I grow both the bronze and the Florence. I also grow Rue which they consume just as readily as the fennel, and Zizia aptera as a back up, which they sometimes lay eggs on and eat when the fennels in the front yard are chewed down. Differentiating between the "varieties" of fennel is somewhat confusing because there is a lot of conflicting information floating around on the web. However, Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce is the most commonly grown fennel, and is used for its seeds, foliage, and the stalks (similar in texture and eaten like celery). It is perennial in temperate climates, like Oklahoma. The Bronze is a close relative, F. vulgare var. purpurescens, used in the same fashion as the dulce. F. vulgare var. azoricum is used for seeds, foliage, and the bulbous base is used as a vegetable (you've probably seen in the produce section of the supermarket). Calling them Florence fennel leads to more confusion cuz I find both referred to as Florence, depending on the writer. The butterflies don't care which one you use. thank goodness! The azoricum is less hardy than the dulce, but both are short-lived perennials IMHO, and are borderline hardy in Oklahoma, where winter extremes are variable from year to year. The good thing is that they do self-sow readily. That said, one year I had to remove the flowers due to a heavy wasp invasion. They loved the fennel flowers and the baby BSTs. I personally like the bulb fennel the best because produces more lush foliage which in a good winter stays green and full. I just don't use the bulbs. It has lasted 4 or 5 years max for me. The Bronze seems more prone to winter die back than the bulb, and I have to generally buy new plants. So, there you have my explanation and interpretation on the performance of fennel in my zone 7a garden. Susan

I have been using MG potting soil for about four years now, but I must say this year I am very dissapointed. It seems they are adding manure to the mix because when i opened the bags they had a very strong odor of , well, manure. Upon watering of my containers, the water coming out of the drain holes runs a yellowish color. It stains the patio. I am growing 15 plants in containers and 25 plants in the ground. The plants in the ground are far more healthy than the ones in containers. About half of the container plants appear to be either burned from over fert. and some are developing early blight. Could be coincidence but I am wondering if they are adding manure to the mix, is it properly broken down?

Thank you all SO MUCH! I can't believe how many responses I received. You're all wonderful. Although I do agree it's likely a great cat perch, I don't have a cat. There is indeed an outlet up there. I'll use it for Christmas for sure. In the mean time, I really liked the cat sculptures Olychick posted - but we're not really cat people. I might look into something similar though. Or maybe a large fake plant arrangement. My husband is in favor of that. Awm03's idea for a mobile would be kind of neat. A long hanging mobile would take up the space but not crowd it, but I don't know how we'd get to the ceiling safely. We have a ladder but I don't know if it will reach. Again, thank you all for the help! What a fantastic little online community.

i hope you read that link i gave .. lol ... yucca are exotic in the north.. as we all.. at one time or another.. like the desert look of plants where the snow flies ... we can pretend we live in TX or AZ ... etc ... also.. they are cheap.. and near bullet proof and care free ... so exotic ... that is why they are seen everywhere .. though they arent noticed until the send up that spike of flowers ... many of my first books were by world champion British gardeners ... guess what.. MI is not great britian ... unless a book is written by your neighbor ... you have to take what you read.. with some about of skepticism ... as such.. as noted above.. i highly wonder what this author is talking about ... in regard to this plant ... as it might take you a number of years to kill these things.. i dont know why you insist on waiting until spring .. they are probably storing energy now.. to start growing in spring.. so why let them ... but.. you do what you need to do.. when you have time for it... or when you want to ... because.. after all.. its your garden ... ken