Wagonwheel - wow - love the image of 'Prairie Sun.' Thanks. I sowed both varieties from seed and had poor germination. Another weird spring too hot too cold not enough water, etc. I have a single 'Irish Eyes' I'm nursing and expect to plant soon. I've been debating where to put it! I've been very happy with the way the 'Cherry Brandy' looks in and among the other Rudbeckias I have which are common R. hirta and fulgida. I have R. triloba all over the place - self sown - and love it wherever it pops up - as for 'Prairie Sun' - there is something green in one of the containers so I'm hoping I have one. Funny how precious a single seedling can be when it's the only one. Dee - I have wondered about the perennial/annual listing of all the Rudbeckias, but here in zone 7b/8a they almost all overwinter in sort of a semi-evergreen rosette stage.

My long time bloomers have been..... Callicarpia (million bells) I have two that have been blooming almost two entire years now - they do slow down in the winter with sporadic blooms on warm spells but from March on till late December they bloom all the time Homestead Verbena - again stays green all year and will bloom sporadically in the winter and puts on a fabulous show spring/summer/fall Dianthus - I have a tri-colored one that will also give me pretty much year round bloom I would love to get all these into one garden bed for that punch of color year round but afraid to upset the balance of nature. Evidently each plant LOVES where they are currently planted I have one stelladoro' daylily that has been blooming pretty much non-stop since mid May Gillardias - Golden Goblin and the wild flower species - just blooms and blooms...... Lynne

I didn't respond to this post before because I knew it would get me to looking at Chris Rogers intro's again. She and Dan Hansen have some intros that have eye no edges. I spent hours on his website before drooling. I will eventually order a couple from him. Here are two that definitely caught my eye in this category. There are more if you look through the photos on his website, Ladybug Daylilies. Pat Stamile also has some new ones in this category. Tipped in Rouge is one I like, and Edged in Pink. Ruby Border is a new intro for this spring. Pat is working with Tet Beautiful Edgings in his program. All pictures are by hybridizer. Dot Girls Gone Wild (Chris Rogers 08) Cranberry Zinger (Chris Rogers 07) Edged in Pink (Stamile 07) Tipped in Rouge (Stamile 07) Ruby Border (Stamile 08)

Hi docmom, thanks for joining our discussion. ( : I have a weird situation here....no weeds except one type yet. Oddest thing I've ever seen. Anyway, so far so good. We will see what happens when it warms up...but the soil was bare for over 1 month and no growth when it was warm. weird and wonderful. So, going to try spot control for awhile. Then if things go like they have in my past gardens the mulch will be considered. I would also like to get my hands on some Bellium minutum Miniature Daisy seeds, but the only place that had them did not have free shipping, so cost too much. I have some creeping thyme seeds coming. Fun to hear from all, would love to see some pics of your projects! Blessings, Waterstar