Thanks so much for your warm welcoming attitude, Pitt. I just didn't want to post too much. I have a tendency to want to grow EVERYTHING that is gorgeous and interesting to ME, and very often customers want to know what "this" flower is and "that" flower is, never knowing it existed! There are some here that are OBVIOUSLY not suitable for cutting (stem length-alyssum/hollyhock/morning glory, too "wild & rangy"-like ratibida, not long enough lasting-papaver?, or just not worth it in a zone with a short growing season like mine) but if something here "seems" unable to be cut, but YOU KNOW CAN be cut for SHORT bouquets, please inform me! I don't have that much more room in my yard, so I really need to pare this list down! Also, if any of these are much better GROWING FROM AN ESTABLISHED PLANT, instead of by my starting from seed, would you mind letting me know? PS-I don't have any phlox yet! :0) Agastache foeniculum Lavender Hyssop Agastache Tutti frutti Agastache rupestris Alcea Dwarf Hollyhock Majorette Mix Alcea Hollyhock Old Farmyard Mix Alcea rosea Nigra-singles Alcea rosea (hot pink hollyhock) Alcea rosea (single pink,dk.pk.throat) Alyssum Royal Carpet Amaranthus Intense Purple-tall Ammi majus Antirrhinum Gumdrop Mix Antirrhinum Large snap mix Antirrhinum Tetra Mix Aquilegia (pink) Aquilegia (yellow) Aquilegia Bonnets (pinks) Aquilegia Mrs. Scott Ellis Aquilegia Ruby Port Aquilegia Wm. Guinness Asclepias incarnata Balsam Double Camellia Mix Basilicum (Cinnamon/Mexican Basil Mix) Bellis perennis (English daisy-pink) Berkheya purpurea Zulu Warrior Buddleia Honeycomb Calendula Citrus Cocktail Calendula Fancy Mix Calendula Kablouna Dore Calendula Kablouna Gold Calendula Pacific Beauty Calendula Porcupine Calendula Radio Calendula Sunny Girl Double Calendula Touch of Red Callistephus chinensis (Aster Crego mix) Callistephus chinensis Orange Sherbet Callistephus chinensis Powderpuff Mix Callistephus chinensis Seastar Mix Campanula persicifolia (Peachleaf Bellflower/blue) Campsis radicans (yellow/apr.trumpet vines) Canterbury Bells mix Cardinal Vine Celosia Burgundy Supercrest Celosia spicata Centaurea cyanus Mix (Bachelor's Buttons) Centaurea cyanus Blue Boy Centaurea cyanus Persian cornflower (pink) Centaurea Cornflower "Black Ball" Centaurea Double Mixed batchelor buttons Centaurea imperialis Sweet Sultan Centaurea Montana/mountain bluet Chives (Herb) Chrysanthemum carinatum (Love, but JBs devour these!) Chrysanthemum coccineum/Perennial Painted Daisy Chrysanthemum Coconut Ice Cleome Four Queens Mix Cleome Rose Queen Coleus Rainbow Mix Collinsia heterophylla (Chinese Houses) Consolida Giant Imperial Mix Larkspur Consolida Shades of Blue Consolida Larkspur Kaleidoscope Mix Consolida Larkspur Sublime Bicolor Convolvulus(Bush-type morning glory) Blue Enchantment Cosmos Double Click Cosmos Seashells Mix Cosmos Single Sensation Mixed Colors Cosmos sulphureus Orange Cosmos Sunset (orange/red) Crocosmia/montbretia Cynoglossum Mystery Rose Dahlia Rainbow Mix Dahlia Unwins Mix Datura (large, white) Delphinium Astolat Delphinium Blue Mirror Delphinium King Arthur Delphinium Magic Fountains Mixed Colors (Dwarf) Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William single mix) Dianthus Chabaud Great Carnation Mix **POSSIBLY Dianthus AMAZON purple coming (from a trade!!)** Dicentra eximia (Fernleaf bleeding heart) Dierama (Angel's Fishing Rod) Digitalis alba Digitalis Camelot lavender Digitalis Candy Mountain Digitalis Excelsior Hybrids mixed colors Digitalis purpurea Foxy mix Dill (Organic), Bouquet Echinacea pallida Echinacea paradoxa Echinacea tennesseensis Echinacea White Swan Echinops ritro Erygium (blue) Erysimum allionii (Wallflower-yellow/orange) Eucalyptus Mix Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) French honeysuckle/scarlet (climber/scrambler) Fritillaria langeolata Fritillaria meleagris (Snakeshead/Checkered fritillary) Gaillardia Aristata (Blanketflower) Gaillardia Burgundy Gaillardia Fanfare P *may not come true Gaillardia Summer's Kiss Gaillardia Sundance Bicolor Gaillardia Yellow Sun Gaura Siskiyou Pink Gazania Sunset Colors Gazania (white) Gazania (white/purple stripe) Geranium (Frost-Hardy mix) Geranium pratense Splish Splash cranesbill Gomphrena QIS mix Gypsophilia elegans (pink) Gypsophilia paniculata Early Snowball (white dbl.) Gypsophilia (white baby's breath) Helenium (red, I believe) Helenium Bright Buttons Helenium Mardigras Helenium Moerheim Beauty Helenium Red Army Helianthus Double Quick Orange Helianthus Honey Bear Helianthus Infrared Helianthus Lemon Aura Helianthus Lemon Queen Helianthus Mammoth Russian Helianthus Monet's Palette Helianthus Moulin Rouge Helianthus Parasol Mix Helianthus Pro Cut Lemon Helianthus Pro Cut Orange Helianthus Ring of Fire Helianthus Sole Doro Helianthus Sundance Kid Helianthus Teddy Bear Helichrysum Strawflower Dwarf Mix Helichrysum Tall Double Mix Heliopsis scabra Summer Sun Hemerocallus "Pink" Hemerocallus/various crosses Hesperis matronalis (Dame's Rocket) Hibiscus mosch.:Disco Belle/S.Belle mix Iberis Dwarf Fairy (Candytuft) Ipomea Heavenly Blue Morning Glory Ipomea Choice Mixed Colors Morning Glory Ipomea Crimson Rambler Morning Glory Ipomea Sunrise Serenade Morning Glory Iris (Spuria) Lagurus ovatus (Bunny Tail Grass) Lathyrus Bijou Mix Lathyrus odoratus Spencer Mix Lathyrus odoratus Old Spice Mix Lathyrus Sweet Pea Burpee Patio Mix (bush type) Leonotus leonurus Leucanthemum Aglaia Shasta Daisy Leucanthemum Alaska Shasta Daisy Leucanthemum Crazy Daisy (*already have this growing) Leucanthemum Silver Princess Daisy (same as above) Leucanthemum Snow Lady Daisy Leucanthemum Wirral Pride Lilium Orienpet Mix Lilium philippenense (white) Linum rubrum (Scarlet Flax) Lobelia cardinalis Lupinus Russell's Hybrid Mix Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese Cross) Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) Malope trifida (Mallow Vulcan) Malva sylvestrus Zebrina Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) Mina Lobata - Spanish Flag Moluccella Laevis (Bells of Ireland) Monarda citriodora Monarda lambada Monarda Panorama Mix Myosotis sylvatica Firmament Forget-Me-Nots Narcissi (no description) Nasturtium Scarlet Gleam Improved Nigella hispanica Exotica (Love-in-a-Mist) Nigella "Jewels" (Love-in-a-Mist) Orlaya grandiflora Papaver coral w/purple center Papaver Danish Flag Papaver Drama Queen Papaver orientale mix (white, salmon, reds) Papaver rhoeas Papaver Shirley Mix (Double) Papaver somniferum Black Peony Poppy Papaver somniferum/Hot pink w/dk. ctr,fringed Pardancanda norrissi-purples(have a y/o one growing already) Passiflora Maypop Penstemon Red Rocks Polygonum orientalis(Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate) Platycodon Balloon Flower Platycodon Fuji Blue Platycodon Axminster Streaked Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat) Rose Campion Rudbeckia hirta Cherokee Sunset Rudbeckia hirta Gloriosa Daisy Mix Rudbeckia hirta Double Gold Rudbeckia Green Wizard Rudbeckia hirta Irish Eyes Rudbeckia hirta Prairie Sun Rudbeckia Sonora (*possibly-not sure) Rudbeckia Toto Salvia Bonfire Scabiosa atropurpurea (deep red, frosted white) Scabiosa Mix Scabiosa (yellow) Statice Mixed Tabebuia (yellow) Tagetes (Marigold) Crackerjack Mixed Tagetes (Marigold) Harlequin Tagetes (Marigold) Petite Yellow Tagetes (Marigold) Simba Tagetes (Marigold) Snowdrift Tagetes (Marigold) Sweet Cream Tagetes (Marigold) Tiger Eyes Talinum paniculata (Jewels of Opar) Tanacetum coccineum/Painted Daisies (pk/red) Tecoma San Alata (orange honeysuckle) Verbena bonariensis (Purpletop verbena) Viola Tricolor "Miss Helen Mount"/Johnny Jump-Up Zinnia Candy Cane Mix Zinnia Elegans California Giant Zinnia Giant Cactus Mix Zinnia Giant Enchantress Zinnia Giant Violet Queen Zinnia Old Mexico Zinnia Paintbrush Mixed Colors Zinnia Persian Carpet Zinnia Red Spider Zinnia Royal Purple Zinnia Scabiosa Pastel Mix Zinnia Scarlet King Zinnia State Fair Mix Zinnia Whirligig Zinnia Zowie! Flame Perennial Wildflower Mix Daisy Garden Wildflower Mix After all of this, I hope that you are still my "friends" (wink). :0) Phyl

In the last few days I've put quite a few peas into the ground. They're going into a new area on the southside of the house. Not sure how they'll do there time will tell. 2 rows are still in shade from the fence. I think they'll be fine there but it'll be a couple years before the soil is improved over there. I also put peas in the ground about 3 weeks ago and they seem to be doing well. Yesterday in went beets, mustard greens, Amish lettuce and endive. First time I'm growing beets :-) Then in my pathways I've planted dutch white clover (about 2 weeks ago) and alfalfa yesterday. Not sure how that's going to work out with foot and wheelbarrow traffic. The clover is coming up fast. I also want to plant some sort of grass in the pathways but haven't found any yet or maybe plant something else. A few flower seeds went in today also Hollyhocks and Moss Rose into an raised "herb spiral". It very well may wind up being a flower spiral. :-)

The cold rainy springs we get in the NW tend to stall out most early starts anyway until late May, so one may as well do some W/S, and seed heat lovers inside. It's OK to plant out some strawberries and hardy perennials, and direct sow cole crops, radishes, garlic, onions, potatoes, and peas now, up to Zone 8. I seeded out some Radishes a month ago and they are starting to look like they'll be ready within a couple weeks. More seed goes in as I harvest. I neglected W/S this year, so I still want to get lots of things going, next week. I do have some of Martin's Wisc 55 Tomatoes a couple inches high already, and will need to pot them on soon. I've noticed that Marigolds started early in the warm tend to bloom sooner, but my compost tomatoes tend to catch up to anything I start indoors by the end of July anyway, so no big deal. All do better once they are established in the ground - and warm days have begun, so the ground can stay over 50 degrees F. I've begun hardening off Pepper plants that I wintered over indoors...and am eager to get them in the ground soon. Some things you can do in May/early April: turn compost, dig weeds, mow, and _harvest_ all possible Slugs, if your area is prone to them. Last year Slugs ate almost everything that I set out to harden-off. It was devastating - as I was a indoor-seeding demon last year - and gave away a lot of starts before I knew I'd lose so much to hungry Slugs. So it goes.

I almost always pot sow. For all the reasons Chris listed. I can grow anything in a pot and I can start it at the right time, which is late winter or early spring for annuals. Many seeds sown in the garden just won't germinate well or at all. The ones that would germinate may need to be in a spot filled by other plants and will have to fend for themselves in a fairly wild garden. Try it for hardy annuals, or for a very large area, if you don't want to mess with pots and transplanting. If a plant self-seeds in your garden then you can be fairly sure it will be OK to sow it direct.