I've picked up most of my alstro's at mass merchandisers like Lowe's, and a couple even at grocery stores, around the spring holidays, particularly Mothers Day, when they sell them as blooming potted plants. When I see a color I don't have, I buy it. I also have the dwarf agapanthus. It has proven completely hardy here for me, and has the nicest dark blue blooms in July. Another plant not in its zone but which has come back long-term and bloomed for me is Crinum.

deep_woods, Thanks for your tips....I have become moss obsessed and have found very little info on the web for growing it in containers. I hope to eventually take it outside, but for now, I am focusing on growing it indoors in several types of containers including: under a cloche, in a hanging terrarium (with a hole in the front), in a jar, and in a small bowl with no covering. I have harvested moss in my area (Philadelphia), where it grows all over the rocks and in cracked pavement (almost no soil at all), and even on debris-filled pot holes. From your previous conversations, I gather that taking some of the native soil/debri for the containers would be a good idea. Just as brendainva, I am growing in containers that have no drainage holes. I also gather that you would not suggest pebbles, clay balls, or charcoal at the bottom? These are suggestions I have heard from other sites. As I mentioned, most of the moss here, which is short, bold green, and clumpy, grows on extremely nutrient poor areas such as rocks and walls. Which makes me think it might do well on some rocks/pebbles. Although I cannot tell you what species it is, what are your thoughts on this? You said, "Shallow containers with fertilizer and warm weather and regular misting or watering from above with some mosses can lead to doubling the moss in a month." What type of fertilizer are you referring to? Eventually I would like to add some ferns or other native plants to my moss terrariums. For now, however, I am focusing on the moss. Thanks so much!! We need a MOSS FORUM QUICK! If you have any other sites or articles that you would recommend, pleeease send them my way.

Cat....I think I stick to tried and true entirely too much. I think I should be trying to find something a little different to grow like you and Bill. I've never heard of guinea hen flowers. I do like toad lilies but I tried one and it didn't make it through my winter. I hope you will post photos later. Bill...I never saw a slug in my yard until last year. We had a lot of rain that wouldn't let up and they started showing up. Where do they come from, out of nowhere? [g] You remind me of me... when I can't sleep in the summer, I will get up and go out in my pjs with the flashlight and a paper cup and look for earwigs, which I hate! They seem to love me for some reason. Just the same I enjoy being out there at that hour. You get to see all the night creatures and some of the fragrant plants make the trip worth it. And if there is a moon out, a warm breeze and it's very quiet, it's almost magical! And you can't see all your mistakes at night. [g]

OK! I started a round of cuttings from just three roses, which I can easily tell apart without labeling. I ordered simple stick-labels, which should be coming in the next few days, so then I'll be able to take cuttings of others -- including 'Nouveau Monde'. As soon as I know how many I have that have rooted, I'll post the count in this thread. But it might not be for a month or two. I'll pass them on to anyone willing to pay for shipping. Mine still has buds that haven't opened yet, but I wonder how many will survive all the heavy rain we've gotten and will continue to get for the next few days. :-) ~Christopher