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

Sharon...a good way to test tuber you suspect are not going to grow is to take a freezer bag and put a handful or two of damp promix in and stick the tuber in there...leave the bag open....so it gets lots of air. The tuber will form noticable eyes and sprouts...usually in a week or two...some will take a little longer. Make sure not to make the promix to wet or the tuber will rot instead of sprouting. Shauna.....I should be planting them out in about a week....I haven't yet. Spending all my gardening time, cleaning up and repairing the yard and gardens. Sierra

I'm so jealous ! The pictures & videos I see on tv & online of cali are gorgeous!! Mountains & thin roadways but also city and beaches with rocks! Ppl often compare Florida to California but even our beaches look completely different ! I don't think we're anything alike! Florida doesn't have mountains & big rocks . We're definitely not dry either ! The west side of the US has dry air compared to the south east - its so humid here! i step outside and my shirts drenched within minutes & i can't cool off bc it's too humid it's horrid ! I love the beaches here but cali has more of a wild look to it - it's so pretty !! I'd love to visit ! .....Annie talks about plants she grows and how well they grow even in the humid fog but I'll purchase these plants & they die within days of being subjected to our high heat & humidity :( I've tried growing many pants of hers that are more native to the west but they hate our climate here on the east. I just got a shipment notification from her! I ordered the California cream cups!! I bought them last year and they literally melted in our humidity within 3 days!!!!! I cried! but I'm praying I get to see one bloom before this happens again just one bloom & ill b happy it's really cool to b able to purchase plants I've never Seen before in my life & get to see them bloom! Half don't make it and it is a waste of money but I don't get to see these flowers otherwise bc they're not common on our side of the US. Maybe I'm crazy but I love seeing new flowers! My first columbine flowers where from annies! Never seen one before - they grow north of us in TN & GA but not in Florida. I have some now I'm waiting to bloom in spring but then out summer rains will rot them & I'll repurchase them again next fall. It's sad but it is what it is! One day -If hubby retires, I'll move somewhere I can grow these flowers without the high humidity killing them off ! I love the fountain grass! It's a mix of tan, purple & a rosey pink - you've got me searching for grasses at lowes!! lol they're beautiful! I want the restios!! Where did u purchase yours from ??! And thanks SOO much for the link!! Ur awesome. :)

I have little use for Sunset in the NE, though it is extremely useful with the west and Southwest. The best book I have run across for timing in our area is the 1977 book Crockett’s Victory Garden by James Underwood Crockett. You can get it used online. You do have to ignore everything he says about pesticides (shudder) but he gardened in MA and has timing down well. It is organized by month. There was also a flower garden book, but I haven’t used it. https://www.amazon.com/Crocketts-Victory-Garden-Underwood-Crockett/dp/0316161217 https://www.amazon.com/Crocketts-Flower-Garden-Underwood-Crockett/dp/0316161330/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/137-0558906-5334416?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0316161330&pd_rd_r=d139634d-a49b-4918-a211-7881fb0b5c03&pd_rd_w=D2cGI&pd_rd_wg=q0T45&pf_rd_p=3edd75bb-e36e-488e-b666-80dd1a52c658&pf_rd_r=PJZCK8KEHYSFENCWCE6C&psc=1&refRID=PJZCK8KEHYSFENCWCE6C There are some really nice garden resources in the Boston area such as Garden in the Woods and its parent organization, the Native Plant Trust for natives; and for woody plants, the Arnold Arboretum and the Mount Auburn Cemetery. https://www.nativeplanttrust.org https://www.arboretum.harvard.edu https://mountauburn.org/blooms-at-mount-auburn/