Thank you, Carol, Veratrum californicum looks right for the second, and I think the first one is Cynoglossum occidentale, http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0609+3267 I'm thrilled that I've found this website!

So here's today's version... Still playing around with that spot. So, this Saturday I'm planning to pick up mulch at the free city pick- up, and put it on top of the fabric. I combined the lettuces and parsley and the celery into the big black pot on top of the white bucket. I planted my squash seeds in the raised bed behind the two black pots. The one you see growing is a winter squash I bought as a seeding. The green pot has the peas. :) And thanks so much to popamoma for the swap of her hostas! I'm checking them every day. Any ideas? The fence is on the south side of the yard. This post was edited by b2alicia on Wed, Jun 26, 13 at 10:29

David, Interesting to read about your methods and results. Although I've gardened for 40 plus years I really never used containers till 2 years ago. This is my 3rd growing season with them. So far I've mainly grown tomatoes in them. Have one pepper plant in a container this year. Last year was better than the first and so far this year the plants are looking good for what they are and as late as I planted most of them. Due to the drought and my current work situation I only have plants in 11 containers. I use the 25-30 gallon feed tubs. I can get all I want for free from about any farmer/rancher around here who has cattle. They work well. I've grown in smaller containers. My personal opinion is the bigger the better and I would want at least a 5 gallon for even a smaller type tomato. I know several growers who have good results in ten gallon containers. I recycle my mix like you do. This year I added some HuMore compost and a little of the organic fertilizer I used this year. I tried a product from Fox Farms called Happy Frog for tomatoes. I've been impressed with the results. I also mixed a little in around the top and will again around Sept 1st. My plans for my container plants is I will move them from the partially shaded area they are currently in to full sun as the temps cool and then on into my lean to I put up and hope to extend my season 4-6 weeks. Some of these plants will be just starting to produce I figure about the time I move them inside. One thing I've found here in our heat that David don't have a problem with is the containers and especially the black ones will get real hot and even cook the roots. This year I put straw bales around the containers and also mulched the top well. I can tell a big difference even in the extreme heat we had this summer. I've used several potting mixes. I prefer the Ball mixes. I don't use potting soil. I have mixed in some manure compost before from my pens, some pecan hulls and some leaves if I have them. But this year it was just the HuMore mixed in with what was in there except the last 2 which got some Soil Mender I had handy and wanted to use up. Bonnie and anyone else growing okra in a container. I wonder how Stewart's Zeebest would do in a container. It is a big bushy plant so one to a container would be plenty. And one of them will usually out produce several regular plants. And a good eating variety also. In the garden I space them 3-5 feet a part. Jay

Oh... I sure miss it! Didn't appreciated as much when living in Colorado. That was a mistake. Those photos are lovely.