Hi Terrene - Nice to hear from you! Sorry to hear that you've got neighbors too close for comfort. Our new location is actually closer to a few people than the old place was - but decent neighbors make a big difference. Our new ones have a big garden on our landlord's farmland and immediately encouraged us to help ourselves to tomatoes. Then they brought over home raised eggs. Tonight for dinner we had potatoes from their garden. When they saw us moving plants in containers, they tilled up a few rows in their garden and gave me a place to move flowers. The change has been so positive that I actually placed a big Swallowtail Seeds order tonight. The garden at the old place is solid with mature, low hassle perennials and I moved a selection of favorites. This wintersow, though, I'm going to sow some annuals again! I've got space for them around the edges of the new garden, and expect to have the time and peaceful gardening environment to keep the most vigorous perennials pruned and the less burly annuals from being bullied. I'm looking forward to being able to go nuts harvesting seed from next year's flowers - and already got a little head start on that harvesting seed off the neighbor's marigolds.It sure feels good to be optimistic about growing plants again! (!!!) Hopefully when you do your big move, I'll be able to help set you up with a goodie box of plant divisions or seeds.

I agree with the previous posts, and I've found that perlite is less expensive that coir and helps with soil aeration more efficiently. Growing those two from seed is a big step, most people start with established plants. That being said, it's not impossible. I too live in the pacific northwest and I have two purpurea, purple pitcher plant, that do very well here. I have not tried my hand at the cobra lily, but I've heard it can be picky. I was told by a nursery owner that trickling water helps more than standing water and since in the wild they are often found near springs that makes sense. They are both native to N. America, so if you start your seeds now, you might see growth by the spring. They are both slow growers so don't be discouraged. Another good plant to try is nepenthes, or Asian pitcher plant which can be grown as a house plant all year round. There is a website, growcarnivorousplants.com that is located in this region that sells plants, has monthly care guide podcasts and care instructions on all the CPs. The book you got is also a great one. Good luck!

Peggy and Lisa, I just re-sent the information to you by e-mail and through GardenWeb. I have no idea why the first mailing didn't reach you. Please let me know when you receive it. If you can mail Tuesday or Wednesday it will be fine. I have surprised myself by working with so many of the arrivals up to this point that I'm hoping I am a little of ahead of where I supposed my schedule might be now. I'm sorry people are having trouble getting the message. Please check your spam folder in case it might be there. I have not gotten the e-mail or GardenWeb information from either of you that you hadn't received my address and the rest of the information so it's not being kind to us. Meanwhile, what great seeds everyone is sending! Many of you have made it very easy for me to distribute the seeds by sending a list or otherwise labeling themes. Thanks so much. All of you are the best! Jeanne

clay lady, we would love to have you join in! Just list your 5 themes and send me your e-mail address and you are in. However, I am closing the sign ups tomorrow morning so we can all start sorting, ordering, and packing up seeds - so don't take long to list your themes and send me an e-mail message. Okay? (Nothing like putting the pressure on, but at least you found us in time!) More information will come to you and all the others by e-mail once the sign ups close and I will start a new thread here on the Round Robin Exchange page so we can keep up with what has been mailed to me, received by me, and when I mail back to you and you receive your packet. I will include the full list of participants and themes there also. Looking forward to lots of fun. Happy New Year's Weekend to all! Jeanne