I was just talking about this recently on another thread. Our property was covered with violets when we moved in. There are a lot of them in the lawn too. It is a violet that I do not enjoy. White, large leaves, no fragrance. It is easy to pull up, with a spade. Pulling alone usually just gets the leaves and not the root. I don't find them that difficult to get out. I have not had that much trouble keeping them out of the garden beds, but I gave up on them in the lawn. I did decide to actually add violets..lol. Since I wasn't going to lose those I didn't like, I decided I might as well have something I did like. I've added labrador violets that have a pretty heart shaped small leaf and purple flowers and a viola odorata that is a very dark purple and very fragrant. So far I am enjoying those and I am hoping that if they get to spreading around, at least they might compete with the ugly one I don't like. [g] pm2

O, forum maties, if only I, too, could become wise! instead, I'm still constantly over-extending myself,and don't take enough time to just enjoy. I've lost count of how many roses I have,and my big,big garden still has plenty of space yet to fill. This autumn I tell myself I'm going to seriously limit my rose order,especially since i have the biggest pot ghetto I've ever had,but even cutting things "to the bone", I'm still looking at a list of 50 some "new" roses (includes potted ones to be put out and moves). It's just that no one rose company has all the ones I want, so I'm "forced" to order from more than one company,and then of course one wants to make the most of the postage,plus support these fine nurseries, so I lose what little will power i have very quickly. So many intrigueing new varieties to try! So many varieties that have been on my wish list for many years but i have yet to actually get! And, so many that I already have in my garden that have delighted me so much that I think "gotta have more of THAT!!!" Here in my area, in Tuscany,Italy, there isn't much of a rose-gardening culture at all, so there are no locals to ask for advice. The nearest rose nursery that I know of, Rose Barni,is not one of my favourites because their emphasis is decidedly on floribundas and especially HT's,neither of which excite me much. My main field of interest is climbers and ramblers and OGRs,noisettes and Hybrid Musks...roses like that, with graceful plant habits...bart,the addict

I too love birches and would love a little wood of them. I would plant Scottish bluebells under them en mass. A seed trading friend of mine in California sent me three bags of birch seeds (besides the ones I got myself from the little tree at Lowe's). They are European Birch, White American Paper Birch and one other that I cannot recall off hand. I read that they had to be fresh or they wouldn't grow, so I didn't planted them. But now, I think I will go ahead and try sprouting them. What have I got to lose? I think if I put them in very soggy paper towels and stick them in plastic bags, they should sprout, as that is where they sprout best in their natural environment - on the banks of brooks and rivers where it is very wet. Worth a try. Eduarda, I appreciate your input. Muito Obrigada! ~Annie

Vitex smells like Pepper? The foliage sure doesn't, but that doesn't mean the seeds don't. I've never heard of it being called "Monk's Pepper." That's a new one for me. That's what makes common names so interesting. Now I'm going to have to crush a vitex seed and smell it. I love the smell of pepper. I've heard of a Brazilian Pepper Tree, which is considered a noxious weed in the areas that don't freeze, but I don't know if it looks anything like what you described. It's probably something different. Here is a link that might be useful: Brazilian Pepper Tree