Fruitnut, What do you think about Jupiter? For a while that seemed to be everyone's favorite seedless on this forum. Would you think any of those grapes you mentioned (Flame, Crimson, Summer Royal) work in a commercial planting (no drip irrigation)? Milehigh, In terms of grower problems with TangOs II, my understanding is that it's a bit more prone to scab and splitting. Both would probably not be a problem in CO since you typically have less rain and humidity (With all the rain we've received my Redhavens are splitting up a storm.) A peach grower about 30 miles away grows TangOs II and hasn't mentioned it's particularly hard to grow. I'm trialing the variety myself. Frank, Both the BuenOs and BuenOs II are red-skinned, yellow fleshed donuts. As mentioned BuenOs is sub-acid, but BuenOs II is supposed to be a full acid peach.

I like the combination of Rudbeckias, Karl Foerster grass, profusion zinnias, coreopsis and sedum. Prairie Sun rudbeckia would be my choice, and orange or fire profusion zinnia. A Husker Red penstemon would fit in with that group. Maybe some Oranges and Lemons gaillardia--or Frenzy in there too. Blooms would last waaaay into the fall. For additional color, or to blend the colors, you could plant a few of the newer sun coleus. Collect seed from the zinnias, rudbeckia and gaillardia, then take cuttings from the coleus, and you can expand the bed next year. cindi

Goldenrod does NOT cause hay fever. This myth is completely illogical - Solidago species have showy flowers with heavy sticky pollen that are designed to attract and be pollinated by insects, not the wind. If you watch Goldenrod plants that are in bloom, they will be alive with insects. Ambrosia species (ragweed) have inconspicuous flowers that do not need to attract insects, because their abundant pollen is released to the wind. And that pollen is what causes hay fever. 'Fireworks' is a cultivar of Solidago rugosa - an attractive but highly variable species of goldenrod. Since Solidago is self-incompatible - meaning the Fireworks plant must cross-pollinate with another individual plant of a different genotype to produce seed - I would guess that as your WS'n plants grow, they will exhibit some of the variable characteristics of the species. I would love to see pics too though! I love goldenrod.

John, growing 'Fireworks' from seed isn't the advised method. Since there are usually other Solidagos in any neighborhood, and they cross quite readily, it's not thought to come true from seed. Of course, you might get some interesting hybrids: I've got one that has even Longer flower sprays I'm keeping an eye on, but most turn out to not be as compact or long sprays. So division of definite S. rugosa "Fireworks" is the way to go. That said, I've seen two instances of Goldenrod sold as "Fireworks' at separate nurseries that ain't the real deal. Close, but not as purty. NCBG is the original source: it was found by Ken Moore in a plant collection toward the coast, so a true NC native, and Kim Hawks helped to introduce it to nursery trade, so those sources are the genuine article. It is properly propagated in larger nursery trade, though, and is now planted hither and yon. Wonderful to see a North Carolina plant make such a splash worldwide!