I haven't been visiting GW much this past year because of personal reasons, but popped in today and was delighted to see your bog garden pics. I remember the earlier postings and you've come a long way. Great job! As someone else said, plants in this kind of setting grow fast!! So expect to have to remove, cut back, split, give away, etc. the plantings quite a bit as time goes by. About your pathway, my suggestion would be to use the one chair you have near the entrance of the path (actually partially on the path - feet on the path where it is dry - and put something with some weight on the opposite side. One idea would be to dig in (a bit) the rock you found (dugout) into the grass area to the side front of the mulch path. Just curve in the bog bed right up to into the mulch path at that point, letting the rock protrude just a bit into the mulch to tie things together and still leave the path usuable. Then add behind and somewhat to the side what I call a "stop and look at me plant", a small sedge like Carex Bowles Golden would be perfect, giving some height and brilliant color, and lastly add a small rustic sign BOG GARDEN or WELCOME, or whatever you like or find to the combo.

Hi got this from "http://www.acps.org.au/articles/Cephalotus.htm" "Humidity & Temperature: Cephalotus produces larger pitchers when grown in conditions of high humidity but also grows well with lower humidity. A temperature range between 5°C to 35°C is reasonable with the best growth occurring at temperatures between 20°C and 30°C. Lids close on hot dry days as it is the plants natural mechanism to counter moisture loss under conditions of low humidity. It is not something to be concerned about provided the soil is kept moist. Moving plants to an area of higher humidity will cause the lids to open again." They recon that the plant does fine under both higher and lower humidity and that it is the hot dry days that cause traps to close. mmmmm hopefully I wont hit any brick walls that will stop me from trying one. Cheers Sheldon

I have grown hollyhocks for nearly ten years and they do great in the south. They are a short lived perinial. But reseed profusely. I scatter seed where ever I want to start new plants for next year. Seed grown this summer will bloom next spring. Most plants die after bloom. But some live till the next year. I've found that when they have finished blooming cut the stalks back to a few inches off the ground and they seem to have a better chance of carrying over. I have also tried with wasted efforts on mail order and store bought double forms and they will not live. But the single forms called outhouse hollyhocks. do great and reseed very easily and in mass are breath taking. Mine are just now blooming I have white, yellow, black ,deep purple, reds and various shades of pinks Each plant is a different color with the reds and pinks dominating. Come the first week in July I will have penty of seed and will be more than happy to provide seed to anyone for a sase. Just send me an e-mail and I will send you my address I might try to post a picture if I can figure it out. Rodger

Whoooeeeeeee this Robin is in the home stretch. It seems SO long ago that it was here in Fairbanks Alaska. I love the idea that someone is typing up the journal so we can each read what all the others wrote. I'd also love to be at Shannon's house when that Little Bird comes home. What a party that would be. I'm looking foreward to reading about what the Robin brings home from his trip. Amy bless your heart for all the patient waiting you have done. I know you must be excited to finally have the robin visit you. How nice, and appropriate that Shirley sent you some real special goodies. You deserve an extra star for waiting so long.