I sowed delphinium seeds into the organic seed trays with seed starter mix back in March. I put them just under the surface. They didn't germinate until I bottom watered, top watering wasn't enough to get them going. They were tough to keep alive, the seedlings were very fragile in comparison with other plants that I started at the same time. They liked support and they didn't like harsh weather, too much wind, rain or sun and they would look sad. After moving them outside in the end of May, they really took off and I got some flowers this week. I planted a few cultivars and they grew differently, the ones that got big right away have flowered with nice purple and white flowers. It looks like they're dying a little after I moved them into the bed. The leaves are turning yellow on one of the flowering plants and a similar type just totally turned yellow and wilted. These were the biggest at time of moving so maybe their roots got damaged when I removed them from the tray. Also the bed may be too shady. Most of the others are looking great, green and lush. I'll post up some pictures if anyone wants to see what they looked like at germination or how they look now.

1. I also have a slug problem-you should see what those things can do to alpine strawberries! I'd use beer traps, but it seems such a waste. 2. I'm not convinced on the delphs, but I'm not opposed either-guess my usual ambivalence comes to the fore. I guess I'll try on a test basis, at some point. I've got a lot of lawn to dig up & leaf mulch to incorporate in the meantime. Those things are poisonous? Not that I plan on eating any, still it might somehow mix in with the dandelions that look to be peoples food of the future. 3. I'm still intrigued by the bats, and the moonflowers, and the 4 o'clocks, etc.. Not sure how my rosa moschata temple musk will do in that regard, so accompaniment seems warranted.

As much as I would like to think I would like a small little cottage house by the sea, I would probably get very cold and bored with it's short growing season, I'm somewhat of a southerner like that. Also, as much as I gripe about humidity and heat I probably couldn't live without it. I could never imagine living in California where it is constantly perfect. So, if anything I'd probably want to live somewhere in the East Coast and perhaps somewhere in the Rhine Valley in France or Germany. I am terribly nostalgic and love all old styles, so cottage style gardening appeals to me the most. Formal gardens with certain degrees of whimsy or strangeness a la Alice in Wonderland or Ladew Topiary Gardens. I like the idea of old world homesteads somewhat cut off from the world. If I ever amount to money after college I'd love to have either like an old Victorian or some sort of farmhouse that can just be a retreat. Homes seem far too disposable these days, I like a place that will last me a lifetime. I must be a reincarnate of some stuffy nobleman, my tastes are so OLD.

I wish I had more time to stick around, but we wanted to get up to Cougar Mountan before it got to busy. Thanks to Jim for the wonderful bamboo, its beautiful *G* I sat the bag up to fill with water and saw a little 1/2" new culm coming up, so tomorrow I'll plant the two clumps. Thnks to Teresa for the ferns, and Shilpa for the day lillies. As my trees and bamboo grows up taller, and I get more shade I'll have lots of sun loving plants to trade as time goes by. Kendal *we made it up to the falls in good time, and got out just as a rush of people with their kids started up*