My secret? No secret, really... I do spend a lot of time caring for them... my recipe is as follows, though... I use nothing but unglazed clay pots, my medium is a mix of cocopeat, vermiculite, and a bit of Miracle Gro potting soil, with a layer of charcoal pieces on the pot bottom for drainage... I alternate between Miracle Gro liquid houseplant fertilizer and Schultz's Bloom Plus, both used rather dilute... every once in a while, I add a few drops of Superthrive to the fertilizer water... I also use fish emulsion fertilizer every once in a while... I sort of alternate fertilizers, since I can't seem to find the proper NPK numbers in any one type... I think the 2 things that have proven to show better growth for me are the Superthrive and the cocopeat, or coco coir, used as the medium base. Cocopeat, or coco coir, as it's called, can be found online at most Hydroponic type stores... a while back, there was a thread containing information and links about coco coir. I bought a whole bale of the stuff, and it'll take me quite a while to use it all... I just had it shipped right to my door! I made sure to get the kind that has been pre-washed to get rid of excess salts... I don't think there's any one secret to growing nice plants, per se... I think it's a combination of using good products, plus keeping a close eye on things... I tend to hover! I am definitely going to try adding a little sand to my mix, though... it sounds like it would aid in better drainage, and give the mix a better "feel" to it... What do you consider your best gardening secret? Do tell! :-)

Wow, thanks for all the comments! I'll try to answer some questions. gldno1- I wish I could claim I had a grand plan but like many other gardeners I go crazy at the nursery and then look for a place to plant it! :) I do try to think about the combinations but usually only after I've already brought the plant home. Mary - I hope your Penstemon grow like mad. I think you'll really like them. They're one of my favorite flowers. Angelcub - I don't have a yarrow by the peony because it's a tree peony and blooms earlier than the yarrow but you're right, that would be a wow combination! Hmmm....maybe I'll have to plant some poppy mallow next to my Yarrow, the color combination would be similar. wonbyherwits - yes, that is a Hoopsii blue spruce in the picture with all the blue flowers. sweetannie4u--The silvery looking plant is Hakura Nishiki Willow. Its new growth is white and pink so it probably got a little washed out looking in the sun. I adore this shrub. It does get really large so I prune it once each summer and then again in the fall.

thanks for all the kind words...FAME is an attention grabber for sure.. and Ellie.. I used CHERISHED MEMORIES pollen on one of my seedlings hoping to pass along that great edge..we will keep our fingers crossed. I can't wait to see future blooms on FRANK'S FIRE OPAL.. that first bloom knocked my socks off.. now--to go see what is blooming today..lol Shelly

So beautiful, Ashley! I did not know that Wedgewood is so pretty! Love its pink color. Is the Alnwick Castle rose the same as The Alnwick rose? They look so similar but yours is showing alot more petals than what I have seen on my Alnwick rose? Love Raspberry Twirl and Abraham Darby.