You can buy the seeds. They come in mixed colors of bright pink (most common color), softer pink, yellow (least common), red, orange (rare), white and peach/apricot, hence the name Summer Carnival. They bloom the first year, unlike traditional HHs. They reseed very well, but new seed needs to be introduced every two years to keep the colors going, as they revert back to the bright pink, it being the stronger gene color. I have grown them myself. Easy to grow. Color variations are iffy. "Like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're going to get". I have never gotten a yellow or orange, even though it is shown on the seed package. My mother did though, so it is possible. The most common color I have ever gotten is the bright pink. So each color is on it own separate plant. Not one plant branching with all those colors. OKAY? A dose of Fish Emulsion Tea once a month will keep them growing and producing blooms all summer. Very floriferous HH. Large blooms. ~Annie

Thank-you people! We now have a fairly long dry creek which needs to handle a high volume of water. It has two levels - water comes in from the top and is "visual" and then directly under this is a hidden french drain - they all drain into a dry pond which will be filled with moisture loving native plants to clean the ground water - then it all goes back into a pipe and down the way. There are also funky tributaries to our dry creek to handle all the water coming down the bank, a few more areas need to be incorporated. It was made by the contractors and we just used rip rap but I will also add in my concrete "chunks" and the few nice found rocks the contractors dug up while grading. Eduarda, thanks for that article! It's perfect. Essentially I want mine to look like a cross between Cameron's beautiful dry creek and the Fine Gardening dry creek. Cameron, I will need to get some ideas from you about the native grasses you planted in here. Luckily I will have the ability, if necessary to "reverse" the flow of water from stored water back into the dry creek to keep everything moist. A pump and an underground water line that runs back up to the "front" of the stream will do the trick. So far our "project" is shaping up very well. A few more things need to happen before the patios go in - more retaining walls and drainage. I've got a LOT of planting to do these next few years. I have a feeling winter sowing will be my best friend!

I believe that it is of limited horticultural interest. Except to collectors. I recall seeing it offerred years ago by an eastern native plant retailer but not one on the net. Nice that you have it growing in your yard!! I am adding a link to native plant nurseries, some of which may offer it or at least some of the other species ?? Here is a link that might be useful: native plant nurseries

Nope, for a couple of reasons besides it's made in China, which always makes me stop and think anyway. It's neither dishwasher safe nor oven safe, so you can get a good sear on a steak but you can't finish it in the oven. I also find that wooden and/or plastic handles get burned, melted, split or otherwise destroyed. My cast iron is nearly as slick as non-stick anyway, so I'll stick with that. No brand, cheap, made in the USA. Oven safe too. It's not really heavy, but it's heavy enough that I don't "flip" eggs in it. Not that I flip eggs anyway, I completely wasted about 2 dozen eggs one day "practicing" that, I never did flip a single one successfully but I did make one he!! of a mess. Because I like my eggs soft, I seldom eat scrambled eggs or omelettes, so the folding of an omelette is of no importance to me either. So, it's a spatula and cast iron for me. A bit of grease in a hot pan and the eggs don't stick, bacon grease is my first choice but butter works just fine too. Annie