While you are traveling with the cats, take special care, as you will be encountering severe heat, after leaving NC, that continues to get hotter, the farther you go, coming down, (asuming I-85 to I-20 and across.) Be sure you don't leave them in the car, in direct sun, without fully open windows (partially open in good shade), and then, for only a few minutes. Janie, I am from Turtle Island, but I was born in Indiana, and my true "home" is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the land of the ancients. I have lived or traveled in most of the US, save the northwestern states, and a few Canadian border states, and lived in Europe for about 3 yrs. There are only a few places hotter than Texas, in the US, and all of them are in the Southwestern deserts. (grin) Carrie, we all live where we feel comfortable, and most of the time, that is dictated by origin or occupation. Perfectly ok, for those who find the heat tolerable. (It helps to have some living space, like you do, though, even if it is getting more crowded over there.) Barb, you will like San Antonio pretty well, save for the heat. Air conditioning was invented for Texas. (currently in the low 90's, with 70% humidity. Typically hitting 100 degs.+ by July 1.) The worst part is it is still 85 degs. at daybreak, in peak heat. Of course, Miami gets pretty bad in the summer also, due to the humidity, although night ocean breezes help a lot, there.

Yes, that must have been it, Omar. It was pixies playing tricks on us or else it was me who was somewhat "pixilated' after all the talking and trading ... LOL I have a question: someone brought a jar for the door prize table containing something brown that looked like preserves of some kind, but it had a picture of a cleaning woman on it. I asked the contributor and she told me that if was for cleaning your hands after gardening and contained brown sugar. I'm fascinated, but can't remember what else the cleaning compound contained. Anybody remember who brought it and what else it contained besides brown sugar? The dates for both SAPS next year will be announced by Lorelei soon ... :-)

The third plant on the top row in the freezer bag is Salvia chiquita. It is cold hardy , xeric once established, give it afternoon shade, am sun. I think I had some in afternoon sun and morning shade. I keep it on a flat area, because it does seed out quite a bit if you are on hill country limestone. People on clay do not have this problem. Beautiful 2' blooms that bees and butterflies fight over Blackfoot daisy is from me, I think. The Next plant in square 4" pot is Phlox pilosa, I think. Takes sgae and sun, will spread. I have it under an Oak tree on the east side and it is spreading out to the sun and further inro the shade. Great dry shade gound cover. I never water it. Salvia regla is from me also. It like shade and sun also . t is cold hardy and . Mine got to be 8 ' but I had to cut it back and now it is a very bushy 3'. It is a Big Bend sage , probably from the wetter mountain canyons. I like planting it where it gets afternoon light from the rakingsun in the fall because it will be starting to bloom really soon and it is such a treat when the setting sun hits it in the otherwise shady area. It LIGHTS UP. the blooms are timed with the hummingbird migration. Sedum palmeri is from me also. It will root easily . No hormone , no water, just stick it in the ground. It can take fast draining. It is hardy to 0 they say. Mine lived through the freeze and THE BIG D without water. It looked like hell but came right back. I think you got the first of the two Agave , The agave univittatta AKA Agave lophantha from Gardenlover1 after the swap on roselees "parking lot". This is a whole family of agave and are a very confusing trying to tell which is which because their is a high amount of variability and intergrading between species. I got a triple Datura that looked like yours from Mamachile. Hey, Dona, Rebecca was telling me you were having expensive well drilling bid . If you want to talk to me about Rainwater harveting, feel free to email me. My email is listed on my page. We are 100% dependent on rainwater. Mara

Thanks for looking Fox and thanks for the encouragement to grow the Bird of Paradise plant, Element. Thought some might be interested in an upcoming event at the S. A. Botanical Center: Walk Across Texas at the Botanical Garden Take a "walk across Texas" at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, enjoying the beauty of spring wildflowers right in the heart of San Antonio. Hike the loop trail system of the Texas Native Trail which winds through an 11-acre native area of the Botanical Garden, where you will experience the diverse ecosystems of the Hill Country, East Texas Piney Woods and South Texas Plains. Enter the world of early Texas by visiting the historic cabins and living historians dressed in period clothing from the Sons of the Republic, Chapter 7. Enjoy Pioneer biscuits and gravy, compliments of sponsor C.H. Guenther & Son. The Alamo Area Master Naturalists will offer various displays, bird walks and art activities. PLANT SALE: Just in time for spring planting, gardeners may purchase all types of plants made available by various plant societies. Botanical Society members may enter early at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, April 19, 9 a.m. Â Noon Free admission! San Antonio Botanical Garden 555 Funston @ N. New Braunfels San Antonio, Texas Free admission from 9 a.m. to noon on this day. For more information, the public can call 210-829-5100 or visit www.sabot.org.