Your first photo doesn't look like an Oncidium. Might be a mix but sort of looks like a Zygo. The later photos are Oncidiums which are easy to grow. The dark colored plant looks like a Sharry Baby which smells like chocolate. Give it a sniff! I grew them for years in NY in a window and summer outside. They like cooler temps so should do fine in your place. Buy them now and slowly acclimate them to your environment. Don't put them in direct sun but a bright location. They do not like to get dry so keep them slightly moist. I wouldn't repot and would wait until Spring to do it. Wait on the first plant in your photo until someone else comments on it. If I'm correct, that is not an Oncidium...but I could be wrong. Jane

Bark nuggets don't do the job of weed control as well as ground up bark or woodchips of equal thickness. Buying mulch by the bag in your case is not cost effective. Whatever you use as mulch, don't put it up against the trunks of trees and shrubs. That will help a bit on vole damage because they can't hide under it while eating. Snow is a whole 'nother ball game. I've never been bothered by voles so I can't offer much along that line. They're just not a problem in my garden and I'm out in the country with a lot of plants. Are you sure the voles were causing the dieback on your junipers? Did you actually see the teeth marks? A lot of junipers have branch dieback for a variety of reasons and not necessarily voles. Mike

Normally I direct sow, but maybe starting in containers outside could work. I would have to think of a place that gets enough sun, but not so much sun or the hatched seedlings will dry out for sure. I don't leave until 2nd week of Oct and normally things I have direct sowed are popping up within that 1st week, but I am trying some new stuff I never did before and this is fall not spring so maybe fall seedlings take longer. If I get my butt in fast enough gear I could divide the packets into 3rds and do an experiment direct sow, containers and the last 3rd when we get back home. Ohh to be so organized. Damn this working for a living, it so gets in the way! Lol.

Just read that elderberries are one of many berries that bluebirds eat to survive in the winter so I will be putting extra effort into growing these. I have a bunch of Eastern bluebirds t that show up here every fall and spend 5-6 months here before they move north. I plan to also order some dried mealworms to feed them. And some nijer seed for all the little goldfinches that have arrived. Any one else here spoil the birds?