Hi Megan- Although I'm relatively new to the gardening scene myself, I've been doing a TON of homework on these boards over the last year. Here's some info that may or may not help you: I have some garden beds that I've been trying to spruce up ever since we bought our house in 2003. The previous owners had every single one of our 'flower beds' filled to the brim with hostas and I want to put more splashes of color in them. Same here. I want COLOR! If your areas are shady like mine, here's some items that I'm trying in our zone that will give some color to the shady spots: Columbine/Aquilegia: I've got many different colors started. Astilbe- can't wait to try these. Currently have only white started, but wanting to try the pinks & reds Impatiens- reds, pinks, salmon, white Forget-me-not- blue Goat's beard Other hostas- I didn't think I liked them at first, but when there's an area planted out with many varieties of large, small, medium, and everything from green to blues to variegated, it really looks sharp. Geranium cranesbill I am quite a newby when it comes to flowers of any kind so it's been quite a challenge. We finally managed to get some beautiful perennials to thrive in the beds so my next project is to fill in the open spots with annuals. Again, same here. I've got lots of 'plans' and many items started, but this will be their first year, so I've got to plant more annuals to fill in where the first-year perennials won't be mature yet, and probably not blooming. My question is...I'd really like to try starting annuals from seed this year (I love a good challenge) but I'm not entirely sure how early to start them indoors to ensure they'll bloom in the early summer. Can any of you give me an estimate of how early I'd need to start the following varieties for an early summer bloom? Haven't addressed your list yet, but DO take a jaunt over to the winter-sowing forum. There are MANY annuals that we can start NOW (I just learned this the past couple days) that are hardy enough to put out. (Yes, that was 'out.' Winter Sowing doesn't take up space in your house- YAY!) Lobelia Cambridge Blue I think this one is considered 'tender' so it would need to be started indoors, or put out late March/April if WSing it. Tuberous Begonias same as Lobelia Petunias Can be started now if WSing Impatiens another 'tender' annual for us. Start WSing late March/April Also, if I direct seed black-eyed susan vines and corkscrew vines roughly how long will they take to bloom? Not sure on the answer to the time thing, but I have been informed by more than one person here on these boards that corkscrew vine, as gorgeous as it is, will not thrive here in Z5. (sniff!) I wanted that one, too. One more question...how early should I be starting coleus indoors to ensure I have nice sized plants to transplant outside this spring? I haven't started any from seed, so you might try the 'Growing from Seed' forum on that one, but I have cuttings going that I took in late October that are doing well. Slow, but sure. Come join us on the Winter Sowing forums and cure that garding itch you've got like the rest of us!

Well, that would also explain the wide use in this area, home of General Electric and in the proximity of the Mohawk/Hudson rivers which have been subjected to PCB contamination by them. It is a wonderfully potent scent and I am interested to see what the herbal tea is like. I thank you kindly for your help and the interesting background information! Enjoy your weekend! Oh and by the way, the first picture you posted in the carnivorous plants heading, strikes me as a thick-leaved sundew. No, clue on the second, but if you strike out here, there are a number of Facebook pages with a concentration on Australian flora that may be able to assist you.

but yea it's a pretty old plant, and i'm trying to revitalize and take back the property. it actually hadn't been messed with in so long that its' leaves had, sort of, self mounded the base, so when i went to prune it back a bit, i found a bunch of already rooted shootlings of varying years old (though none had more than two leaves). As a test, I fixed up most of them in their own starter pots about a month and a half back (hoping they'd develop a stronger root mass). none have died so far, and most are actively growing with signs of new budding already. My thing is though, one is rather tall, on the order of 14" and i am afraid to prune its only leaves to be honest. i was figuring i'd leave them as is for this season and next year prune back the tall stem to a few inches. would you suggest that be prudent?

Well, you're nearly there: Just go to your photo and when you scroll over it and the "share/copy" tab pops up, click on HTML and it will say "copied", then come here and paste the HTML text into the post (it should always start with "Btw, beautiful Mary Helen Eggenberger! Jen