The weather really has been strange this year, we have had one of the hottest Junes so far, no rain to speak of (usually pours this month) we did get some rain last night. So far the Echinaceas are looking pretty good some are growing gangbusters, have lots of buds forming. Some are growing slowly but look healthy. I noticed last night Summer Sky, Double Decker, Sundown, Sunset, Razzmatazz and Magnus are the forerunners in my garden as far as good healthy growth and formation of flower buds goes. One of my favorites Twilight looks healthy, the small clump seems to have finer leaves and stems this year, I'm thinking it might need a smidge of potash. Echinaceamanic what are your thoughts on this? What do you fertilize with or do you not fertilize? I hope you are going to show us more of your seedlings this year, I remember one from last year it was awesome. Annette

Hi dawgie, I never see it in nurseries either, although our local wholesale nursery has it listed in their catalog. I found the seed at Menards of all places and had never even heard of Prairie Dropseed but thought I would give it a try! Donn, I didn't have very good germination on this for some reason. I sowed several pkts. of seed and only had one germinate. Not sure if this is a hard one to germ. or if the seed was bad? Who knows?! BruMeta- Mine is just plopped into a mixed border in front of some echinacea, in full sun. I like the fine texture of the Sporobolos w/the ech. leaves. The below pic. isn't the greatest but gives you an idea. I would eventually like to spread it throughout my borders as an accent plant. This plant was winter sown the winter before last so this is its 2nd yr. I've been really happy w/its growth since I've read that it can be slow to mature. I sowed a pack of seed/pot (actually used the bottom 1/3 of a paper milk carton) and set it out in late winter, Feb./ early March if I remember correctly. Hope that helps!

Virginia wild rye has a 'cuter' seedhead than does CWR. i would mix the two. frankly i dont really know if VWR has anything to do with Virginia but... indian grass can be a nice addition. maybe a plug or 5 would be a nice addition. it doesnt get too tall that u cannot stand it. prairie brome is a handsome plant. it grows well from seed. its short and cute in a fluffy,furry sort of way. im fond of LBS and prairie drop seed. i could roll around in those two all day and night. another neat grass is porcupine grass but read up on it before u plant it or ull take ur eye out. switchgrass is a hadsome plant also. but if u dont like the aggressive nature of it, there is a horticulture variety called 'Shenandoah' its a smallish non-fertile type that has a bright red fall color. froggy Here is a link that might be useful: prairie brome

You might start with posting a sign, maybe use the street name in the title or something like that. I keep wanting to make one for my yard but don't seem to get around to it. I think the biggest problem is when plants are too tall or aggressive and too many different heights, so I'd try to select ones that don't get taller than one or two feet especially close to the road or street maybe some taller stuff toward the back but even so, I think I'd stay with shorter plants. Also, plant a lot of annuals like gaillardia & Helenium annum so its a solid mass of color all season and self sowing with a lot flowers instead of a lot of green. It might make it seem a shame and therefore harder to mow that down if its ever blooming and colorful. Keep it simple, lots of repeats of massed plants of the same type in groups or swaths if possible, it looks less weedy especially to an untrained eye. The more kept looking it is, the better it will be. Wild looking, but planned. Most warm season grasses can take a couple mowings but not more from what I have read. Little bluestem stays pretty short until late summer and if the soil and moisture conditions are right it will look well behaved. I'd stay away from Joe Pye weed and other tall stuff like that. There is a median up the street from me planted in natives, its almost OK but could use a bit of TLC and selective weeding. An afternoon would make a difference. http://www.agrecol.com/Native-Plant-Sign_p_572.html