For newcomers this site is actually pretty hard to navigate, edit, post and upload pictures. But since we are on the topic of Velvet Leaf and in light of the toilet paper madness because of covid19, I just gotta say.... If we ever DO have to worry about toilet paper shortages... (which is NOT at this time btw) I would just forage around for this plant! The leaves make an acceptable wipe (or so I heard).

Ahhhh, the lazy part - been there, do that too! Dance With Me - I've heard it is hard so I never got it. Earth Angel - grows like a weed, love it. Ice Age Trail - I had it, got it as a young TC and grew it in a pot but it didn't survive this spring. I've seen pics of IAT purchased from Jim's Hosta that were big and gorgeous. It also is a streaker plant and will produce other streaked plants from seed. If you get it, save me some seeds. Touch of Class - gorgeous, don't have it but have one of the look alikes named Dream Weaver. It does very well here and intro'd by Kevin Walleck, our current AHS prez. Jewel of the Nile - another KW intro and it grows like a weed here. Paradigm - a classic, yes to it. Liberty - a new one for me last fall. It almost didn't come back and when it did was puny. I dug it up and potted it - the leaf is 1" and probably won't make it back next year. I replaced it, it has only produced one new leaf - I hope it comes back next spring. Liberty is a sport, probably tetraploid of Sagae. I highly recommend Sagae for the look, the margin just isn't as wide. I don't have any of the others and have heard nothing about them. For a balanced hosta garden, make sure you bring in solid colors to offset the patterned cultivars. I didn't because I love all the same type. I then had to go back and bring in some solids and to move things around to please the eye. It is the same as the daylily addiction - we bring in our favorite colors, look around and it becomes blah, so we then bring in other colors to liven things up. Some good blues in different sizes I recommend - Abiqua Drinking Gouard or Love Pat - great color, upright growing. Small blues that hold their color late into the season - Blue Jay and Fragrant Blue. Dark greens - Fried Green Tomatoes, a couple of Lakeside plants that I can't remember right now. If you want big, try some of the sports from Sum and Substance - Sum It Up, Bottom Line and Sum of All. Big, fast growing, all with edges but not "clashy" edges. They are all dark green. Other must haves - June, Paul's Glory or St. Paul. I know you don't like the skinny leaves but consider Ginsu Knife, has a slight light margin but lots of rippling on the edge, Marilyn Monroe, lighter green with ripples and Queen of the Seas, big blue with ripples. These offset the big round leaves that I love. For golds, Choo Choo Train, Sweet Sunshine, I think, hybridized by Solberg and a couple more Lakesides I can't remember, really make the shady areas pop. Have fun as another addiction starts. Could I also interest you in orchids?????????? Brooke

Great photos Sue! The Shorea tree is very interesting, I like how it flowers from the trunk. Was this tree only allowed to be grown by the royal family? Those giant water bugs look pretty crunchy, did you try one? I watched a National Geographic Taboo show on the different foods eaten around the world and how different cultures inevitably eat something that is considered taboo to another group. Insects were of course featured and although I have not eaten any before I think I would be brave enough to try, well as long as they taste better than they look. Mike

Hey Fran - The Flying Saucers (as most Ipomoea tricolor) usually have 5 ribs supporting the corolla,but if the bloom only produces 4 ribs,the blooms take on the square look...I think it's an interesting look,although I haven't seen any that will produce square blooms consistently...yet... The Ipomoea purpurea that you posted is what I have been calling a 'solid' flaked... http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/95591/ the background is mostly solid coloration with darker streaks in it... The Ipomoea tricolor Heavenly Blue can often show signs of impaired pigmentation along with some possible tissue damage to the delicate corolla membrane when the temperatures drop...the corolla can have difficulty opening and the bloom tips usually get the 'frostbite' an result in the usual blue pigmentation being replaced by the look of the 'frostbitten' fuchsia...the same color can appear if the tissue has the upper layer 'torn' during difficult openings or otherwise sustains any damage...I see it as part of the general color changes that Autumn brings... The Ipomoea purpurea in the last photo has hige genes...these can often show entire corollas with various degrees of extra corolla tissue becoming shredded to create the frills that spice up the rear of the bloom...the hige gene can also skip a generation... Thanks for sharing your blooms... Ron