Hmmmm ... I guess it may depend on location, since some of the ones people have listed as NOT blooming the first year have bloomed in their first year for me - Dianthus, Asclepias, and Rudbeckia. I did have to wait for the following: Aquilegia Belamcanda chinensis (Blackberry Lily) Echinacea Geum Shasta Daisy Gaillardia Kniphofia Penstemon Hey, after looking at snow for two months or more, I'm happy to look at some green, blooms are just icing on the cake! Bonnie

Thanks for your comments. Canterbury Bell ws 2008 or 2009 If I don't let these plants set seed they will sometimes live three years Delphinium 'Guardian Blue' ws 5-3-08 Had only a small bloom first year which may be because I left it in a small pot until late in the year. Geranium 'Splish Splash' ws 5-6-08 Digitalis 'Candy Mountain' ws 10-25-08 biennial, though like Canterbury Bells may live three years if deadheaded. Lychnis 'Dusky Salmon' ws 4-1-10 undecided if I will keep this plant or not Penstemon strictus Rocky Mountain ws 3-1-08 I planted three small plants last year and now it is one big clump which will be divided when the weather cools. Lupine 'Tutti Fruitii' ws 4-9-09 Neil, mine did not bloom the first year either. I see two seedlings at the base of these plants that are staying very small and will need to be moved this fall.

Hmm, now I wonder if I either labeled the seeds wrong that I sent you or some of the pods crossed with the another one. OR, if the plant is really, really stressed, then the blooms and colors may be off. The lace hole pattern on the leaves of that pink one looks a lot like japanese beetle work. They do like the dahlias. That's why they have some 4 o'clocks in pots near them. The beetles are leaving my dahlias alone, having a nice time on some of the 4 o'clock leaves and dying cause those leaves are poison to them. No, I'm not crying about it either. If the insect is stupid enough to eat the leaves that are poison to them, well, tis not my fault they are that dumb. The fireworks only grow about 12 inches, so the height is correct and the leaves look the same and so does the color of the leaves. See how some of the other buds look when they open, might look better than that one, which honestly, isn't that bad a color combo, but the petals need to open more. Start talking to the plant and tell it to behave and open blooms properly. Between your side of the country and mine, along with everywhere else, everything is growing poorly or strange. My garden beds look so sad this year, I could cry. Even the zinnias are pathetic this year. Thanks karen, I think they are really beautiful too. Fran

Congratulations...it's almost like having your first baby!!! I too have a WS viola blooming it's little head off now - started in the container, but the surprise is the seed packet said Geum Mrs. Bradshaw!!! I've never had violas but they are very cute and easy to grow. I just might try some next year for my little pots.