Remember... some of us want to see M. le bebe wearing some of the luxurious knitted finery that awaited his arrival... ummm... BOOTIES? how about booties and nothing else? (will prove indispensible for blackmail in the his teen years). :)

Hi Gary, Unfortunately I don't have any vireyas at the moment, but I did grow them when we lived in Miami. Unfortunately I gave them away when we moved, but I do plan on growing them again as soon as I get some sort of a shade house where I can give them some winter protection as I am not too sure about the cold snaps we get here - although if coconut palms grow you are supposed to be able to grow vireyas. When I grew them I had all hybrids except for a macgregoriae, as I think they are much easier in all this heat than the species and of course I stuck to low altitude crosses. I bought all my plants by mail-order from Bovees in Portland, Oregon. Very good quality plants and service etc. Another good source is Pacific Island Nursery in Hawaii - I have not bought from them, but a friend has and again excellent plants and service and prices not bad. I just love the flowers and the colors and really want to try some leucogigas hybrids as this flower is so big and beautiful. Although it is a high altitude plant I am hoping that when hybridized with something low altitude, the progeny might be more heat tolerant. Do you have any? I am really looking forward to getting some more and trying Pacific Island Nursery, although Bovees have some on sale at various times of the year. Pacific Island Nursery is also the seed bank for vireyas, so you can buy seed from them very cheaply. I grew some from seed once with no problems. I had them covered with glad rap to create a mini green-house in bright light but not direct sun. I forgot that the sun had moved lower in the sky and ended up cooking all my little seedlings.

Thanks Dax, I've heard hummers like sprinklers but have never seen them playing in one. I've never set one up because the spigot's leak when the hose is on. Otherwise I'd put a timer on one with those long skinny misters to go off once a day. I've hear they remember what time you turn them on and will return to your mister every day. Thanks for sharing!! Christy :)

There isn't any waste with the sunflower seed heads. I especially like that. Two weeks can pass w/o the need to change them. Tom, good point. I'll keep that in mind. I don't think I'd of thought that. I grew 500 sunflowers this year and I'm bumping that up to 2000 at least for next year. Having a lot of land surely helps. Best Regards, Dax