Not living in a cold, humid climate like Chicago, I cannot advise you specifically, but I can tell you the winter/summer thing is way over-rated. Many plants will behave opportunistically and grow happily year round if they have a good growing condition (not too hot or cold) and you don't overdo the watering thing. If asked whether most of my plants are winter or summer growers, I would answer both to 90% of them. There are exceptions that I 'accidentally' 'weed out' as I kill them off by treating them like everything else and gradually my collection becomes all winter-summer-makes-no-difference. For example, Sansevierias, often grown indoors, seem to grow indoors happily year round oblivious of time of year. But even outdoors here in So Cal I have not noticed them growing more one time of year versus another, though flowering definitely seems to occur less in winter that summer... but does that mean they are growing better in winter than summer? Not necessarily. Many of my plants flower best when they have lost their leaves and are obviously in a 'slow down' period as far as actually growing bigger goes. Like aloes... my aloes grow way faster and are more active in summers (few exceptions) but most flower in winter. I notice aloes are considered winter growers... that is a useless description for me as they are obviously summer growers and winter growers, though grow slower in winter... they just happen to look great then. Aeoniums definitely are winter plants, though and look unhappy in summer... they still grow in summer, though. And some plants die if you water them in summer (I don't have many of those left, though), and some die in winter if you water them (I have none of those left as all my plants are outdoors and it rains like mad here all winter). But most plants deal with water year round for me and if I don't drown them with it, seem to appreciate it year round. Your Jade for example is a good plant for dumping water on year round.. it likes it no matter what the season and no matter what the temperature. To me, that is a 365 day grower.

Raye Go down a few posts in thread below to Lois' picture of Alex Summers in spring and later in flower. Form looks right. Papou has another pic late in the thread. I bought one in September, now I'm interested to see what it looks like when it emerges. Keep postin' those pics Raye. Paul Here is a link that might be useful: A is for . . . thread

alex was more than a hosta .. he was one of the founders of the hosta society .... bruce.. can you give us a eulogy of sorts ... about the old round robin [didnt it involve alex and pauline, and a few others??].. and how that small group began this whole madness ... maybe a rough draft of a future journal article .... the thought of me writing a letter to alex.. mailing it by snail mail.. who then wrote a letter in response... and sent both off to a 3rd party .... seems so old fashioned ... once it came full circle ... did it then go back around again.. so everyone could read every reply .... it could take a year for all that .... godspeed alex.. in your next journey .. may it be filled with beautiful gardens .... ken

bk, Got the tape measure out for you, since all I know is that my maturing hostas are getting crowded. This fella is 35 inches tall by 50 inches wide, now in his sixth summer. I see that the Hosta Library describes AS as a 3 foot mound, which underestimates the spread. Steve