Hi, From the picture it looks like it has iron/mineral def. I suggest that you add iron-soluble type now and also add gypsum now. In the fall you may want to add the iron again. I think we are dealing with nutritional deficiency. In AZ where I live, these things are common.

Thanks for the information; sounds reasonable. It is supposed to be OK to zone 8, so maybe in the future I'll put one of the plants in the ground and mulch it heavily during the winter to see if it will survive. Also, maybe I can find a relatively protected area that might help with the cold. The flowers are so beautiful I think it is worth the extra effort. I need to try rooting some plants so I will have more to "play" with as I try to figure out where to put them in hopes of more blooms. I appreciate your ideas!

Glad to hear at least 3 of them made it, sorry that last one died. Could have been a number of things that killed the ones in the box and the last one. 90 degree heat should not have killed them. When you clean out the nestbox, if you haven't already look for blowfly larva, they are small grayish black larva that look kinda like a piece of rice except bloated when they are full. I have lost baby Blues to these larva before always later in summer when it is hot. They say less than 10 per baby is ok but more than that and it can kill them. You would defianately see them in the nesting material, most likely on the bottom of the box when you clean it out. Or it could have been pesticides that killed the babies too. People spread it on their lawns to kill insects/weeds and the birds feed the bugs sprayed with the stuff to thier babies and it kills them. Has happened all to often. Sometimes you just don't know what happens. Definately go to silais.org to read lots of info on hosting Bluebird and other native cavity nesting birds. There is load of useful info there! Get that box cleaned out and hopefully Momma Blue will start a new nest in a few days! Donna

Thanks Lisa and Janie for the warm welcome back!! Janie, the next time you vacation with fellow bluebirders, count me in if there's room...in fact, it might be really cool to have a BB convention/get-together with forum members...First, I'd love to put a face with a name, and then be able to talk about our beloved blues without anyone being bored!!!! It's difficult to share stories, talk about baffles, mealworms, fledging, etc., with those who really don't care....most of my dear friends had never heard of mealworms and were pretty grossed out with my explanation...LOL!!!