Tricia, Actually that's what I was alluding to when I said, whatever other goings on were going on DURING siesta. I don't know if there actually was a Yellow Rose of Texas, it's cool to think there might have been! But in any case, there apparently were some activities going on in the Mexican camp which helped the Texas army catch the Mexicans not only by surprise, but in positions compromising enough to require some recovery before they could swing into action. I took a Geography of Texas class in college where I learned a lot of history as well as geography. I've gleaned some additional education from different sources through the years as well. The most interesting facts are the ones that got left out when elementary school!

Annztoo - we found Poppie through one of our local rescues - I've had my eye on her for several weeks and somehow just KNEW she was our baby! Socks- Thank you!! we all love our yard and pool although the "kids" don't like to swim but do a great job playing lifeguard when we are in. We lost our sweet 15 1/2 year old Tasha in July and Sam ( and us) took it really hard. We knew we couldn't wait too long to find him a buddy and it has been SOOO good for him. He lost his precious sister and gained a much adored girlfriend ( grin) He loves to nibble on her - we call it Poppie on the cob and she loves it too.

Jay, I wish I knew why Heleniums seem under utilized, I'm a little afraid I'm going to find out why and I won't be happy, I've wondered if they are garden thugs, but they are not. Maybe their autumnal shades don't work for everyone? Lots of people seem to prefer primary colors. Or is it because the older ones tend to be tall and need staking? That's why I like the smaller compact ones that I've stumbled into. But I don't know why you can't grow them in your Zone 9 garden. I'm in Zone 9. (heleniums dont really compare to echies to me) I have to agree with you. The Echinaceas are on a different level, definitely elegant, colorful, beautiful, spectacular...and so on. The best that can be said for the Heleniums is that they are colorful. But I love their colors and their long blooming habit and the way their colors work so well with the grasses I love. They seem easy though I think they need a fair amount of water to look their best. When I say move over Echinaceas, it really means I've come to the end of my collecting mania with them and I will no longer have quite so much of my perennial bed devoted to them. it's time to move on to other things. I am going to be facing some difficulty accomplishing that though. I'd need a much larger garden to do what I really want to do, which is to have great sweeps of grasses interplanted with Echinaceas, Penstemon Sour Grapes, Agastache and Heleniums. Oh, and the Dahlias I like will stay in the background. The problem is I already have more plants that can comfortably fit. I might have to cull a few Echs which will be really painful. And I need to add more Penstemon Sour Grapes and I want to add more grasses. I'll probably have to eliminate some of the Agastaches to do that. Which will be quite painful too..

All of them are beautiful, but the Sipa Michu is the best. Could I talk you into sending me some of their seeds when they get mature? I sure would appreciate it and reimburse the postage.