I would love to trade with you as well! I actually dont keep my list up to date at the moment, I wanted to know if the different varieties of violets are edible, I have jerusalem artichoke rhizomes i harvested this month plus sweet italian basil also harvested from my garden, the one you use for caprisi salads, yum, I'll email you a more detailed list. for medicinal and culinary herbs like white sage that one came from my school garden as well as vine plants like passiflora incarnata I am interested in your, Solomon's Seal - Polyonatum multiflorum, Skirret, Yarrow, Red, Basil 'Lettuce Leaf' (if the violet varieties are edible i would love some of those as well!) - Stephanie

Many of us without temperature controlled greenhouses get a great deal of satisfaction (and success) from growing perennials from seed. Most just take some patience and as gardengal suggested, a little research into the best conditions for germination...the Clothiers site is especially helpful. You may find the only important piece of technical equipment you might want if not doing your stratifying outdoors is something you already have - your refrigerator. The iris (most iris in fact) are warm, cold, cool germinators. They will germinate most reliably if given a period of warm moist (like on your desk) for 2-4 weeks, followed by a period of moist chill, approx 39F for 4-6 weeks, move back to cool, approx 45-55F for germination. (It's not complicated, just think of it as trying to mimic the conditions the seeds would get naturally if dropped from the plant outdoors) The same steps work for caltha palustris - warm moist, cold moist, return to cool for germination. Mertensia virginica seeds lose viability more quickly if kept dry and sowing fresh in summer for germination the following Spring may work best of all, but try 6 weeks moist chill before placing in warmer conditions. Polemonium reptans needs only moisture and temps of approx 65-70, but germination is slow with these and you need to give them some time. I'm stumbling a little on the 'commercial soil-based mix' too...did you mean soilless? Almost all commercial mixes for containers and pots are soilless these days. Please read through the articles on sowing techniques etc at the Clothiers site too...quite helpful. If you find this is a lasting interest, you may want to invest in a good book - Making More Plants by Ken Druse is great (should also be available at your library if you are not ready to purchase)

littleblu87 - I am not sure where you are, but I purchased Georgann Schmalz's cd set for Georgia Birding By Ear which has been a big help for me. I bought it at my local Wild Birds Unlimited, so you might try them to see if there is a specific set for your state. Every state seems to have a bird guru who does one. I could not find them on Amazon and such. On a note, I did get the Peterson's national set years ago and it was too much information, too many birds. Much prefer just my state. the enature site is my other favorite reference!

Anyone have one growing, how does it relate in taste and hardiness compared to its Mount Royal parent?