I'd be interested in trading with you for your red lavender. I've got: - white rain lily, zephranthes drummondii - zebrina malva - cilantro Would any interest you? Xtal

Hi Ralph -- You're here in NC for good--yay! I will keep the hibiscus in position for a bit, then I can dig when you're ready for it. I'm hoping in the next two-three weeks. Could be I could leave it in place until the April 29 place and bring it then, if you plan to attend. You are also welcome to hostas and goldenrod. I'll go ahead and pot up some of the GR roots, now that I know someone wants it. I'm definitely interested in the brug. What color is it? Also, which trilliums do you have? I have cuneatum that are blooming now. Last year you traded me a black EE. I left it in the ground, though I was advised it might not be hardy enough. And I also left an Illustris out because i was told they hang on pretty well through the winter. Whaddya think about the black one? If it doesn't come back, and you have a root to spare, I'd be happy for another. It was one of my faves in the garden last year. Really gorgeous, though I put it too close to the front of the border. You'd think I'd have been industrious enough to dig it up for winter, but things got away from me!

I would opt for temporary garden spots instead of overwintering in pots. I always move plants even after a few years in one spot. Plants in the ground for one year are usually easy to move. The mints I would keep in a pot and sink it in the fall. I never put these in the ground. I always overwintering them in pots above ground against the house successfully but they are knocked back. In the spring, I clean out the black roots and place the white, living roots in new soil and it comes back. I would also keep the Bishop's weed, Ranunculus, ox eye and anything else that is an aggresive spreader in pots until you know for sure where you want it. Russain sage is another you list that you might want to keep in a pot until you know where it goes. Though I have had a couple other plants you list survive in pots overwinter, many of these wouldn't.

Carolyn, If the plant you're seeking is the purple-flowered Mexican Bush Sage, it is a zone 8 plant, so it may not come back for you here in zone 7. However, I have some zone 8 plants that have come back for me for several years, so you just never know. If you like the kinds of plants you saw in Taos, I recommend you visit the High Country Gardens website. Based in Santa Fe, they have garden centers in several NM locations and have a huge mail-order and internet business. They breed and develop many of their own plants and also sell other plants as well. They specialize in plants that can grow in 'challenging' conditions and have an excellent reputation. Many, many, many of their plants are attractive to hummers. Even if you prefer to purchase your plants locally, their website and catalog provide excellent photographs, plant descriptions and cultural information. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: High Country Gardens Website