True blue: Delphiniums, Gentiana asclepiada(not all), many alpine Gentianas, Brunnera, Scilla sibirica, Bellevalia forniculata, Commelina(for very mild climates), Omphalodes verna,Centaurea triumfetti,some Corydalis. There are some rare blue Penstemons, but nearly all are ungrowable here. Plants approaching true blue: some Tradescantias. Iris sibirica Big Blue has a true blue nerve in the middle of the falls. Have never seen a blue Campanula, and I had really many. Amsonias are pastel blue. None of Anemone nemorosa clones is true blue(I had them all).

There's nothing quite as cool-looking(temperaturewise) as BLUE flowers. I grew Phacelia a few years ago, best blue i ever saw, next to cornflowers. The bell-shaped blue flowers with icy-white anthers were beautiful, and stirred up images of cooler weather. They do have a short bloom time, hot weather just about stops the show, cutting back helps somewhat. Give 'em a try, i believe there are 2 or 3 varieties. Good luck, and enjoy.

Well- I do believe the out of town seed swap by mail- has been accomplished without a hitch- thanks to the many suggestions and voulenteers to help- and the special folks who buddied up to hand pick and select precious seeds for those trusting enough to participate on this maiden voyage- My thanks to Mary Jo- SandiBluffs buddie, Mary- Dave's sender's buddie, Suzy- Marie's buddie (Rick helped too...), Pauline- Dott's Buddie, Rick- Jan AND Kate's buddie, Cheri too had a sender she buddied up for. I do believe with all the care involved with hand selecting the receivers will have a very pleasant surprise coming to them!! I do think that this is an easily do-able, much appreciated addition to the Winter Blues Seed Swap- I think that whom-ever hosts next years seed swap could easily be the person who the envelopes are sent to- and the one who could easily enlist help to buddie up with someone- I will gladly forward the letter I sent out to those who sent seeds in- (it lists instructions that help make the buddies job easier) to the host of the next MN WBSS, or- I can do again next year what I did this year. I feel it is too valuable of a service to not continue. I am sure the buddies will be sending out soon- if they havn't already! It is a good idea to post here or send an e-mail when you send the envelope on- and it is polite to respond in turn when you receive the envelope- That way, neither is left wondering about the package. Thank you senders- for the wonderful seeds you sent- Thank you Buddies for picking out the very best for your buddies! And Thank you Cheri for having us all- once again for the MN GW SS! Thanks to all who participated! Julie

Patti, yes, I guess a leaky heart should be looked into. And loved your approach to the doctor! Way to go! You must be SO proud of your SIL and that whole family! That's doggoned impressive! And thrilled for your son and getting his bride-to-be back here, a little nervous about her getting in without any glitches. Exciting times for you! Does she speak Mandarin?? What part of China is she from? I just did cart seeds inside for the first time last year. It was surprisingly easy with the good help of all our smart friends here. They were even more help advising where and when and what to plant and filling the raised beds. Last year, I had no idea how to tell what I wanted in a tomato or pepper (or anything else--I'm sure you all remember my ignorance); I have learned so much from you all in the past year; and I had to laugh at Rebecca saying that she bet I wouldn't buy seed from (I don't know who it was, some big box company). And it IS true that I've become very uppity about seed companies--but it's all y'all's fault! You know it is. I didn't get started on seed-planting today, Dawn. Maybe tomorrow. We are still staying away from: church, and schools. So maybe I'll get up and begin tending the garden for God. :) I'm a little bit freaked about IT, too. I bet all of you who have only recently started all the seed-growing stuff are feeling about like I am. . . So technically, this is only my second year. But it was so easy last year, I'm not too freaked out. Mostly by the nightmares of potting up, the taking all those flats out every morning, bringing them all back in in the evenings. Too funny. It's like running an orphanage, pet shelter, daycare. Constant attention, right? I'm thrilled that in what is going into my 4th year here, I have SO many perennials, self-seeding annuals, and shrubs going. SO appreciated the additional info on drip irrigation tubing. I'm still on the edge, there. I think I will maybe NOT do it in the flower beds, cept for the cement block raised one, and the raised veggie beds. Maybe soaker hoses, though. I really don't much care about the worry over sprinklers getting leaves wet, when I remember the 20" of rain we got May into July for two years in a row. The saving money part, sure. But I have those oscillating sprinklers, so can narrow down the watering to the immediate bed being watered. That's gotta help some. HJ and Dawn both posted while I was starting on this, so had to change windows to see what they had to say. lol Liked the way you tied Rh into gardening, HJ. Very creative. And now, HJ, and I am very worried about your babies since dogs seem to be about. (Which is one of the two main reasons we won't have them--the other being times we have to go to Wy or Mn.) Amy, I had to google the car accident you mentioned. How very sad. They still haven't released the names. We only go to Wahoo Bay occasionally, because you know my distaste for traveling. It's probably 25-30 miles from our house--as you know, we're north and east of Wagoner by 10 miles; Wahoo is south and east of Wagoner by about 15. We go down there a couple times each summer. Actually, that's where GDW is going to crappie fish--a nice heated dock not too far north of Wahoo. And he is on a mission now. We got his moon jigs, his special bobbers should be showing up Tuesday, and then he just KNOWs he'll be catching all kinds of crappies. That was funny, you mentioning your Mom ears. I have them, too, with the new kitties. Speaking of them. . . . uh oh, I fear they are into their teens, full blown. Jerry's actually the troublemaker; but Tom is the dangerously funny one. They were both obsessed with getting into the pantry, because of the hole in the wall where the water lines are. But mostly because it's a shut door. If a door is shut, that's where they want to go. Garry fixed the door once (previously it shut and stayed shut, but didn't latch.) But didn't fix it good enough apparently. Last night, one of the cats came racing in here with a prize--my brand new fancy dancy fuzzy "feather duster." Score!, he thought, and you could all but see them doing "high 5's" about it. All I could do was laugh. The fuzzy part is a foot long, and then has a wood handle that's another foot long. Hysterical. So I put it back and shut the door. This morning before I was up, GDW got to witness the same thing. But so, he FIXED the door good today. The cats are so ticked off. BUT, now, I fear the cabinets are next, as Tom was interested in seeing in what was one of them when I opened it today. . . and they, of course, do not latch. You could almost see the little light bulbs going off in his head. They've been rowdy today. . . SO rowdy. So funny. They're both also SO affectionate. I plunked Tom down 4 times earlier today when he was being obnoxious and in my face (AFTER I gave him 15 minutes of uninterrupted time), and four times he jumped back instantly. But he also has been in either GDW's lap or mine every time we have sat down today.