My experience with Russian Sage was a failure. I started a bunch of plants from seed. I had good germination and planted the seedlings in the garden to start. My garden tends to be very gravelly. They wintered okay. I donâÂÂt remember how long I left them there, but when I attempted to move them about the yard I eventually lost them all. They didnâÂÂt die outright, but took forever to come up in the spring and never reached their potential. I gave up on them. Then I tried the same thing with agastache. Seedlings actually wintered in their little cell packs. I thought that I was going to regret planting this hardy plant in my perennial bed. It was lovely but seemed so hardy. I thought it would seed all over, since it was so easy from seed. None are left! But wait, I think IâÂÂve found something that looks like it in a forgotten corner! I really think it may not be so much a hardiness issue though. If you have the right conditions for the plant, I mean the correct PH and soil type, etc. maybe youâÂÂll have success. However, IâÂÂve had the same experience of having a plant grow successfully for years then upon losing it for some reason or other, having every replacement die immediately or the first winter. Two that come to mind are monarda and sedum âÂÂAutumn JoyâÂÂ. Some of your disappointments are growing successfully in my yard, Donna. I have several clumps of veronicastrum or culverâÂÂs root doing quite well. I started them from seed. Not sure I like them yet. This should be the year to tell. Sea holly thrives in my gravelly garden. I know someone who has turtlehead growing naturally out at the lake here. But the others you mentioned, coreopsis, helenium, tiarella, IâÂÂve tried and failed with. I can add echinacia to that list. I've always wondered about that theory about single specimens being hardier than the rest. I have some plants rated zone 4 growing happily in my yard. Is it a fluke or were they just rated wrong to start with. I guess thatâÂÂs part of what makes gardening such a great hobby though. ThereâÂÂs always surprises to balance out the disappointments.

it's cute, but looks like it may be too short to sit on it. Use it as side table or plant stand? Or night stand? Books on the seat and top for clock, lamp, etc.

that's so sad... at least you gave him chance and tried again:) we have had mourning doves, hawks and others fly into our window, some make it and some unfortunately don't :( hope u have a better day tomorrow:)

desertsteph other than a few coffees like Yuban you are unlikely to find any that are in one pound cans. Most store brands have gone to bags. thx! never thought of that. I buy Maxwell and the last time I bought it (6 yrs ago) I bought it at W. I remember deciding I wanted to drink coffee again (after many yrs of not drinking it). I'd been sick and a friend took me to W and I even had to buy a new coffee pot. I still have that same coffee! and thought it might not taste good after so many yrs in the cabinet. I have more recently seen small sizes in the local Walgreens ad but haven't bought it there because they're more expensive and I'm more often (at least once a week) in W for something anyway. If they don't have a small can at W (or bag ) next trip there (tomorrow) I'll make a stop at Walgreens and see what they have. The less stops (and in/out of the car), the better for me. I'm still having some problems with my left leg. I try to only go out about twice a week. but W's shelves were really bare the day I was recently in there. there were large areas of shelves in the Maxwell area that were very, very empty.