I have these really big 4" purple alliums that grew in my garden last year. Would yo be interested in a trade for some night blooming jasmine and basil. Are the peas edible? Please e mail me at cadaverknee@hotmail.com if you are interested! Thankyou Mary

Many years ago I read a rather prejudicial statement by a gardening non-american who said that American Gardeners were like babies. If it wasn't big bright and shiny we couldn't appreciate it. Well, I disagree-WAH! The point is that some of the seed heads of Alliums are also attractive in their own right (as Cameron mentioned about Purple Sensation) if you have an eye for such things. For instance I've used the Drumstick Allium heads in dried arrangements with success. Also at a teaching garden I was attracted to a group of medium growing large flower heads that looked like an explosion of fireworks had just gone off. It turned out they were the seed heads of Allium Schubertii. They were planted in front of an evergreen shrub border with competition from nothing else "bright and shiny" to distract, and their unusual form took center stage. The guide said that they stayed like that for at least a month or so. I've never seen them in bloom, but had I a similar set up, I'd certainly try the same combination. Here is a link that might be useful: Allium Schubertii

Dirtslinger-Where do you live? I'd be interested to know if it was the winter temps, or the summer humidity or drought that killed it. lp-That's the way it looks as though I am going to go. Everybody's comments have given me the idea that with a little (OK, maybe a lot of) babying it has a very good chance at survival. There were a few things shipped to me very late last fall and we already had snow on the ground so I wintered about 8 trees over in the garage. All but one made it, and I think that may have been my fault anyway. I had stuck them out in front of the garage to get morning sun in march, and we got a cold snap and hard frost, and that one was already pushing new growth. It was also the largest, and maybe it took the brunt of the frost? Just a theory... Nikki-Thanks again for all the great info. I'm going to give them a call today and see what they can tell me. They have been selling the Blue Atlas's in Lima area for several years now. However they are selling them at about 6' but in the "serpentine" form, where they bend them left of center then right of center and back and forth all the way up. I had been debating one for about two years now, but don't really like that look. Not that there is anything wrong with it, I just don't care for it. So I finally ordered a smaller on this spring and got it in the ground. From ppl. I've talked to around here, they've had no problems with them. Thanks again, and keep me posted on the ones in Cleveland if you find them. I would really like to check them out. Dax-Thanks for the enlightening info. If there was any doubt about at least giving it a shot (I think I had my mind set already though) you dispelled it. I like your comparison to the PNW! Therefore, I think I may have come up with an action plan. Get the big one this fall on sale (Hopefully it's still there) as well as order a small one and put it in the nursery, and see it I have better luck with one over the other. I can always find a spot for the smaller one down the road, or give it to someone. Keeping it moist wont be problem. As much as I complain about watering, at times I find it relaxing, hose in one hand, beer in the other at the end of a long day just unwinding. Unfortunately, I don't have low spots in my yard. North West Ohio is pretty darn flat. Supposedly there is only like 10 or 12 ft. of vertical drop from the northern border of Allen Co. (I'm about 5 miles from the line) to Lake Erie. By building up my waterfall/stream in front of the intended spot (about 4' High), will that help protect it from frost? All of the elevation changes have been made by me with the exception of a ditch between the house and barn, but it has standing water in the spring time, so that rules out about 95% of possible trees. You also mention the protecting trees to the south and SW, they are large Oaks, with most of their leaves off in the Winter, will they still provide some protection from the winter sun? If that's the case, (filtered sun) I doubt that it would get much direct sunlight during the winter. Just making a guess, Maybe an hour or two in the Morning once it gets past the house and barn, then it hits the big oaks to the south and south west, and then maybe another hour or so in mid afternoon when it reaches a gap in the oaks, hickory's, and walnuts before hitting the woods to the SW and west. As for the Cryptomeria, I wintered a couple over in my nursery last winter, and have planted several this year. The ones I wintered over survived with no problems, however, my Black Dragon has a little browning on it. It was very large though. Probably 30-36" when I received it in late May or so. I think I may have given him to much water earlier on, I let it dry out for a while, and gave it a nice watering this morning. I agree with you on Darren's watering idea. I think that is absolutely brilliant. It is a trick I def. plan to try out. I'm a little over halfway (North) between Cincinnati and Toledo, but as far as what I have planted so far, with the winter we had last year, I'm amazed that I didn't lose more than I did. I think I only lost three trees last winter/spring. A pine came out beautifully, but gave up in late spring, a red bud I planted last Nov. (came dormant, so I'm not sure if it wasn't stressed/dead/dying to begin with) and a Jap. maple that was stressed last fall budded out and then a hard frost got it this spring. Then the Ash Borer has gotten a beautiful ash that was out by the deck. Prob. 10-15 yrs old. I'm pretty sure they have signed it's death sentence. I've been trying for two years to keep it alive, and the only way for it to look any worse next year would be to die completely. If it doesn't look any better, it's coming down next spring. Thanks again everyone! You've been a huge help! Eliot

I saw that and bought one even though the type they are selling is not even for my zone, but it is only one zone off so why not at least try