I don't know how they will do in the shade as I have only seen them growing in full sun. Once they bloom and frost kills them back you can remove the foliage and leave the bulb in the soil. It should sprout the next spring. Just like dahlias. I have read that the 4 o'clock tuber can get to be very large after several years. I have to dig the tubers or place the pot inside a dark unheated basement room to over winter as they would freeze in the ground here. 4 o'clock (mirabilis) seeds can rot in the pot or ground if the soil is too wet. I've also had volunteer seedlings. Mostly I spring sow mine using the winter sowing method. My mother always direct sowed them across the width in front of her large farm garden and had a colorful display late summer/early fall.

If you've still got some rose and/or celery seeds available, let me know if you're interested in a trade too, please. ^_^ I only have a few varieties, but they're all very freshly harvested from my garden. Here's what I've got right now: Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra âÂÂSummer Nightsâ (The mother plant grew 3â tall in the first year from a poor, neglected transplant that I thought IâÂÂd murdered by forgetting to water it one too many times when it was still in its little black plastic container. Oops! But it sprang back from literally nothing and wowed me with its red-purple stems, dark green leaves, and the yellow, daisy-like flowers that followed. Another bonus is that goldfinches seem to really like eating the seeds so if you have any in your area you may be delighted to see them precariously dangling from a spent blossom pecking around for a little snack.) Perilla frutescens var. frutescens (Korean âÂÂEgomaâ type with leaves that are green on top and purple underneath. The aroma and flavor is like a combination of peppermint and purple basil with a hint of cilantro, I think. I hear it makes a wonderful pesto⦠wish IâÂÂd known that sooner. LOL. Well, thereâÂÂs always next year. ^_^) Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce (Florence or âÂÂFinocchioâ Fennel. Attracted a constant stream of fascinating-looking Black Swallowtail caterpillars and their breathtaking butterfly counterparts to my garden this year. Also kept the former from eating the foliage off of my nearby carrots and parsley instead, which was a nice bonus! The yellow flowers were so charming that I didnâÂÂt mind when the plants bolted early because of an unexpected heat wave. And there was so much of the fine, feathery foliage that I always had plenty to chop up and use as a kitchen herb whenever I craved the sweet, anise-like flavor. ItâÂÂs soooo good with olive oil-roasted veggies.) Plum Crazy Hibiscus (Amazing perennial hibiscus. 3-4â tall, shrubby habit with huge 8-10â deep rosey-purple blooms for several weeks during the summer to early fall. Your neighbors will make a fuss over the flowers! ThereâÂÂs no other hibiscus growing anywhere near it, so from what I can tell it should seed true-to-type color-wise. However, juuuuuust in case IâÂÂll say that it may surprise you and bloom with a different color like white, pink, or even red. Still lovely, but perhaps not in your color scheme. From what IâÂÂve read, hardy hibiscus types like this one really do tend to produce offspring identical to the parents as long as they are self-pollinated. However, if the possibility of a dramatic little shrub covered in huge white saucer-sized flowers showing up in your garden doesnâÂÂt tickle your fancy, you may not want to take the risk.) - Yarn

If you like having butterflies visit your yard, few things are more attractive to them than Lantana. If your Mom wouldn't mind, take some cuttings from her plants and literally just stick them in the ground. Water every few days if it doesn't rain. I just added pics including a Lantana cutting from last year that's growing back nicely this spring, in this discussion. Butterfly bushes (Buddleia) are just as easy to multiply, but somebody has to have one to get started. Easy to find in stores, inexpensive, or through trading. Of course BF's like butterfly bushes, HA! Basil flowers are beloved by BF's and bees. If you have a little patch of ground to scatter some basil seeds, they should have plenty of time to make flowers this year. Then, of course, the leaves are yummy. The flowers are white, so don't clash with anything, not that exciting visually, but I've seen hummingbirds visiting them also. That gets it a prized spot in my opinion. That's really cool your sprouts survived some frosts! Has anyone else noticed, the seed sprouts are all plain green, top and bottom. The plants coming back from previous years' tubers have red on the back of their leaves. I was very intrigued by the first one I saw in the back yard because I didn't recognize it at first, but could tell it was growth, not a sprout, and there were no weeds there to be growing back. Never know what could creep over from the abandoned yard next door though.

Hi everyone! I am looking for Cleome, Gazania and 4-o'clock to plant this season. I have for exchange: Sweet William -mixed colors Love-lies-bleeding - with bright red tassels, tall 5 feet, Maltese cross-red Penstemon digitalis "Husker Red" dill lettuce green mix tomatoes Pink Giant, Red Plum and Black Plum (very tall varieties), Strawberry tomatoes ( cherry ). If you're interested in exchange, please, contact me by email: mburova1 (at)gmail.com. Don't use email on my file, it's the old one and I don't know how to change it - whatever I do -the old email comes back. If someone knows the secret -let me know!