BA, Colores is a cultivar of B. vittata that I believe was named by Don Beadle. At any rate, I got mine from him. I only sent in that funky old scanned photo at the request of the registrar, who noticed I had submitted a hybrid made with it (B. YouTube) for registration, and BCR lacked a photo in its database. Oddly enough, although YouTube was made with two vittatas (Colores and Domingos Martins), it doesn't come up on a vittata search because the registrar entered only the cv. names of the parents. So there are undoubtedly many more vittata hybrids that are not on that list, you just have to search under all of its cv. names too. Then if you made a list of all of the vittata hybrids you could run a search for second generation hybrids made with them as parents, etc. etc. It's endless, and of course you have to do the search both ways, first as seed parent, then as pollen parent. A bit complicated, perhaps, but it's great that FCBS has set up these databases so we can do things like that!

i have gotten great advice from all of you!! .. here is what i have come away with: 1)pacific giant seems like the ones i should plant from seed some shade is probably a good idea 3)winter die-off is probably caused by poor drainage (so i will raise the planting area a bit and add ..?.. compost?) 4)mulch heavily cuz they like cool roots (i still have a mental problem with that cuz i HATE SLUGS, and SLUGS LOVE delphinium) oh, what to do, what to do .... 5)order millenium from graceful gardens i just looked at their online catalog ... i WANT to order right now!!!(GRIN) they sell only by the tray ($54.00) what else has anyone gotten from them besides the millenium delphinium .. i probably don't really NEED a full tray of just one thing -- or do i .... hmmmmm any suggestions?

I have had good luck with English Delphinium (Delphinium elatum--seed from the Delphinium Society in U.K.). They are 4 to 5 1/2 foot beauties that get semi shade in the hot Chicago afternoons. After trial and error, I got most of mine to overwinter (for 6 years so far) by giving them excellent drainage and making sure no stray leaves or plant material make them soggy over the cold months. They like rose food. Also, they like 2 or 3 tablespoons of powdered lime. When I feel a plant might be in competition with tree or shrub roots, I sink a 16" wide plastic pot into the ground and fill with planters mix, some coarse sand, a little lime and a little blood meal. They thank me with beautiful leaves and 2 flowering cycles. (You have to cut back the depleted first blooms to get the second blooming). They get water from a drip hose , along with my roses. If I mulch, I never put the mulch within an inch of the crown (stems). This is one plant that will rot if the crown gets too wet. The biggest challenge is preventing wind damage, rigging stakes and cord that actually do the job and aren't too obtrusive. All the books on delphiniums warn against ruining the root system and crown by placing the stakes too close in, but none say how to avoid the ugliness and unnatural appearance of the stakes. I keep waiting for some clever person to invent something, some almost invisible corkscrew-like thing that will not touch the base of the plant. I've wracked my brain, but I guess I'm not that clever person. They're pretty easy; they've never had a disease problem (unlike the roses!) and the only work is the necessity to stake.

I can't help but wonder why some modular owners even post here? This surely must be beneath them to even have modular and manufactured spoken in the same sentence. This forum is named "Manufactured Homes", if modulars don't fit the category why on earth do you even visit, let alone post here? The reason is simple you want to put down those of us who have chosen quality and value over snootiness. Here's a news flash - your modular house is NOT better than mine, in fact they share the same gene pool. I'd be pleased to stack mine up next to yours, board by board and nail by nail any day of the week. I am so tired of modular owners saying things that are simply lies about todays quality manufactured homes. If you need to talk about 1976 mobile homes compared to your McModular to make you feel good you are way out of touch with reality. Lolitta - Actually today's manufactured homes do qualify for 30 year financing when placed on a foundation JUST like your modular. Please do tell me how your home is better than mine? Actually I think Nashua or Guerdon have built stacked manufactured homes, so you are wrong about that too. And guess what, my house will last just as long as yours since it was built with the same components as yours, standard grade lumber, wiring, plumbing, HVAC, etc. And like yours it was manufactured in a factory. Wow would that mean that your MODULAR is a manufactured home? Oh sorry, I didn't mean to call your house a dirty name. Am I defensive about the quality of my home - you bet I am. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. BigDee- We agree at last. "This is a great country but the American public is slow to educate themselves and slow to give up old myths and paradigms". NEWS FLASH - YOU are the one who needs to give up the old myths and paradigms re: manufactured homes. You need to realize that the quality M/Homes of today are far and away better than even 5 years ago, and YES even as good as your modular. Modulars and Manufactured Homes are way more alike than they are different. Many are built in the same factories using the same components, lumber, and construction techniques. My suggestion for those who don't think their McModulars fit in this category, stay away from this "trailer trash" forum.