Depending on shipping distance, I might be interested in a trade. I have various Hardy Geraniums including Geranium 'Mourning Widow', black (actually very dark red) Daylilies; Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker' dark purple foliage; various Lilies and Daffodils; Siberian Iris, named; Do you mark the colors of you Hellebores? I favor the whites and pinks with lots of spots in the center of the petals. I would also be interested in your Spiraea seedlings.

Forgive me for chiming in again: In general, I think it is best to let trees grow they way they want to grow until it is obvious a problem has developed. I have not seen sprouts from the base of one or two year oak seedlings from acorns planted just one or two years before. If they have been transplanted, yes. So admitting that lack of experience with exactly this kind of situation, I have transplanted lots of oaks and have had quite a number sprout from the base. In something like half of the cases, the sprout has grown more vigorously than the original stalk and has made a fine tree. In a number of these cases, the original trunk died after one to three years. In some other cases the sprout or sprouts at the base--sometimes two, more commonly one--has seemed much more vigorous than the original sprout, but after three or four years, the original sprout regained its vigor and grew better than the newer sprouts. In those cases at that point I cut off the newer sprouts. I think cutting out the sprouts from the base so soon includes some danger--if something causes the original sprout to die, and you have pinched off the new sprouts, the tree will suffer and maybe die. I see no reason why any new sprouts from the base of an oak seedling need to be removed so early. I would agree with Lucky--you can leave them until they are about one inch caliper, and at that point leave the sprout that is best--the straightest and most vigorous. If you handle them this way you will end up with a stronger and more vigorous tree. --Spruce

The teeth and the color of the edge with the red is going to be a real beauty, "when she grows up"! hehehe She already is, but with a little age, she might be a real honey! Sorry 'bout the deer....that's all I can say, 'cause I would be very upset if the same happened to me. It's happened too much to my brother's orchard and other plants and trees, and it is very discouraging when they strip it all in one night, along with the hard work it took to get it there. What's even worse, is they finally got an 8' fence and kept them out of the main orchard; now the squirrels are just helping themselves to the fruit. If it's not one thing when you live in the country, it seems to be something else. Very disheartening! Jan G.

Thanks guys. I can see a lot of potential in this one. Debra, I started out with about 30 seeds for this cross and I ended up moving the best 15 seedlings out of the shoebox and into the bed. One of the seedlings did not make it through the first winter. The most vigorous of this cross bloomed last year, tried to rebloom and is now four fans with three scapes. Edward