First, I don't know anything about that plant the OP mentioned, but kqcrna mentioned something that caught my attention. I spent the day planting seeds in 12 gal jugs, late start, perennials but should be ok. Wasn't sure how to water them in taped jugs if it doesn't rain. Left cap off and burned several vent holes in top hoping they won't get too warm, set in mostly shade outside. The delphiniums I planted in a tray so I can transplant into 6 packs if they sprout, then hopefully in the ground well before freezing in the fall. The directions say to completely cover with soil, and you can speed germination by mixing with damp something in the fridge for two weeks, also that it takes a long time. I mixed some medium that has an anti fungal with some potting soil because they will be in there for some time, the others I used straight potting soil. It says the temp should be 55 regardless. So I was planning on finding a cool spot in the basement and setting them on the floor. I didn't want to mix in dampened I think it was seed starter because it would be harder to spread them out evenly and make them tend to clump more. They're on the counter now because (before I sowed the seeds) I got the mix too wet so set in the sun to dry out a bit. Now there isn't any moisture inside the cover yet so I was going to mist them a little in the morning if nothing shows up by then. Maybe I should just set the tray (it's a McD's salad dish w/drainage holes) in the fridge for 2 weeks. As soon as they sprout, I guess I'll have to harden these off. If I get lucky, never tried delphs before.

I'm very interested in this thread, because I haven't had great luck getting things to rebloom. The things that do for me here in zone 4 are: delphiniums ( these work pretty well) roses rudbeckias echinaceas (to a limited extent) veronica phlox (if we have a long fall) nepeta ( everyone loves this plant, and claim that it blooms almost incessantly. Me, not so much, but it will rebloom a little for me) Also, some irises bloom twice a year - I have one of the varieties taht supposedly does, but it doesn't seem to like its location very much. And of course Stellas bloom more than once... I've seen rhododendrons blooming in the fall and we've had crabapples bloom here in the fall too.

It takes another gardener to know how one feels, not just about the joys, but about the tragedies, too! And you know what they say... what doesn't kill us only serves to make us stronger! Your former plant-sitter obviously isn't a gardener... if she were, she'd understand how important all the work you've done to your yard is to you! She doesn't care about flora and fauna... she cares only about the money she can make pretending to look after it all while her clients are vacationing. Those kinds of people have empty souls... they're miserable people deep down inside, and we should really pity them... they never really see the beauty of nature around them, they'll never experience the emotion that a special flower in bloom can bring, and they'll never feel one with nature or experience the deep sense of accomplishment that working with nature brings. I've seen so many people like that, being in the dog breeding business as we are... people who look at plants and animals and only see the monetary value... it's sad, really. When spring rolls around again, you're welcome to divisions, cuttings, young stock... whatever I have... of any of the multitude of perennials and shrubs in my gardens! I have Daylilies (both named and unnamed), iris (named and unnamed), columbine, rudbeckia, echinacea, hostas (named and unnamed), ferns (most named), heuchera (all named), monarda in 3 colors, roses (named and unnamed, large and miniature), and a plethora of other perennials and shrubs, the list too long to pull out of my memory at this moment in time! I'm not even through my first cup of coffee yet! You have all winter to think about it, though... and you pretty much know what my gardens contain due to all the photos I've posted! There are some things that didn't make the photos, but I'll have a more detailed listing by then. I've always felt that the most beautiful and precious of plants come from the gardens of our friends. Gardening is for sharing! If not, then why grow all this beauty? Surely not to hoard for ones self! It can only be enjoyed fully if we share the beauty with others! I sure wish your yard could have shared in all the rain we've gotten lately! Last year, this area of the country was low on precipitation, but we're surely making up for it this year! Not a week has gone by since spring that we haven't had at least one storm with an inch of rain! I've only had to run the soaker hoses once so far this season... last year, they ran constantly, it seems! In fact, we had more thunder storms last night! Larry and I stood out in the garage and watched the lightening flash across the sky... the light show was incredible! The flashes were both orange and white-hot! Some were in the distance, but some were pretty close! Some flashes were like long bony fingers of orange reaching across the heavens and branching out, and others were thick blue-white spikes that tore from the clouds and shot straight to the ground! The thunder constantly rumbled, and it boomed loudly when a bolt hit close by! The accompanying rain was at times soft and light, and then it would downpour for a bit before tapering off to sprinkle again... it was an awesome storm! I'm always awed by nature! Remember when you were a kid... and you were kind of scared of thunder storms? My Dad would kneel with us, backwards on the couch, facing the huge picture windows in our living room, and every time a lightening bolt would flash, we'd count... one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand, like that... until the thunder sounded... and then my Dad would say, "See? That one was only 3 miles away!" And he would explain to us how heat lightening was generated, how rain formed in the clouds, the cycle of rain to ground water, and all those things you want to know about when you're a little kid... and before we knew it, the storm would pass... and we wouldn't be afraid anymore. But I digress... Sometimes, there are opportunities hidden in the guise of disaster... I agree with Lizalily... this is actually a good opportunity to think about getting those few plants that you've wanted, but just haven't had room for, or just haven't ordered yet. It's also a good time to think in terms of water conservation... planting things that can tolerate a bit of dry. If you plan on taking several trips during the summers, laying out a plan of irrigation, and drought tolerant plantings for the areas that won't be irrigated, might be something to think about. Things like ornamental grasses and sedums can really be eye catching, and once established, they don't require much in the way of watering! I was all set to do some digging yesterday... to get some divisions ready to ship out... and the rains began! I suppose that's actually good, though... the divisions will be good and hydrated now, and should ship well with a lot less stress. The rain only set me back in seed collecting, saturating the pods. That will have to wait a few days, while the sun dries everything out. But, by this afternoon, the garden soil should be just about right for digging, and I can get some much needed dividing done! I did get lucky in that I got several perennials planted before the rains arrived yesterday! The rains gave the new plantings a good, deep drink! Well... I think that between Lizalily, Kitty, myself, and others... you'll be swimming in pass-along plants and divisions and cuttings for your gardens next spring! Put together a list of the colors and heights you're looking for, perennials and shrubs, seeds, and anything else you think you might want to add to your beautiful beds, and we'll all keep our shovels and pruning clippers clean, sharpened and at the ready! And by next summer, you're gardens will be so gorgeous, you won't have to go anywhere else for a vacation... your back yard will be a paradise!

I don't know if there is any "Real Trading time" for seeds. Usually the seeds for trades BEAP/SASBE are on the seed exchange forum where you will find most people. Some people offer seeds as they collect them, and others, like myself, wait until mid fall to start. I usually don't start till mid October to do trades BEAP/SASBE seeds because, 1. I like to wait till all my seeds are collected for the season 2. I'm sure of what I have, how many seeds I can offer for trades BEAP/SASBE and be sure that I have enough for myself and local friends to WS first. 3. that gives me plenty of time to back up my seeds in my seed envies, get my list together and posted on my trade page 4. I have far more time to deal with trading and free seed offers than I do in the summer. I trade right through the winter, offer BEAP/SASBE seeds till around April 1st. I have long lists of seeds to offer and most of them are BEAP/SASBE seeds, because I have been gardening for more than 30 years, have many full beds and more than enough seeds. My wants are very limited now, so I don't do a lot of trades anymore, just the seeds for postage. Hope that helps. Fran