"kwoods - why do you highly recommend Prairie Nursery over the others?" Linrose, very robust (2nd yr?) plants and a diverse selection at very reasonable prices. Well packed and shipped in biodegradable packing material (excelsior which a put out for the birds to use as nesting material). The shipping is a bit high but the plants are ready to go straight out of the gate. Their seed selections are also excellent and coincide with their plant selections. If you're doing a large planting you can order plants for instant gratification and the same seed to fill in next year(s). "I am nuturing along some C. kentuckiense from SCL that came from seed collected at the single colony found in my state." Very cool! Nice to have the local genotype. I Have some kentuckiense out of flask from SCL that I'm on my fourth(?) year w/. Hopefully first blossoms this spring! "I have many Sarracenia species/hybrids/cultivars that require clean water to prosper." Again, very cool! I use a nearby pond to pump water to my bog where the Sarrs are located. Do you have one of those 100 gal tanks to collect rainwater, on those rare occasions, from the roof? Straight S. rosea is one I don't have that is very nice, good for you. I have been collecting antho-free (no red pigmentation) sarrs the last couple years. I hope they (and you) make it through the drought.

desertdigger, I had my first taste of the heritage big jim today, and believe the claims that it has much more flavor than the regular variety. Seemed to pack a decent heat too. The pod I had was fresh and green. I'm still waiting for ripe pods on the heritage #6-4. If you are wanting fresh green, I would recommend the heritage varieties of the big jim or 6-4. If you want to turn them red and dry them (for chile sauce or powder), I'd recommend the Sandia or Chimayo. And you might try the link below. Does anyone know when NMSU plans to release the heritage Sandia variety? I had been led to believe it was this year, but haven't seen anything on their website. Here is a link that might be useful: Midwest Chileheads

I do check with Clothier's data on seed germination, it is helpful. A method that I came up with myself and use for germinating seed of prairie wiildflowers and grasses is to cover the seed once it is sown with a coarser perlite rather than a peat based germ mix which seems to smother the seed. This method is used for seed that requires a covering, some seeds need to remain uncovered and exposed to light for germination. I found that Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed) doesn't germinate at all when lightly covered with a peat based media - I got a few to germ that were left uncovered but I get high germ when the seed is lightly and evenly covered with perlite after it is sown. This tells me that prairie species need more gas exchange or exposure to the air while at the same time being covered so the seed is protected and does not dry out. I wouldn't worry too much about your seed germinating early in the fridge, I have Dictamnus albus and eryngium sprouting now in the seed trays that are in my refrigerator - the mice kept getting them in my garage - the cold temps will keep them from growing much and they will be taken out of the fridge in late March or early April to go out into a cold greenhouse to continue growing. Keep in mind that seed that requires stratification for germination can not be hurried along with warm temps! We aren't growing marigolds or petunias here. If you see no activity after you might expect to see signs of life, keep the seed colder longer rather than warming them up - most seeds will start to sprout while still chilled and germ best while at cool temperatures. Again, good luck! I wanted to add that some varieties that require stratification do only start to 'wake up' and grow once the temps warm up, like morz8 said - but not too warm - temps in the low 60's are better than say mid 70 or 80 degrees. Try to avoid quick extremes and no need for additives like wood ash or innoculants for germination - I've never used GA-3 myself and don't really see a need for it. There is no secret incantation or method that will make this process go much faster, it is one of those things that takes time. 'Tricky' things - violet species for example - germinate for me better when they are placed in a coldframe outside because the rain and snow are washing out the germination inhibitors that keep the seed from growing at the wrong time. That is my educated guess. I remember that when I grew Callirhoe involucrata from seed the germination was very erratic, seedlings slowly germinating in an outdoor seed bed for more than three years! This post was edited by jebfarm on Sun, Dec 28, 14 at 13:58

Hello Gardening friends, I have been so sick for the past 2 and a half weeks. I thought I was over it so I went back to work well I wasn't. Today is the first day out of the bed. I did received canyonwind package. Ann it was great. Thank you so very much. It really lifted my sick spirits. Ann sent me Handmade card of an American native mask. A recipe for Seminole Fried Green Tomatoes. I am going to try it. Xeriscaping Magazine 2 Native American designed kitchen towels. A pair of holiday socks. Seeds: Sand Verbena Sunflower, Citrus Gourd, small Fancy mix Moonflower, Giant White Morning Glory, Heavenly Blue Spanish Flag Vine Holly Hock, Henry Hock and Pink Agastache Scarlet Runner Bean Sweet Corn, Triple Crown Yellow Summer Squash Garden Bean, Cherokee Wax Several succulent starts and a Echeveria 'Paul Bunyan' Thank you so very much. Faye!