One of the features of his database includes mapping the intersections of political boundaries (national, state, provincial, and county) with the relief boundaries of USGS topographic maps. That information is part of the database also, and the technique had to be developed from scratch. In this edition, the information is used to determine the highest and lowest points of elevation. John has already laid the foundation for the third edition by including the collection site data for the different species. He has had his hands full with all the other features. After improving them to remove bugs, integrating them more tightly, and adjusting them to adapt to the expectations of the beta testers, he has about reached the point to issue the second edition. After this has been out for a while, he will add the plant collection site GPS data and improve and add to the features for a third edition. I'm sure the Canadian users will like that, since there seem to be no equivalents to counties there. I think that he wants the multiple features to evolve in a coequal and compatible way, to optimize the value of the different editions and to stimulate the proper development of the older features and explore the needs for new ones. Think of the earlier editions of the various office (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation) software. I believe MS Word and WordPerfect are going for their 14th editions. John is trying to do this over three editions. Since the same features of his database will work on animals, he is into developing a parallel database for vertebrates. Having worked out the methods for the plants with the second edition, this will go faster.

'San Carlos Festival' is a good microphylla and I believe one of the more compact ones. Its flower spikes are also compact and neat, not long and messy. I had one last year and am growing again this year. 'Mesa Scarlet' is a fantastic greggii'ish salvia. This is my third year growing it. It has a compact, well-shaped growth habit and blooms like crazy all season. I tried 'Mesa Purple' a couple years ago and it was sprawly.

Well...Salvia spathacea survived the winter, although it's emerging only slowly. Surprisingly, some of my Salvia farinacea 'Victoria' survived, as well. I suspect Salvia semiatrata may be history, and that the Salvia guaraniticas may be gone as well. Same with Salvia elegans and Salvia leucantha. I'm not going to write them off as dead just yet, because I know better. I don't know about Salvia reptans yet, either. Salvia pachyphylla, Salvia x jamensis, Salvia hians, Salvia verticillata, Salvia greggii (assorted), Salvia microphylla, Salvia chamaedryoides and Salvia dorrii are all doing fine.

Thanks. drainage is very good, so soggy soil shouldn't be an issue. Rain this summer was very variable. Lots of rain in the spring and early summer and then, basically nothing for over a month now. I'll avoid adding top dressing come the spring.