Hi Faye. I'm interested. Is there anything left on my list that you're interested in :) Thanks, Darlene

Ralph, i overwintered a bunch of them from my fair garden last year in pots. I wasn't sure if they'd be hardy planted so late so i didn't want to take the chance putting them in the ground. Since i used them this year as well, i plan to do the same thing again, along with some marginal sages. I left them in pots (or bags in the case of one) and put them in the basement along with my brugs, bananas and ee's and other stuff i don't have room for in the cool greenhouse that can take abuse. It stays barely above freezing, but we don't pay that much attention down there and i'm quite sure it drops below that sometimes. Normally it hovers around 50 degrees. We do try to run a space heater on really low if it's to drop into the teens (for our water pipes, too). There's 2 4' shoplights and a small window that provide a small amount of light. We water very infrequently, basically when we remember- which is about every 4 to 6 weeks. Most didn't go completely dormant, but lost some stalks. Some disappeared utterly, and i thought for sure they were dead, but they came back in spring. There was no signs of the tuber in one particularly, but it's fine now. If i were you, i'd pot them, in sand if you're more attentive than me about water, soil otherwise, and maybe cut the stalks back by 1/2. If you let it get cold enough, they'll go dormant and you can pull off the foliage. I don't honestly know what the threshold is where they would die though. Wish i did. That sounds like a mighty handy book! I know my gram in PA always overwintered her geraniums and other things in a basement window with no heat and one was probably 50+ years old! It had been her mom's before her. She kept the stuff extremely dry. I never got that knack- i tend to kill geraniums. Oh well.

Sharon, They are tropical - in their natural habitats they grow in the filtered shade of tropical forests. Mine bloomed and it was in the shade of a big elm tree. They do not like hot, dry winds, so protect them from that. Mine was a gift from a cousin in Hawaii. I grew it in a large pot for four years and it still bloomed. Last fall I planted it by the patio so I could sit out at night and enjoy its beauty and fragrance. It blooms for several weeks. The plants are now 3-1/2 feet tall. They should be taller, but we are having a drought and horribly high temps and that has stunted them in spite of my watering them daily and feeding them. Poor things. No signs yet of blooming. I sure hope it blooms this year. Annie

Allie, you've been a wealth of info -- for the gingers, especially!! Thanks. I will say, my Asiatics & Orientals (A & O's) have gotten more beautiful and full each year, but just too tall and crowded. I've got more questions. Since my daylilies are orange with ruffled blooms, I guess they're like wild ones (??) literally taking over and crowded out my Stellas, Acidanthera (which also didn't bloom after first year) and some unknown non-bearded deep purple iris (only couple blooms this year). I guess this was my 5th summer of gardening and I've never moved or divided anything. I think everything is just competing for space. Regarding the daffys, since I hardly got any foliage and what little I DID get mostly fell over, I don't know if too much nitrogen (and lack of potassium) was the problem. They are out in front and not crowded by anything and have acted this way each season (except the first). I see now that feeding bulbs is important (which I've never done) but wondering if the problem may also be the following:: I planted mixed narcissus exactly 4 years ago, in three places with about 5 bulbs in each spot. They were beautiful the first year (2006) considering how few bulbs I had. But I doubt I did much amending to the surrounding dirt and probably just dug big holes for each group of five. So if surrounding dirt is too compacted, will that prevent bulbs from multiplying and spreading? They never have really flourished. Or do you think it's just time to divide? (as well as feed, of course). As far as not doing a major overhaul, I think it's too late considering I dug up most all of my A&O's. Plus, before my husband passed away in May, I got him to dig up some of the iris, Stellas & daylilies. This was before A&O's were in full bloom and I realized THEY were going to outshadow what was left behind & je should have had him dig up everything. Had full intention of moving dug up plants farther front but without his help, they've just been sitting in pots all summer and of course, never bloomed. Not sure if I they will survive the winter in pots or if I should get them back in NOW??? And I have since gotten feedback from post I made about A&OÂs that I need to get them either back in ground or put in pots. I know you suggested leaving the daylilies alone but here's my problem. I did the #1 mistake they warn you about. Planted everything too close (in my case, with layering back to front, tall to short) So as things multiplied, they moved forward and crowded out whatever was in front of them. So I feel I really need to bring everything out closer to the sidewalk. I have another 3 ft. or so that I can work with. I've got my hands full. I appreciate your encouragement and will gladly take any more suggestions you might have. Sorry this is so long. I edited it best I could :) Thanks, Bonnie