Oh yikes! Well, thanks for the info! I guess I will either make more space for it or plant something else there. :/ The raised bed I was going to put it in is only 3x4 (I only have two 3x4 beds, so no larger option). Right now I have radishes, beets, lettuce and spinach growing in the same bed I was planning to put the zuke. I think the beets are the longest to maturity (currently growing in 2 squares). I bought the seeds last year and never planted it. Last year was my first year gardening and I bought the seeds before I had a plan. Ahh, what to do. I really wanted to plant zucchini this year but I guess I don't have the space even for a "regular" zuke plant. :(

I am also a great admirer of the electric blue of the Dark Star. I think you could keep it the size you want, with only some lost of the bloom. Pruning it you would probably find a lost of bloom every other year as it grew back from the pruning. It is a relatively short lived plant for me, but with better care yours should last longer. Al

Don't add sand as it takes tons to change the texture - and changing the texture of a small area can result in adverse effects on how water enters and exits the modified area. That is the problem with leaving field soil or potting medium completely undisturbed when planting into differently textured soils, and with liberally amending planting hole backfill. You want the same soil texture throughout the entire potential rooting area. "Ceanothus impressiva" in this instance would be a mistake for Ceanothus impressus. In addition, the cultivar sold as 'Victoria' is not a form of that species - and is probably correctly called 'Skylark' as well.

"When the show first started Kristi wasn't all that limber and acted embarrassed to all the shimmy and shakin'." Sorry folks, but that was just an act. I've seen her skate in person several times, and when she's not doing serious routines that will be judged for a medal, she does a lot of shimmyin' and shakin' in her fun routines. Yes, she was good in DWTS, but she's been taking dance lessons since she was four years old; and she started out as a PAIRS skater (and did plenty of pairs routines in the touring shows and in the Exhibitions after each Olympics), so dancing with a partner was not foreign to her. This season was rigged. I loved Jason and thought he was incredibly sexy, just like most of the rest of you. But the trophy rightfully belongs to Christian. He was the most improved. He went from cute but clumsy to downright sexy and WAY improved as a dancer!