I have some seeds from Israel. The plants are about a foot tall and have deep blue beautiful blooms about an inch in size. I am looking for Salvia apiana (white sage) and Pinyon Pine, I would really prefer a tree but will settle for seeds.

Carol, I think I have the rose scented geranium. Which lupine cultivars do you have? Let me know if you're still interested in trading.

Oh what fun, snakes in the bed. My elderly neighbor is afraid of the garter snakes in the yard. You can hear her scream all the way to the moon if she sees one. Funny thing with my daughter, she teaches genetics and microbiology in HS. They have to do stuff with flies and that doesn't bother her at all, CAUSE THE D##N THINGS ARE DEAD, SO SHE CLAIMS. She was visiting her roommate from college last summer, the roommate is from Florida and lives there now since graduation. One night the phone rang and on the other end of the phone was her old roommate and all I could hear was my daughter screaming at the top of her lungs. Roomie says, "just wanted you to get a good laugh, she's staring down a huge palmetto bug and it's so funny." I was laughing for days. Must admit though, I kind of freak if a see a spider, but have a good reason. I'm allergic to spider bites, you don't want to see what happens if I get one. That's why I'm not allowed to prune any bushes that will have my face near or in the bush. One bit on my forehead or around my eye and the eye is swollen shut for 2 weeks and massive infections. OH yes, freeze those malva seeds too. Weevils and their eggs die in there too. Alison, you are crazy. Didn't you know that part of the definition of a gardener is crazy? Think about it, we try to beat mother nature by growing things that the 4 legged critters love to chew up, we die of the heat, sweat like you know what, water, water, water, all to try and have beautiful flowers in our gardens. Half the time we loose the battle with mother nature. Now we've become addicted to seed trading, Winter sowing, and we have even more seeds to start. For Pete's sake, we are outside in the freezing cold in the winter, climbing through snow to put containers full of dirt with seeds in them outside to "germinate when mother nature says to germinate" and you wonder if you're nuts. Yup, we're all nuts, and love every minute of it, don't we? Fran

My lovely lupines bloosoms are just about gone, and the seeds pods are furry and green. I would like to harvest them, but was hoping I could just cut off the pod stem and put them in a cool dark place till they are ready to pop. The plants are huge and I'd like to cut them back. I know from Maine friends that can be a no no. The ones I want to cut are volunteers that are growing in the patio cracks and in the way. When I think how I pamper the ones in the garden beds and them find their cousins growing in the cracks. I will sprinkle the dried seeds directly on the mulch this fall. Thanks from a PFA, can't wait to be in Maine for the 4th!!