OK, I know this is going to sound x-rated, but I would really LOVE to have some of your hairy balls. :) Also, the sunset hibiscus and any other hibiscus you might have. From your list of wants, I have whirligig zinnia and there may be other items on my list that would interest you. Thanks Michelle

Pam, thanks for the link! I sent this thread and the link to my friend Linda, who gave me the cutting of the salvia last fall, to tell her it had been named. This is her reply: "I will have to send you a pix of mine because it is covering up my kitchen window! It buried my camellias. It is beautiful. Mine is bloomed out now. The butterflies were all over it as they are all salvias. "I have a TON of sulphurs again this year. I am always blessed with an amazing butterfly show. My #1 tip for butterflies is to plant broccoli now. Even if you don't like the veggie it is a butterfly MAGNET! When it bolts in the spring and throws off those huge bouquets of yellow flowers the butterflies beat it up! I discovered it by accident one year and that is the only veggie I grow and I do it for the butterflies. The broccoli doesn't freeze so it is the first nectar source available along with the crossvine. "I hope your salvia doesn't get as big as mine did this year. Six foot tall and eight foot wide. I was stunned." I might have to think about moving Tula to give her room to spread. How big is yours Pam? I'm also going to be planting broccoli!

dklucius, you are absolutely correct that the price of black oilseed is on the rise, but i doubt that the local riding horse market is generating a major impact because they have been using sunflower seeds of all variety, and especially the black oilseed as a supliment in both Equine and Bovine feeds for a number of years. I think you will find a much greater impact is coming from the oil industry. Although black oil seed has not been extensively farmed in the past, there are now finding that black oilseed it much cheaper than corn to produce and it has a higher yield for making biofuel. As the biofuel industry expands we can expect to see a big demand on sunflower seeds of all varieties. It is a great deal for the farmers because their initial planting and tilling costs are less and they can plant & harvest the oilseed with the same equipment they currently use for corn. If the biofuel industry kicks off as expected we will see the price of sunflower seeds fluctuate very quickly, It could go through the roof or on the other hand, once more farmers get into the production the price could drop tremmendiously. However it turns out, I will be okay because I have unlimited access to 10 acres where I can grow my own oilseed, or convert some of it to open meadow bird preserve. Last year we had to cut down two 65ft high Maple trees in the yard. We sold off the firewood, but I took all the brush and limbs and built a living fence along the creek which provides excellent habitat for birds, rabbits, and a couple ground hogs, now to mention that the open meadow area provides a hunting ground for the hawks and Bald Eagles. As soon as the weather breaks I will be building some hunting blinds in that area where i can sit all day and shoot pictures.

Wow Chickadeemelrose, you actually liked my picture? I think I'm a terrible photographer, but then I get to see all the great shots from the professionals on this forum. The camera I use is a Panasonic Luminix DMC-FZ20. I set it to let the camera do all the work. I set everything to auto because whenever I've attempted to try my own settings, the pictures come out terrible.