Hi Lisa and Pinkbroms, thanks for the quick feedback. Lisa, it's interesting that the late John Anderson told you that he "couldn't grow it in Texas as it prefers a cooler climate and melts in the heat".... also you found it didn't do well in Hawaii either, which would tend to confirm his initial advice. However, I read in Anderw Steens' "Bromeliads for the Contemporary Garden" page 63 where he says, "It is quite frost sensitive, but makes a dramatic statement in sub-tropical or tropical gardens". When I Googled it on the web I read where it comes from venezuela and when I checked the temperature range in that country I found the following on a travel advertisment.... "It is almost always around 30 °C temperature, the main difference is the humidity. During the rainy season which is during the months of May - November and the air is very humid. The best time to travel to Venezuela is in the months of January and February". Do we have any GW members from Venezuela who can offer advice? Maybe pinkbroms can help us out with what he's found to be the plant's temperature preferences in his part of Australia. What sort of temperatures do you get where you grow it pinkbroms? Thanks again, all the best, Nev.

Similar to others from the area, like Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana, Picea smithiana, etc., i.e., most origins not hardy below zone 8, but selected origins might just work for you. Resin

Hi Vis02001, I am in Indiana, and have wild blackberries, but have no idea if they are Rubus Canadensis. I don't know if there are different varieties that grow wild here, or not. If it is the only one, I would then imagine what I have is Rubus Canadensis. I could send you some of what I have, for the cost of postage, if you wanted them. Possibly you could research some more (first) on how many wild varieties there might be in Indiana. Sue...chemocurl Here is a link that might be useful: Rubus Canadensis. at USDA site.

We have acres and acres of that annual snake weed here, it grows everywhere. Its really pretty with Goldenrods and there are different types of Goldenrods along the sides of the roads blooming among seas of snakeweed wherever they don't mow. I do wish they'd slow down on the mowing! Maximillian sunflowers have put on a better show in other years, its been very dry here remember? These like the low ditches along the highways, thats where they look their best. You'd think the Goldenrods would suffer more from the drought but they never seem to, each year they look good. I've seen different types of sunflowers, there is a low growing type I saw a lot of yesterday, I have no idea what kind it is, the plants were about a foot tall and rather bushy. It would make a good garden sized plant....