that still let you see the cone (I have 3 or 4 like this): Then I have this pink one with 3 layers of petals: And I have several pink ones that have more petals than usual and the petals are much wider giving a fuller look to the flower: From the new batch, the 2008 batch, they are from different mothers and fathers from the previous batch, and several plants have buds coming up, the should begin to open within a month or so. One (only for now) shows variegation as mentioned previously. The leaves of most are lighter and brighter than the 2007 ones. They are also much larger than I've ever seen in any echinaceas. I took these pix of one of the largest one, but most are very close this in size: 30 cm long by 15 cm wide (12 x 6 inches)! I can't wait to seee the flowers on these! Let me hope that the size of the leaves are an indication of the size of the blooms! I have no idea where all this will lead me but I really do have fun discovering all these new cultivar. I'll only keep the best ones, the strong ones that have some very distincts caracteristics. Thanks again echinaceamaniac, you have been of great help, and keep on showing us your new plants as well, I really enjoy seeing them, they are an inspiration fo me to keep going. Laurier My web site

TT, Definitely label the tomato whose seeds you are going to save and place some sort of indicator on the stem of the very flower(s) that you pollinated. I just write a code number on the label (to keep the label small) and in my records (I keep a separate journal for that purpose) I put the code number and details about the cross, including a description of the parents and the date(s) of pollination. "Also, if I save the seeds from the resulting tomato, will it grow the same kind of tomato if I plant the seeds from it?" F1 hybrids do not "come true" from seed in the F2 generation, but the F2s vary wildly from the original F1 cross. A small percentage of plants will be very similar to the cross. If you save seeds from them and repeat that operation for several years, you can establish an open-pollinated stable variety from your cross. Otherwise, you can simply repeat the cross to get an additional supply of the F1 hybrid seeds. If you are doing this for yourself, a single tomato can supply you with a good supply of F1 seed that might last you for several years. The book, Breeding New Plants and Flowers by Charles W. Welch, has a chapter on tomatoes. You can get used or slightly shop-worn copies of it for a reasonable price. The book, Breed your own Vegetable Varieties by Carol Deppe, has a lot information, including lots of information about breeding your own tomato varieties. I don't breed tomatoes (I do raise them and eat them), but I have both of those books and frequently refer to them because one of my hobbies is amateur zinnia breeding, and they have information relevant to that activity. MM

from what i remember from high school genetics. There are dominate and recessive traits in each cell. so I would get a whole batch of seeds from hybridization and hope they come up with the right thing. because you don't know if you have a DS, a DD, or a RR. D for dominate and R for resissive because DS and DD make the same thing... so hybridize and grow all the seedlings, and you'll know if you got the right thing by what they look like. But if you looking for a color, mix two roses that contain at least a little of that color. That might help...

can you put in a new vanity light? there is nothing spa-like about it. You can put that one aside, (find a cheaper option w/lights that point down!) and install one of your own. this one is from lowes Ditto w/knobs on the cabinet. and maybe a new window covering. You can find bamboo blinds at lowes. grab a few plants and hang them from the ceiling like shown. (get little screw in J hooks. that can be removed and patched when you leave) see how cute? find a garden stool (HomeGoods) and put it between toilet/sink. or under window. bring in baskets. maybe hang a shelf over toilet. get some towel hangers. pretty towels. greenery, some pictures. maybe paint the wall a diff color. bamboo blinds, wicker baskets, new rug. all will give you a diff feel. how about some type of bamboo shelf caddy? maybe next to toilet or somewhere else? But you need to start w/a light fixture! these are simple DIY privacy shades i'd prob find a larger rug. one that spans toilet/sink, and covers a good portion of the tile (not these colors,,,just showing you the size large fluffy, washable white one, would prob be best get something that stretches from door to wall and tub to toilet or, try a wood / teak or bamboo, mat for exiting the shower and get a smaller rug for in front of the sink. you really shouldn't have a toilet rug. (I mean, you can, unless you have 3 guys using this bathroom. in that case it would get kind of gross.) they have a cork mat too hide the toilet supplies on the other side. maybe find a storage caddie for those