I grow loads of different sunflowers every summer, and am always open and interested in hearing about new varieties that I don't have yet. This is not the way to do it though! Besides I'd much rather hear about personal experiences with the flowers than a standard commercial blurb that one could get off just about any website. That's not why most of us come to this forum! Also I'd like to point out that "Indian Blanket" is a sunflower I grow, but GardenWeb informs me that it is not in their database because it is not a "recognized" cultivar, or something like that. They responded to me and said: "We cannot find any record of this cultivar having been registered anywhere. With all due respect, there are far too many nurseries that make up names and market them with no formal registration/patent...If you can locate the name of the person/nursery that registered/patented it and the year, we will be glad to include it. The information will have to come from a university.edu, or society or botanical garden.org, or something similar, not a commercial enterprise." Just FYI.

I am going to venture an educated guess based on my experience with dune sunflowers. Just my hunch. Years ago I lived on the water where the soil was almost pure sand. The drainage was perfect. The duneflowers thrived without irrigation and bloomed ten months of the year. Even there, they looked a bit ragged if we had long bouts of very rainy weather. I loved those dune sunflowers and have tried to replicate that success. I no longer live on the water and my soil, although started out very poor, through adding organic material, has improved. I tried them again this year and although during the dry season they looked pretty good (not great, great), in the last month they are turning brown in areas and the flowers are small. I am about to pull them completely. Mind you, they are in an area that does not get irrigated and is an elevated bed. I would guess that yours are having similar problems. They are getting much more water than they like (rain and humidity, maybe even irrigation), making them prone to diseases and pests. The tilling temporarily disturbs the natural drainage created by creatures that live in the soil (earthworm tunnels, etc.). The tarp increases the moisture in the underlying ground. I don't think any amount of spraying will make them better. I think dune sunflowers need very consistently poor, dry soil with excellent drainage and as much sun as they can get. They may look good at the beginning, but consistent moist, rich dirt will make them sick and pest prone. Just my hunches. Maybe someone else has other ideas. They sure are pretty and worth trying. Anna

Thanks for your help Brian. I learned from another trader how to collect seed from Narrow-leaved sunflower/Swamp sunflower - Helianthus angustifolius. I came across a member's Trade Page when she responded to my Post: Have Sourwood tree seeds, thank goodness! I love these yellow October flowers, added two other smaller varieties with double flowers to my Wish List, so I knew somebody had to have the answer. When I e-mailed, asked how she did it she responded, "The swamp sunflower seeds -- they will be ready 3-4 weeks at the earliest after the flowers are done blooming. Just take off the seedhead and crumble -- the seeds are small, dark and slender." Now I can fulfill a couple pre-arranged trades and feel comfortable offering them for trade again next year! What would I do without the collective experience of folk on GW? Happy Holidays! Katie

Hi Rob!! My Gardenia tree is growing in my back yard and I transplanted it many years ago from my mothers yard when she was getting ready to sell her house. I grew up with these Gardenias and we always called them " old fashioned". It's probably not the real common name, but they are different from the trees you find in the garden centers . They are a very large bloom and have a very strong fragrance. If you would like, I can start a cutting for you? These grow so large and my tree in the back yard needs to be cut back. It really needs some attention. It loves water too! ill look for another pic for you.. The leaves are huge and a deep glossy dark green . Hope you are enjoying your summer!! sorry I haven't been around.. I have been working quite a bit and when I do work, it's long hours.. Take good care!! sorry the pic was posted there.. Lmao ;-) laura