Wisconsitom: Imagine my hand smacking to my forehead. Of course! We do have deer, but we only see them way at the back of our property, and even that infrequently. They do cross our street sometimes, but about a "block" down or so. There are so many better places so close - hundreds of acres of wooded recreation land. (Which is really cool for us humans, too.) I'm still confused about why it used to be so much more sparse with the woody undergrowth if it's deer, though. I'll read up and see if the deer population has changed in the area. In my recent reading on woodlands, I saw a photo online of a place where folks had fenced off to keep deer out a year or a few before. It was enlightening. As far as wildlife, after I went to bed a few nights ago, my husband heard 2 fishers having a fight or trying to scare each other off right behind our house. If you've ever heard a fisher, you know how disturbing they sound. But I guess I'm happy our woodland and surrounds is supporting all local wildlife. My son & I saw a red spotted newt near the new walkway only a few days after it was installed, and I was so glad things weren't so disrupted it scared everybody away. Queen Gardener - I'd love to start trading. But I feel like I don't have anything useful to trade. I have oodles of seeds (who doesn't?), but a lot of them are getting old. I should have harvested some seeds from the plants I do have so I could get started trading. Next year, I guess. I agree, E-bay does have good prices if you can find the reputable people.

Arisaema seed need about 3 months of cold stratification, below 40°F. and then warm temperature, to germinate. Easiest method to start them is; plant seed in a pot of moist soil, enclose in a sealed plastic bag and place in the refrigerator. After 3 months, remove from refrigerator and remove the plastic bag. Check for moisture content of soil and water if necessary. Place pot in a warm location, 68°F+/- and they should begin to germinate. Don't become discouraged if all of the seed do not germinate at the same time. I have had fresh seed that required two or three periods of cold/warm stratification before germination. Fall sown seed can be left outdoors in colder climates and should begin to germinate in the spring. Protect from rodents and birds with a screen. of course! Hope this helps. :Rb

ken_mce, with so many seeds and corms under the ground, you would be weed whacking twice a week for years. Plus the fact that precision whacking isn't easy. These monsters are in with all my perennials. You can't suffocate them. I have moved big rocks in my garden only to find pinellas I hoped to suffocate still there and growing vigorously after two years! The only difference is lack of color, which they quickly regain. I spoke with a professional gardener friend of mine. He told me the only thing that will keep it under control (not eradicate) is a over the counter spray designed to kill poison ivy. Even using the spray, there are problems: 1/ there are literally hundreds of tiny seeds and corms in the soil that havenâÂÂt sprouted so one good spray job wonâÂÂt get rid of the future generations 2/ these plants are so hardy that often one application wonâÂÂt do it. You need to go back after a couple weeks to reapply. I intend to keep after them with the spray. Digging them out is thankless and futile. IâÂÂve thrown my organic principles to the wind and will use the spray.

I have friends who germinate Liliums the way you describe, trying to fool Mother Nature. They swear by it! I think they chill for about six weeks. And yes to grow lights and warmth for the next cycle, then back to the frig. By that time it is summer once more. I have just used winter sowing for my jacks, and some times I get a triple season because here in my part of NC we have fluxuations of cold and slightly warmer days. It all depends on our particular winter. So far this year my seedlngs have not gone down, but I know what you mean from previous years.