my seed list was last updated 12/7/14. some seeds have been traded/used since then. but I have not found the magic link to update my list. can email current list to anyone interested.

Here's my update from the not used and not yet blooming lists. Four o'Clocks--Are blooming nicely now, but whenever I look inside, there's no nectar. None at all! I haven't seen the hummers at them, and this is probably why. They look great, but how disappointing! Blue Lobelias (Lobelia "Fan Blue")--I just saw a bird visit these this afternoon. I'm not sure if she got anything, but she dipped into a couple flowers before zipping over to the feeder. Interestingly, this summer I've been experimenting with making feeders out of Sculpey clay which closely imitate the hummingbird flowers in my garden. I made a blue Lobelia last week that is very realistic looking. I'm hoping that my feeders are habituating them to new colors and forms. It's hard to say because I'm not doing a round the clock study, but it seems like they didn't touch the lobelias until I put that feeder up. I put the feeder up a few nights ago, and when I got up the next day they were already using it without hesitation. I wonder what their reaction was when they first arrived in the early morning and saw a purple flower, instead of the usual red ones I've been making! I'm sorry to say I wasn't up early enough to see their astonishment. All of this probably deserves its own separate post, because it's pretty neat trying out all these different shapes and colors of flowers. I'm going to try making a nasturtium next. Cardinal Climber and Cypress vine--They're blooming sparsely on bushy, 20 foot vines. I just started fertilizing them with some "Bloom Booster," but they still aren't getting as many flowers as I would like. Maybe they don't like this ridiculous heat wave. Thank God it's finally cooling off. This afternoon, a hummer flew very near the vines, which made me think they might be getting used early in the morning. It seems I'm never up early enough to witness this, and then the blooms are kaput by the afternoon. I've still seen no action at my annual verbenas, my red petunias, mixed color snapdragons, Pelargonium geranium, Dianthus chinensis (although they might be sneaking into these), Impatiens, pompom or cactus zinnias, or my Oriental lilies. Bummer! I'm still waiting on the hardy Hibiscus (bunches of buds), and the Lobelia cardinalis is just beginning to bloom. They will be my last new flowers of the season. I'll let you know!

My garden is pretty much done. My zinnias and dahlias survived the sleet last night, but snow on the way tomorrow so they may be gone. A few montauk daisies still in bloom, an amaranthus here and there, a bit of iberis, some half-finished monkshood, a little tithonia - oh, and marigolds are still going quite strongly. I do have some roses in bloom, and a few mums. I had planted a grouping of mums two years ago, which did well the first two years, and I was hoping for a real display this year, but was sorely disappointed. I'm trying to figure out if they are afflicted with something or if it was just too damp for them this year. I do have some fall color though - berries on ilex, yellow and red-twig dogwoods, viburnum, and the color on my iteas is wonderful this year. Oh, just remembered - have some cimicifuga still in bloom too. And believe it or not, one beautiful yellow caltha palustris (marsh marigold). Poor thing must be confused, lol. Dee

Question about your moonflower, Dawn! This is the first year mine actually grew from planted seeds. For some reason, I've planted seed every year, but it has never germinated for me. This year, I planted 2 packets and finally got a few vines up. I love them. My question is whether they will reseed next year, like the other morning glories and cypress vine do? Or, should I collect the seed from them and replant every year? I have blue mistflower going like crazy in the garden right now; lantana 'Miss Huff', Golden Crownbeard (verbesina encelioides-native); native daisy; aster tartaricus 'Jindai' (gorgeous, about 5' tall with purple clusters of blooms with yellow centers); my aster aromatica is about to burst into bloom (very late), asclepias curassavica (tropical milkweed), pink/white salvia, 'Black and Blue' Salvia (it is huge this year, it's 2nd, and the blooms are to die for), solidago (dwarf), morning glories (hot pink with white edge, Japanese), white with blue markings, zinnias, senna bicapsularis (Christmas cassia), white cypress vine, hops, hibiscus 'Texas Star', lobelia cardinalis (beautiful!). Nothing looks outstanding really because of the dry weather and heat we are still having. I have watered the things in pots, and the ground. My gomphocarpus (tall milkweed also called 'Family Jewels', or 'Hairy Balls') is putting on a few seed pods right now, and they are about golf ball size and very unique looking. I really want to grow it next year (it's an annual here), so I will collect the seed when it is ripe. The Monarchs love it! Susan Susan