The plant most commonly referred to as "string of beads" is Senecio Rowleyanus, but two other species are sometimes known by this common name vis: S.Radicans and S.Herreianus. Unfortunately I do not know much regarding raising these from seed, as they are usually propagated by rooting part of a stem. Perhaps knowing the scientific name, others would be better placed to answer the question posed by cliviajohn.

Well if you want my 2 cents. The way you are rooting is the problem. I have rooted 'The String Of Pearls',by laying them on TOP of the soil. Like a bunch of long snakes, till almost no soil shows, then I pin down the stems into place with small plastic coated paperclips, that I open up into a U shape. Put a few in to hold the stems in place. Then water them lightly, so it isnt soaked, you only need the top of the soil moist...maybe an inch till they root, which will be fast!. The stems will put out roots all along the stem, and they will branch out from the entire stem, instead of just the tip. So you will have a full basket/pot of the Pearls, with much more of a root system,then put it in bright light/morning direct sun most of the day,since you are way up in Mich. And of course BRIGHT light while rooting. And growing. It sounds like they are not getting enough light, by the description of the shape of the 'pearls'. You will get a FULL pot of strings, and then you can pot them up, or start them in a small hanging basket, and move them up once it fills the pot or basket with roots. My 2 cents. It does work!

Hi, It could be kids....my sons plant seeds in my plants all the time, lol, I've had watermelon coming up all over,(when we would have watermelon they would plant the seeds) and one year a row of carrots in my flower bed(best and biggest carrots I ever grew)...lol...and one year I had rows of corn coming up both sides of the driveway..lol grandpa gave the boys each an ear of corn... could be a sun flower they look like that, I used to fine them every where, my son likes to plant them for the birds to eat and he likes to eat roasted sun flower seeds too... my other son likes to plant trees, so when he fines a little maple tree he trans plants it in one of my gardens, it was and still is fun to see what surprises grow in my plants and outside in the yard too...linda PS...Oh by the way, this year it was pumpkins in my flower bed next to the shade garden....lol

Maryanne, Thanks for the sympathy :-). My mom has been doing this a lot more lately. I think that she resents having to be dependant on us since she can't really get out on her own anymore so this is her way of unintentionally "getting back" at us. It's not malicious (I don't think) but she certainly was never like this when she was working,d riving & doing everything on her own. My father died when I was very young, my mother was always very independant, went back to work & pretty much raised me singlehandedly (my brother & sister are both much older than I am). Now her arthritis is very bad & though she lives on her own I do the shopping for her, my sister comes over to help with the cleaning, my brother drives her to dr appts etc. Since she always was the one doing for herself (and usually doing for someone else as well) it makes her crazy to have to be dependant on us. Oh I'm so disappointed about the swap! I was very excited about it and had quite the brainstorm. But at least now I know what to do for the next one. The power loss is no big deal. Almost a treat since the laundry & vacuuming would have to wait. It happens so frequently that we're pretty used to it & since we have propane for cooking & hot water it's only a minor inconvenience. It was such a gorgeous weekend that it was nice to be forced outside. Now I just have to get around to posting the nut pics! Nina