I'm not familiar with some of those, which makes me think those particular ones may have seldom been in commerce on this continent, if ever. When you hanker for such plants jumping on them when they happen to be on offer may be the only way to get them, rather then making a list and then looking for them as though they would be available all the time, somewhere. Or getting seeds and growing your own, from a collector or collection here or abroad. A few items it may boil down to seeing if you can get permission to pick some spent fruits up off the ground at a facility like the National Arboretum. Collecting and growing your own also has the advantage - in addition to it being perhaps the only way you can get a rare tree - of giving you the chance to see the parent plant(s). Otherwise you have to hope the nursery is sending you the true item. On one of the rose forums awhile back I saw griping about forestfarm sending out species roses that weren't correct, assuming the poster wasn't being misled by the tendency for rose seedlings to look alike when small this served as a reminder that nurseries like forestfarm depend on their suppliers sending them the correct seed. I also agree that some you seek here will not be likely to live there - but maybe you have a container garden and cool greenhouse. I don't know where you can find a better offering of such plants than forestfarm, who is left back east now? Arborvillage? I know I've seen web sites of a few others that have rare stuff, but it seemed that when the original Heronswood was still operating out here it and forestfarm led the pack by far. A quiet little sister to these was Colvos Creek nursery, they are still at it but much of their line is Zone 8 and up stuff - you might want to monitor their offerings anyway as some of it is extremely rare.

To those who received packets of veronica longifolia from Lindalana it is the best name I could come up with after doing search of Chiltern catalog. Original seed was received in a mix and even that I consulted couple of people working in the horticultural business still no recognition with 100% certainty. Plants themselves are very worthy to grow- 2-3 feet tall, with flowers similar to veronica/ veronicastrum, bloom very late summer early fall at same time with japanese anemones for good 4-5 weeks. Foliage has minty smell and deep tap root does not like transplant. Architectural, reseeds moderately, does not need support, strong stems, will take sun to part shade, plant it and forget it type of care. If you figure out it is something else please let me know, that plant has been so uncommon I can not find any references ...

Hi there- I am happy that those of you who have received your return envelopes have found some treasures enclosed! We who selected seeds for the traders in this swap- either before the envelopes were mailed in- or here in MN, did our best to ensure that! This swap was a group effort! Every one of us did a great job! We still have 11 participants who have not reported receiving their packages- remember- I do have confirmation slips if we run into trouble- you know how to contact me for that information if needed. 2 of those 11 (Tammy MN and Sandys Garden) are MN folks who I will be getting together with to go though my seeds boxes to fill up their seed packets sent in and then some! That is a great way for us to "garden" in MN this time of year! Not to mention- looking through and sharing each others seed boxes is just plain fun and highly recommended! Barb- tell you daughter to visit the MN Gardening Forum!!! There are so many great folks (and gardens) in MPLS and the surrounding areas. I think we have a great garden community there. Oh Lisa- I hear you loud and clear about the hubby factor! Mine is constantly exasporated- and yet, still continuously supportive- and extremly handy with building cold frames from recycled building supplies- lighted shelves in the basment- and a great addition of 2 plastic coated steel wire shelves the length of the garage, which a clear plastic "curtain" can be rolled down to protect seedlings from the elements! I secretly think he is pleased that it costs so little to keep me so fully entertained! Till later then- Holiday activities beckon...... Julie

Nagcarlan has been listed in the SSE YEarbooks for many years but not by many people. Most say very seedy, small fruits, flesh crunchy, very productive, not very sweet, some say red, some say pink. LEt me see what else I can find out about it. Tania doesn't list it at her T bse. Google IMAGES brings up nothing. Google web brings up a few references to much older work where it was studied for various reasons. I went back to some earlier SSE YEarbooks and most who list it list it in the Pink/purple color section as was true with the ones I noted above and several also said irregular shape. It doesn't seem to be a variety that many homegrowers think well of based on the lack of listings in the YEarbooks or info popping up in a Google search or at message sites. I'd suggest Phillipines #2 which is a black tomato that was just examined and compared for its black gene alleles with many others, but I think that one is usually used in research as well and not suited for home growing. Offhand I can't thnk of any varieties from Korea but it's been my understanding that almost all that's grown there now are known hybrids. But if you have a contact there you might consider wandering into some of the farmer's markets and asking, but be sure someone is there with you if you dont speak Korean, to be sure that it's a variety that originated in Korea and hopefully not a known hybrid from one of the Dutch firms or Syngenta or similar Carolyn