Thanks for the concern over my plants PVick. I can see my pretty budded out weeping cherry tree right next to the kitchen window. It is hung with ice drips then adorned with snow. I have no hope I'll get to enjoy those blossoms this spring. But what I did cover should be fine (fingers crossed). Glad I went to the trouble, my friend didn't cover anything and I am feeling bad for her. Carrie, I saw on TV that you were having a lot of rain, even tornado reports no? If your area is really dry perhaps the rain will soak in as soon as the rain stops. How long is it supposed to rain? Hope it all turns out okay for your gardens. Just stepped outside and took pictures of the ice hanging in my trees. Looks like a beautiful winter wonderland that would be appropriate in January! I know Deanna, the weather here in Kansas is unpredictable all the time. We have all the extremes of weather. Oh dear, the news is on and they are predicting another snowstorm Monday night into Tuesday. Is there no end to this madness? Trowelgal

Sandy, for gosh sakes, we need to come up with some new body armor for you! Bless your heart! That must really be painful. Yeah, I thought I should probably fridge the passion vine seeds in order to get enough cold, and make a note on my calendar when to remove them from the fridge, or I will for sure forget. Thanks for the tips on the Caelsapinia and the Amorpha, too. I swear I tried Amorpha a few years back and got nothing. I wintersowed it, too. Folks on the Ok Gardening forum were discussing poppies and most threw their seeds on top of the snow so that when the snow melted they would sink to the soil and germinate. I did wintersow Larkspur one year and planted it out when it was about 4 or 5" high, and it did fine for me. Is Candlestick Cassia the same as Senna alata? If so, I just direct sowed it at the same time I did the Tropical milkweed and it came up before the milkweed did. Very easy from direct sowing the seed. I have tons of Verbena bonariensis that has germinated on the ground and the cold is not bothering it at all either. I am concerned about some of my borderline plants that don't reseed, like my Lantana 'Miss Huff', my Mexican Petunias, my fennels, etc. Do you want to try some of the Salvia subrotunda? It is supposed to reseed, and gets pretty big with red blooms on 18" wands. Let me know. Am also expecting seed of Salvia regla another reseeding red salvia. Susan

Well I am glad you got your package and you are pleased!!

bev2009 - thanks & glad you enjoy the pictures. My parents practiced organic gardening here all their lives. Dad had a vegetable garden as well as all types of fruit. Mom planted trees & shrubs. Last year I bought a slab of granite for a bench. When my son & neighbor dug down to set in the uprights, we could see nothing but black dirt a couple of feet down as far as they dug the shovels. I've been laying down mulch over cardboard since I moved in and getting rid of as much lawn as possible. I noticed whenever, wherever I dig there are big, fat worms so I know the soil is healthy. Every time I plant something I add water to the planting hole and toss in a handful of desiccated leaves (of which there's an infinite supply) which seems to give the new transplants a good, healthy start. I use no chemical pesticides or fertilizers; good old vinegar does a fine job killing weeds and I mix my own seaweed extract & worm p**p tea to fertilize those things that are heavy feeders.