Man, that bindweed sounds nasty! I'm sure glad I don't have to deal with it. I wonder if using black plastic instead and leaving it on for longer, until the roots are starved out and spent from trying to grow, would work? (Got that idea when I read another comment on that thread: "Bindweed also doesn't do well when it is shaded so if you can shade it, it comes up really spindly. The vegetables do a good job of shading.") It'd mean you wouldn't get to have a garden for the year unless you built raised beds on top of the plastic, but judging from the comments on that thread it sounds like it would be worth it. Phantom, good to hear you don't have much bindweed. I'm still thinking the solarization would work on everything else you listed (it's worked for me on our native morning glories and jimson weed ~ don't know for sure what the spikey grass stuff is you mentioned, but there's one that sounds like that here and it killed it, too), but you might have to still pull some of the bindweed apparently. When done right, especially keeping things moist and tucking the edges completely, solarizing kills the plants and the seeds, so atleast you'll only have one thing to fight instead of numerous things. The only other thing I can suggest is to plant your veggies closer together. I've started doing that (bush beans three or four inches apart, squash eight or so inches apart) and they shade out most all the weeds. You do get a lower yield per plant, but more yield per square foot.

Hey squirrelypete, I'll see you at the AL swap. I'm in Bham now but I still lurk here since I came from GA. Anyway, the AL swap os May 20th at Oak Mtn State Park. People generally don't sell things, preferring to swap stuff, but it doesn't have to be other plants. I'm swaping one lady a needlepoint kit for some of her plants. It's best to just contact the individual people and see if you can work something out. Most people are generous, especially to newbies. Michelle H

I'm with uroboros up there. I like to know as much as possible about the seedlings...operative word being 'like'. That said, I have some Dan Bachman seedlings here that I know nothing about. I think he regularly sells his seedlings. I have a seedling that the seller Perennialist on the LA sent as a bonus...it's really pretty. I can't remember right now if I have others. Of course, the hundreds and hundreds of my own...lol! Someone said once somewhere that if you get a chance to buy some hybridizer's seedlings, you should go for it to really advance your own program (think of folks who have bought some of Larry Grace's). I think, too, a little known thing (at least to me) was how many hybridizers do sell seedlings. At lot of them, you have to actually go and visit them to know that. Some hybridizers themselves talk about seedlings they've gotten from others. It's interesting how our views evolve on things. Now that I am starting my fourth year growing seedlings, I know how much work they are! I think this (famous last words) will be my last 'big' (for me, at least) year of seed starting as room is just nonexistent. It takes me two to three years to see bloom. That said, if I found someone offering a seedling of a cross I like, why wouldn't I want to jump ahead those years?? On the other side, when I get ready to cull...because of space (first) and because a plant doesn't work toward what I want...and if it is an otherwise fine plant, why shouldn't I get some compensation for all that effort? As long as people are clear about it...seedling...whether it is all or not...bloomed or not, etc.....I don't see the problem there. I think problems come later if individuals try to sell them or give them garden names and sell them. But, the thing is...people already do that! The horse has already left the barn! If you're an AHS Display Garden or aspire to that, you might want to be careful. But, if like most people, you just want to enjoy beautiful flowers, who cares. I mean, I know plenty of people who don't know the names of their other perennials and it doesn't bother them. Look at all the people who post on here trying to find out the name of a daylily (pretty hopeless in most cases). For the big guys, most don't keep their intros around for more than a few years because they know people resell them (for less). I don't really think they're threatened by a seedling market as the folks buying those are probably not their customers anyway. I think the big guys (and girls) deserve their money, knowing how much goes into it...however, they're out there really advancing the flower. Most of the rest of us are just hobbyists. I think there is plenty of room for everyone. The newest and best genetics command top dollar (as the new everything does). I can see how hard it is to make money (most of us clearly aren't in it for that...lol), but I'd sure hate to see folks like Paul Owen fail. We need all kinds of different people producing all kinds of different flowers. I thought his offering flowers for people to name was rather brilliant. I mean, I've read about people visiting in Florida and getting daylilies named after them. Not everyone gets that chance. Where I live, there probably isn't anyone in 30 miles who would willingly pay $100 for a daylily. However, they'd probably buy unnamed blooming seedlings for what are bargain prices (not that they appreciate that!). I think for those of us that are collectors, we're going to continue to collect. I still see lots of green lawn everywhere...lol...so there are plenty of folks. Some will eventually move up the ladder to pricey ones (like a lot of us)...others will be just as happy with their $5 bargains. It's all good. Let me just conclude with the thought that if you belong to the AHS, a local club (or two or three), the robin, hang out here, etc, and have zillions of labels all over your yard.....you are not the 'average' daylily person! For those folks, registration has meaning. (I thought I was concluding...lol) I remember vising Mr. Benzinger's garden on what was probably his final open garden (Buttered Popcorn, among others)...and I don't think he had any registered daylilies that I could see. Had a sign up for you to see from the road...something like "Daylilies $5"....and you walked around and picked out what you wanted....they were all seedlings. I still have one (oh yeah! forgot about that one!), a nicely speckled diploid (that I had to figure out for myself!). It's appealing to me because it is something I might work with. I mostly prefer...without a doubt...registered daylilies, but that doesn't mean I don't like to play with seedlings!

hi, charliedawg -- I do like them; agree with what's been said before. Simple, elegant, like the bowl for the dining area rather than the 3, and the foyer one doesn't do it for me either. These should go with a variety of decors I think and won't get in the way, but give a nice appearance. DH and I fell in love with a crystal chandelier (a small one on sale for half price) and bought it for our last house even though it doesn't really go with anything else. We're going to look at it more than anyone else, after all! We brought it with us for this house, where it still doesn't "go" with anything else we have. We like all those colors flashing in the afternoon sun and the sparklies in the evening.