It happens all too often, and more now than it used to, that whole varieties of vegetables are dying out. That's why some universities have started germ plasm banks. To preserve the old lines. I grow flowers for a living, and even in the twenty some years I have been in floriculture have noticed how what is available depends on 'fashion'. The most popular bedding plants don't even resemble the ones I grew when I first started in this business, because of media exposure, the consolidation of seed companies, expirations of patents and loss of patent revenue, size of gardens, leisure time of the gardeners, and just out of novelty. When we come full-circle and once again see seeds available for old favs........they often aren't the exactly the ones we remember, but have been altered for height, bloom time. We are seeing this even more in vegetables, I'm afraid. I grow a lot of the varieties my parents had in their gardens. They may get a little bigger, or not have as pretty of a fruit, they may not bear as heavily......but by gosh.........the old fashioned taste is there. I start a lot of the plants my now grown kids have in their gardens, and they get the varieties I grow, and my folks grew. And I have more than a few customers who come to me to get an old standard they don't find in the marketplace anymore......that other vendors aren't selling, because they are too busy trying to be cutting edge.

Thank you Paul for starting the winter alphabet. I've been inspired, jealous, and added to my 'list'. I appreciate all the pictures that have been posted. I have to say I'm appaled at the amount of weeds in my garden. I will try to do better this summer. I seem to have wild companula, buttercup and/or gout weed everywhere. I think it's time for round-up. Steve, Your Zounds is starting out very well. I know Ken hates it but it's been a good one for me. Mine is in it's 5th year grown in lots of sun. Paul, your picture above of Yesterday's memories is encouraging. I got one last year which produced 3 leaves. Key Lime pie, the opposite sport from Squash Cassarole, is one of my very favorite and fast growing plants. Frank your Yellow River also puts mine to shame. It nearly the same size and mine is 5 years old. Gesila, your Zodiac is beautiful. I love the light green. I had pictured something like Moonlight or Patriots Fire. Karen, Yellow Boa is very bright. Does it go green like Feather boa? Phil, I remember when Zippity Do Dah looked like that. Your picture reminds me of Wheee. Have you ordered that one yet? This is the odd sport of Orange Marmalade found at a local nursery. It looks like it has been zapped by lightening.

***Yikes, page 3!***

And, to close out the thread, bumpity bump bump bump bumpity bump bump bumpity bump!