I don't know about dogs, but our cats avoid our few Pels, especially the citronella scented one. They just don't like the strong scent...so much so that we used to place leaves where we didn't want them to go when they were new to the family. I have a hard time getting mine to bloom, so I can't help you there...I keep small ones inside during the winter, then plant them outside in large containers for the summer, taking cuttings in the fall again for bringing inside.

I just noticed that this thread got revived and wanted to make sure to respond. BC...I am so glad you went ahead and ordered VC! I would love to hear from you once its blooming about how you like it and how its performing for you. BTW, I am also "weak", only I am worse. I already purchased over 50 new roses this Spring yet last night I put in a last-minute order to Chamblee's since I discovered that I can squeeze a few more roses into one of the new beds. I justify my behavior by reminding my family that I am good the rest of the year....no new shoes, clothes, manicures, or dinners out, and I have no other addictions, so this isn't so bad. vic007...I really hope your Vick's will behave as wonderfully for you. Mine came from Pickering also, so I know their VC is a good one. I live in central NH in the Lakes Region in a small town called Belmont; however my place is situated on the Laconia/ Gilford line. Right down my road are hiking trails up several mountains (one being Belknap Mtn.)and from the top we can see Lake Winnipesaukee & Lake Winnisquam and also the White Mountains to the north. Keep me in mind if you do move to this area and I will be happy to recommend the roses I grow that do well here. Also, you are welcome to visit my gardens! Celeste

Hi Mike, Since this unusual 50/50 hybrid has some cold hardiness I find it so interesting. The plant look's more like what would be expected in a 75/25 hybrid backcross. I hope the fruit might be more like a true citrus with this hybrid. In regard of 'Flying Dragon' passing it's genes. Please read this link below. INHERITANCE OF THE CONTORTED PHENOTYPE IN CITRUS X CV. FLYING DRAGON HYBRIDS I used 'Temple' as the mother and 'Flying Dragon' was the father and as was stated in the article above. The contorted traits were not passed to those hybrid offspring. Yet, Phil in Texas has a hybrid offspring with 'Flying Dragon' as the mother and the contorted traits were passed. It's very interesting seeing such things first hand. If you think this seedling was fast growing just wait until I report on the Citrderosa ('Ponderosa' X 'FD'poncirus) hybrid. It fill's a 10 gallon container! ---------------------------------------- Hi GoneBananas, It's fun breeding the hardy citrus and might even be profitable if that magic edible specimen was found. Even without any chance of profit I would still keep working with citrus/poncirus breeding to satisfy my curiosity. One thing for sure, any work with poncirus hybrids is still pioneering even 100 years after Swingle. Yes, use a 'Temple' for your first hybridization trials. 'Temple' has a good set with poncirus pollen and the fruits are seedy. What's even better about 'Temple' is I have found around 50% of the hybrid offspring are zero degree cold hardy. I found such a high rate of hardy offspring strange since 'Temple' itself is very unhardy. I guess the hardy mandarin genes are in 'Temple' but not current to 'Temple'. Good luck and update us with your citrus breeding trials.

If you want cold-hardy purples and mauves, just follow the advice of everyone here and you should be very happy. Look at Curt Hanson's web site and plants; Richard Norris has MARY LIGHTFINE and MARY'S BABY, to name just two purples; definitely don't forget Karol Emmerich of Springwood Gardens either. She has some real beauties in colors you'd probably fall in love with. John Rice has exquisite plants with many in the purple end of the spectrum; so does John Benz. I've wanted his LILAC GLOW for a couple of years and have just found a source selling at a great price. Steve Moldovan was known for his purples I believe. How's this one for a purple -- Jamie Gossard's 07 DRAGON FANG! A tad pricy perhaps, but no matter, seeing as how he's sold out of it anyway lol. (Scroll down under 2007 tets til you come to the third picture.) http://www.daylilynet.com/jamie_gossard_s_heavenly_gardense6.htm Don't forget Darryl Apps, of Woodside Nursery, mentioned by calypsogirl. He's retiring at the end of the 07 season but should have an online catalog this year. He may have some in the colors you want. Growers of cold-hardy plants: Rick mentioned Don Herr. IMHO, he produces fabulous plants for the northern gardener. On the thread here about best plant of 06, I mentioned his JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, which is described as a "burgundy lavender." And I said that one did so well for me that I ordered a couple of his 07 intros. There's also Clayton Burkey, who lives in Pennsylvania, but at a high elevation, in the Endless Mountains (?). Regardless of mountain name, he'd be a good source both of his own intros and daylilies in general. I believe he focuses on spidery ones, and his web site should be updated some time in February. Don Church is located in Maine, so you could check him out: http://www.bluehillcountrygarden.com/daylily_introductions.html I'm ordering a daylily from him that the Virginia-based hybridizer has sold out of. I probably won't even receive it until next June--but at least there's a high probability it will take my zone 6 winter LOL. Bret Clement is in Indiana, and he says on his web site he grows his plants "in open field conditions with no mulch here in zone 5, land of little snow cover and constant freeze thaw." Gee, I think I need to check him out myself! Carol Natte, Great Lakes Daylilies. I've never ordered from her. She grows her own plants plus the intros of Doc Branch. Gary Schaben, of Gardens with a Northern Exposure, who's probably best known for his NORTH WIND DANCER (?), has some beauties. Finally, Darlyn Wilkinson, of Greywood Farm, offers both own intros plus plants from a general price list. Whew! If you can't find anything to buy from all our suggestions, you simply are not allowed to call yourself a daylily addict!