Plant_lover w/ photo above, hi, I am new to them and can say some of mine in the pots like that did the same thing, but they had to stay inside because unusual hard freeze on the coast, so brought them in, sunny window, along with a few outdoor cyclamen, and only lost one. I would say get them out into the pot or ground asap, as I am about to do, since they may be unhappy inside a pot! They do like the warmth above 30 degrees F for sure, 20 degrees no. So happy planting, advice from a tried and true friend who runs her own nursery on the coast also near me, is they survived best if planted along her house, meaning guess here they require some attention to protection, as well. But she says they are adorable and good in pots for now, too so I am hopeful they will make it! (photo of them still in the little black pots, together w/ the hardy cyclamen which I pray comes back cause I left it outside when the 20 degrees F hit! That was not smart! Anyway they look great together, supposed to come back, not demanding either one so before long maybe into ground or pot??

Sue, Watching the leaves grow is really exciting! I'm sure they will do well for you! I'll do this again in the spring! :) Maybe this time with 2 boxes. This Fall trading season taught me that leaves really don't last much at all if water is added, so many neat leaves were lost to rot. And if in the box too long- stuff should be dated. That way you can decide what to 'save.' Know what to replace. Smaller swaps (less people per box) would be better for the varieties- quicker turn around. George, Good point! I followed someone a couple of times in a swap that lived in an area colder than mine- and then sent the box to a warmer area! More than usual rotted. So, it made me wonder if chill to heat stresses the leaves out terribly! Maybe doing the box (in the same climate) makes a lot of sense! Brunhilda, Yes minis/semis rot first, that's really true! Also, variegated leaves go quickly! The variegation starts to rot! Always try to catch it with cinnamon. Use a sharp razor to cut it off. Scissors smash cells- What I've learned the most this year, is you can't please everyone- eventually someone's going to complain-and be unhappy with your box! Take it lightly- always do your best! Pack a box you would love to receive- that's really all you can do! :) Lastly, if you receive brown cold dead leaves- don't blame anyone, it's the weather! Or the leaves are just delicate, and bruised during shipment! Stuff dies, be willing to take a chance! Replace what you can in each box, and have fun! We all grow violets because we love them! You just never know what 'must have' leaf can be in that box! :) Deb

Today has been the BESTEST day ever!! I finally had enough extra $$ to go buy the soil and amendments I need to do my WS'ing. Then my grandmother asked me to go w/ her and my aunt to Costco to p/u the items for a reunion this wkend. They always have me cook most everything. I suppose that's a compliment! lol Meanwhile she kept offering to buy me this n that and ended up buying me almost $100 worth of groceries (what a HUGE blessing right now!!) Then I was browsing some cookbooks and found a FANTASTIC huge cookbook on baking homemade bread and alllll kinds of bakery items. I planned to buy it myself, and she insisted on buying that too, then asked if I was going to use a bread machine to make the bread, I said no, gonna do it the old fashioned way! We don't own one. She says well, you do now. She got one for Christmas and didn't want it so it's brand spanking new! WOOHOOOOOO!!! THEN she handed me $100 to go towards a $350 tire purchase I'm saving to make. This day was better than Christmas!! lol THEN I got home and the mailman knocked on my door with the RR box!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! I've got to run now to p/u kids from school tho I'm dying to get my hands into it! I'll post again this eve w/ an update of what goodies I decided I couldn't live w/out! :) Oh.. and I gotta brag.. it's 67degrees and SUNNY today!! ~Happy me

Ok, you win doggiemom. I have something else going on here that I can't quite figure out....usually by this time every year I have most of my assorted boxes and nooks and crannies filled with nests of all shapes and sizes. THe ONLY boxes that have any activity so far are the two duck boxes, which are both crammed with new nests and eggs. The only thing to be found in any of the other boxes is the usual tree frog and that has me puzzled. The boxes are always cleaned out well ahead of the nesting season, so I wonder where everybody is. Like I said, maybe it is the surplus of natural cavities here. Still, the one bluebird box at the corner pole usually raises at least 3 broods a year without fail, and not a thing is going on out there yet, though there are blues everywhere in the yard.