Um, you are quite correct NHBabs, in saying some of the verbascums are a bit....naff, especially the seedgrown strains such as Southern Charm- measly little things with nothing of the grace and stature of Cotswold Cream, V.chaixii or even the seed raised V.phoenicum (I have a little purple one from a strain called 'Violetta')....and there is always the threat of mullein moth to contend with....but for all that, they are a nice easy early summer addition around roses and hardy geraniums and foxgloves. There has been a pernicious movement in the UK towards dwarf plants - 'compact', 'tiny' and 'neat' have been major selling points, often retaining full size flowers on dwarfish plants. The horror of Campanula lactiflora 'pouffe' springs to mind here - a plant I would defintely trample underfoot in disdain. I know we have small gardens in the UK (so get to grips with alpines!) but this whole shrinking thing is quite horrible. Woody, althea cannabinoides has many many small (2inch) pink flowers with darker centres, growing in the leaf axils. The leaves are almost invisible, very thin (like cannabis sativa leaves) and not susceptible to rust. The whole thing is very reminiscent of a crambe inasmuch as the tall plant throws out sprays of blooming branches and does well in poor sunny soil (the sort you would use for nasturtiums)....in a wilder part of the garden. Will take pics when mine flowers, which will also be when I collect seeds - no need for swaps although I am always up to try something different from your side of the world.

I never thought I'd be learning so much about Edelweiss... I forgot it's the floret of leaves that are tinged white, and those are not the actual part of the flowers. I've had my alpine edelweiss for about 2 years (The photo's were taken in their second year of bloom. I believe the second photo is that of fresh blooms, the first being later on in the summer as the plant begins to grey and turn brownish/yellow). Nothing special was done for them when I had planted them. I didn't really have space in my rock garden and didn't care where I put them or if they lived or died.... (I bought them from Reno Depot for a dollar or two) So PaulNS, I did exactly what you had mentioned earlier - I planted them between two slabs of rock or concrete! If you look at the second picture, at the very bottom, you can see the linear concrete border which I tried to edit out. It seems they are doing quite well there (in compacted, ammended with gravel, clayish soil/full sun). I'm surprised to hear that some may have more of a greenish tinge to the head of leaves. I imagine that would look really interesting. I did a search for edelweiss on google and found a picture where they looked somewhat greener and yellow. I wonder if there are different hybrid varieties out there... Here is a link that might be useful:

I started my 14 varieties of tomato seeds yesterday. I usually plant the first weekend in May for the past 8 years and have had no problems. I live in Berkeley Heights in western Union County bordering on Morris county. This years list includes: Prudens Purple Riesentraube Black Cherry SuperSweet 100 Cherokee Purple Box Car Willie Ildi Azoycha Taiwanese Stupice BrandyBoy Bloody Butcher Sun Gold And I usually check the local garden centers for any other interesting varieties around planting time. I miss the old NJ Botanical Garden heirloom sales on the Duke Estate.

Susan, I love your light stand and always will love it. I realize it was the best solution for you, but if I told Tim I wanted to buy one of those, he'd hand me a hammer and tell me to build my own....which is why I have the one that I have. : ) Mine is hidden away out of sight in a room where guests rarely venture, although anyone who knows me and who knows I raise my own seedlings always asks to go upstairs and see it in the spring. So much for putting it out of sight....I just should have set it up in the dining room or breakfast room or something.... I am sure you'll be deliriously happy with it and will have many wonder seed-starting adventures and I look forward to hearing all about them. I think you got a great deal considering it was Gardener's Supply. I never buy anything of theirs for full price. They have sales often enough (and especially in November when, I think, some of us gardeners are shopping for ourselves) that a person can be patient and get a good price during their periodic sales. I've noticed that prices often are not as good in December when gardeners' spouses or family members are doing what I call "panic Christmas buying" and cannot afford, time-wise, to wait for a sale. I don't think you were repetitive at all. The more we all share about what we do, how we do it and why we do it (as well as pointing out what didn't work for us!), the better for all of us to learn from one another's experiences! Carol, Our weather is just like yours. Our high was 70 degrees yesterday and it was so gorgeous outside I could hardly stand it. I wanted to jump up and down and scream "Spring Is Here!". That was exacerbated by the smell of the orange blossoms on my little orange tree. However, I controlled myself because I knew it was a false spring and that winter was returning today. It was 56 degrees around 7 a.m. here at our house and now it is 36 degrees and we have had very, very light rain but lots of thunder. Phooey on winter! I think you showed those folks at the co-op that one benefit of being a gardener is that it keeps your muscles and joints strong, healthy and fit. I'd rather "work out" in the garden any day, than walk on the treadmill or work out on the weight machine. Who wouldn't? Trees, Nope, sorry, I just haven't gotten to it. I am trying. Watch for it in a couple of hours or in the morning. I'm about to start typing mow after I close up the chicken coops, put out the deer corn for my favorite deer, refill the bird feeders (those little birdies are eating nonstop today trying to stay warm), etc. I'm kind of dreading going out into the cold wind but I need to do it now before it gets dark. I have to warn you that I don't use the same planting schemes every year because I don't want to get stuck in a rut, but I'll try to mention some of the planting schemes in my usual rotation. Dawn