Actually, I didn't know, Patty, thanks! I had pretty much given up looking for it. One question on this one (Summer Love Clematis). I read somewhere that it's parent is Sweet Autumn. I have also read Sweet Autumn is invasive for some people. I wonder if Summer Love has that characteristic? That was another reason I hesitated on tracking it down any further. I added a few to my list since I posted, definitely. I finally got that chocolate mimosa that I have been drooling over for a while. Baptisia Dutch Chocolate Cotinus (got Royal Purple & Golden Spirit-yeah!!!) Finally found a Silver Heart Brunnera After much debate, finally settled on Chocolate Dragon Persicaria out of the many "dragons" that are available. Picked up a Salvia "Amistad" at a local nursery today, to come home and google it and find out everyone and their brother wants one - score!!! Black & Blue Salvia (always wanted one) Chocolate Eupatorium Verbena Lavender Frappe (very low, lacy - supposed to spread 3 ft in the first year!) Corydalis Blue Heron (love!!!) & Canary Yellow (ummm, verdict is still out, the grower sent me a very frazzled plant) Chuck Hayes Gardenia (yeah, finally found a local one!) Coppertina Ninebark (huge 1 gal on discount!) Misc Heuchera/ellas Misc Clematis Geranium Double Jewel Geranium Tshelda My debauchery knows no bounds, apparently.

I lookup the stratification requirements when I am making up my plant tags. Then I write on the tag "ws" for wintersow and "ss" for spring sow. If it is something that may need multiple warm cold warm cycles I also write on it "slow" and the date sown. That way if it isn't sprouted by summer I know to keep watering it and move it to a shady spot over the summer so it won't completely dry out before next winter. I file my seed packets I plan to sow and prepared labels in a tub with sections for sowing early winter, late winter/spring, and tender-only sow after frost. This is just to make sure I get the things that NEED cold out first. Then I can take my time doing the things that might need a bit of cold or fluctuating temps or at last can handle cold. The tender things can wait, some of them get done in my "wintersowing containers" and some get direct sown. That decision depends on how many of the seed I have, where it is going, how quickly it germinates, and of course how much potting mix I have left! I always end up underestimating how much I am going to do each year. So, there are still reasons why some of us research the seed's needs, but it is definitely not required for a successful experience. If you like researching that info - do it, if not skip it altogether or maybe just do it for those very special seeds. You will also learn what works best for you over the years and tweak the routine to suit your needs.

In this economy I think many folks will be staying home more and will look to ways to save on food. Vegetable plantings is a great way to go. I learned many of my techniques simply watching shows like Gardening Naturally (thanks for helping me recall the name of that show Marg). In that show I learned more about proper composting, the use of manure, seaweed of all things, and other stuff. Sure it certainly may not appeal to all audience, but it was very imformative. Too bad we no longer have such shows. The new Victory Garden - well it's simply rehashed segments with a new host - Jamie Durie, a well known garden designer/landscaper from Australia. The show focuses mainly on designing on a grand scale - although it does emphasis green techniques, water conservation, etc.. It does have a small segment with Kip as the actual gardener and Chef Michel cooking the organic way. However it just doesn't have that 'Organic feel' to it. It seemed too Hollywood or too New Age. In my opinion -- good eye candy, not much on substance. There is good show on PBS - called Cultivating Life. While it is short, it does have everything, from building trellis, to planting, to cooking. It's good enough - although not close enough to the shows of the past. I've pretty much given up on watching shows on TV. There's hope however, and it exist online. Look at such places such as Youtube and someone is most certainly going to upload a specific gardening technique. Ianna

I have Alstromeria plants/bulbs to trade - what plants do you have to trade?