Thanks esh. Those plants are along a golf course waterway, and unaccessible to non-golfers after 7:00 am. I returned there this morning, but was unable to see flower details (even with a 10x lens), because the morning dew degraded the flowers. So I dug a clump and replanted them at home. I should know in a day or two whether these plants are Mentha pulegium, or Hedeoma pulegioides. The later is more likely in our area, but usually has light blue flowers instead of the pink ones shown in the photos. The stems were square (apparently typical for both species), and crushed leaves had a strong, non-minty, somewhat unpleasant aroma. I'll post back after I check stamen numbers to confirm genus. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Hi Cath, Yep, primula do need rotating around and, like many plants, will not tolerate being planted in the same place (wallflowers are notorious for this). However, they are really easily to divide - I split a pot of auriculas (somewhat brutally) last year into 37 offsets -I have not yet decided what to do with 37 identical pots of auriculas apart from using them as some sort of edging. The common primrose really needs to be divided every 3-4 years as they do eventually get really congested. Sowing from seed is easy when the seeds are fresh and green - they will germinate within a couple of weeks. Once the seed has dried out and gone into dormancy, it can be a different ballgame indeed, requiring exact conditions of chilling and warming to germinate.....and the some of the asian primroses such as P.secundiflora are really tricksy. Still, as one of the most desired harbingers of spring, we must have them. The scent of a posy of freshly picked primroses wins over any rose, in my book. Many times over the long and dreary winter, the occasional sniff of a single fugitive auricula was the only thing which kept my spirit intact. Yeah, Stopshops, once the plants start to become an onerous duty instead of a reviving pleasure, it is also time to re-examine our priorities. One of my poorer decisions was to give up social work in order to become a full-time gardener - I very nearly lost the thing I loved and rapidly parlayed my energy into the more lucrative task of landscaping: although I didn't exactly leap for joy while humping yet another load of sand into the cement-mixer, I never had to gnash my teeth in rage at yet another insane demand for tropical planting themes - in cold wet Blighty!

I will forever love Louise Odier. She is the rose that got me started in my rose obsession! Her fragrance is intoxicating, her shape is just beautiful. Check out this website below. A few years back, I was googling something and came across it. It interested me enough to buy a rose bush, then 2, then 3... Here is a link that might be useful: Louise Odier - be sure to scroll all the way to bottom!

I have White prickly poppy seeds. Just harvested them last night. went out and found wild plants just opening there pods.