I've been very good this year too, Santa! I'd love to get some seeds for American herbs we can't get here in Australia - things like Sweet Joe Pye, or Goldenseal or Arnica. Whether they'd grow here in the subtropics is another matter! But I'd like to try. I'd even be happy with some dried herb.

I don't reckon you can EVER have too many herb books, so that would always be a welcome herby gift, especially if it has plenty of the more unusual herbs, and/or traditional remedies and recipes for using them.

A larger garden, and a good man-gardener to look after it (and me!!), would be nice, too. Dream on!

Daisy, email me privately and we will talk seed swapping.

I just tried Joe Pye Weed, and I wasn't able to give it enough sun to bloom... but you live in the tropics, it might bloom there. How hot does it get? It's too bad you live so darn far away! Well, maybe Betty can take care of you. :o)

It gets stinking hot - like up to 45C at the height of summer, with humidity around 90%. Average temp would be closer to mid-30sC in summer.

Yeah, it can get that stinking hot here too.... hopefully not often, though! :o) PLUS we are LOW on the humidity... if it does get up that high, usually we are around %15 humidity... it's a dry heat! :o) means you mummify better. :D Maybe with more humidity, you can give those herbs more sun... here, they fry.

I would like a garden where I could grow dill, caraway, fennels, parsely, etc. without "someone" eating the babies before they even had a chance to grow.

I'm getting an early Christmas present this weekend. A man I know is coming here especially to work in my garden!! This is wonderful, as I've been ill for several weeks and unable to do anything. This guy is just a friend, so don't get all excited - but he's a fanatical and very knowledgeable gardener.

How good is THAT?

Well, I hope you feel better! What a nice friend! :o) that is very cool!

Daisy-

Hope you get well very soon. God bless your friend working in your garden. May your health and prosperity bloom.

I will hope for someone that needs me to tend their garden, as you have a special friend that tends yours. I cannot think of a more wonderful gift.

Just get well, Daisy,
Dee

Thank you for the kind thoughts! I am convalescing nicely. My friend has been and recreated my little garden, and it looks like a million dollars after being neglected for so long. As a bonus, he gave me a HUGE bag of top-quality potting mix, and some new herbs to plant up! A very welcome gift indeed.

I've found over the years that if you like plants and gardening, it's easy to find friends. Gardeners are usually very caring, sharing people, and I've encountered no exceptions to this rule.

May you all have a wonderful Christmas!