I am in the "confused by the difference between wildflowers and weeds" camp. I grow a lot of things on purpose that other people call weeds, and I call wildflowers. On the other hand, I have so much goldenrod in my yard that I always pull it out of my gardens, and I thus consider it a weed. Technically it is also a wildflower. Anyway, I have a LOT of it that is stunted, because it is a favorite target of whatever it is that goes around to plants and puts a milky colored frothy sticky substance with some kind of baby bug in it. The baby bug then eats at the plant while maturing. I have found this goop on a wide variety of plants but there is more on the goldenrod than anything else put together. Hence I have significant insect damage on a native weed/wildflower. But not knowing if you call that a weed or not, I am not sure if I invalidate your theory or not. I have even seen creeping charlie with some sort of big lumps in the stem that suggested a creature had attacked it and laid eggs. Certainly creeping charlie is a weed. Alas, it did not spread enough to wipe out my creeping charlie. But it was really freaky looking. Marcia

Well, I just want to let everyone know that Lee, my DH, is working on posting the pics that he took at the swap. They will appear once we get an account with Photobucket or the like. There are about 50 pics so get your cuppa in hand before you sit down to look at them. Karen/Bakemom-I should have had Jeanne take my photo. Lee doesn't make me look skinny! Margie/Granny 57- Isaac is all healed up. My wrist is better but I have tennis elbow that was masked by the wrist pain. The only cure is complete rest for the joint. My right elbow! Like that's going to happen with a mother of five who gardens!!!!! Who will carry those eternal baskets of laundry? Have a great weekend everyone! Plant up those last few that are still in pots. I can't plant my trumpet vines until I get my gazebo made from my 8 foot satellite dish. I have one metal/wrought iron porch support lined up from freecycle. I just can't fit buying new ones into the budget. If you all know of any stray porch supports hanging around let me know. I'll be glad to give them a new home! ~~Mimi

I'm one of those people who doesn't mind the rain; in fact, I like it -- but even I can have moments of wanting it to end, especially when I'm eager to be out in the garden. I'm not a seasoned N'westerner but I am a very seasoned gray-skies Midwesterner, so I've had lots of experience waiting for sun... some of the things that lift my spirits are: trips to the local nursery to look at what's new/blooming -- walks outside whenever possible (a drizzle doesn't keep me in and being outside always makes me feel better) -- getting cozy with a good gardening book/catalog -- a walk or drive around anywhere (neighborhood, arboretum, greenhouse, etc.) to see what's happening with plants. Seems there's something new every week. I like trips to the local farmer's market for fresh veggies and flowers -- a bouquet of flowers (even just a small one, a few blooms from my yard) is always a spirit-lifter. Any day that isn't a downpour, if I just can't wait, I can get outside and at the very least work on weeds or pruning or other clean-up tasks that don't involve getting into the soil of the flower beds (don't want to compact the soil). And, this time of year I take a *lot* of joy just in the fact that the days are getting longer! The short winter days are lots harder on me than the gray days and I'm so glad to see the light last longer each day. Hang in there -- the sun will return, more and more frequently!

With the watering you're doing, you should get some California poppies pretty soon. They look like carrots, only the leaves are lighter green. In fact I guess they are related to carrots. They should flower this year, but they will only be annual for you. But then again they often reseed. Many wildflowers like a gravel mulch, and will grow and reseed better with it. For me, California poppies, Gaillardia, Mexican hat, and Prairie winecups (Callirihoe or something like that) all reseed almost to the point of being pests. Another good source for seeds down there is Plants of the Southwest.