Wow! This thread is insane-- but fun :-) Barb, love that greenhouse...we're thinking of building one at some point-- after the garage, after putting in a driveway, after the new shed... Lindama, sorry I didn't see your question about the Verbascum until now! Yes, it was Southern Charm. Love it! Okay, so here's my list of what I've sown since the last time I posted what I'd sown: Tomato- Cherry "Supersweet 100 VF HB" Tomato-Cherry "Sungold" HB Tomato- "Northern Delight" Tomato- "Mortgage Lifter" Tomato- "Cherokee" Leek "Musselburgh" Scallion "Ishikuro" Tomato- "Marmand" Beetroot "Chioggia" Salsify "Mammoth Sandwich Island" Rutabaga "American Purple Top" Chives (2nd container) Radish "Champion" Radish "China Rose" Radish "Easter Egg II" Dill "Dukat" Carrot "Nantes Coreless" Carrot "Long Imperator" Strawberries (Store bought produce) Blackberries (Storebought produce) Sweet William "Stokes Tall Mix" Sweet William "Single Flowered Mix" Sweet William "Black and White Minstrel" Siberian Wallflower Coneflower "Bravado" Chinese Lantern Salvia farinacea Blue-Violet "Victoria" Salvia farinacea White "Victoria" Alstroemeria "Ligtu HB" Alstroemeria "Dr Salter's HB" Salipglossis "Casino Mix" Salipglossis "Royal Chocolate HB" Salipglossis "Kew Blue" Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) Trailing Mix Malva "Mystic Merlin" Hollyhock "Summer Carnival Mix" Hollyhock "Nigra" Penstemon barbatus coccineus Alyssum saxatile "Golden Queen" Coreopsis Basilis Tansy Polyanthus "Gold Lace" Polyanthus "Dazzler Tagetes F1" Cleome "Color Fountains"- C. hassleriana Sweet Rocket (White)- Hesperis matronalis Clarkia unguiculata "Mountain Garland" Evening Primrose- Oenothera lamarckiana Scarlet Flax- Linum rubrus Crimson Clover - Trifolium Fried Eggs- Limanthes, regular yellow Fried Eggs "Sulphur Yellow"- Limanthes Pansy "Majestic Giants 2" Mix Pansy "Majestic Giants 2" Rosalyn Pansy "Majestic Giants 2" Blue and White Viola "Cuty" Viola "Bambini Mix" Pansy "Dynamite" Purple, Rose, White Pansy "Clear Sky" Mix Viola "Sorbet Purple Duet" Viola "Sunny Royale" Viola "Sorbet Yellow Frost" Pansy "Jolly Joker" Pansy "Skyline" White Counting down...Petunias, Stocks, Snaps, BBs, Cauliflower... Linda

ok i "just happened" LOL to come accross another thingi, hope thing. LOL hope these ones help out. Q&A: Flowers Deer Avoid Question: We live in upstate NY, and have several areas that would be great for naturalizing perennials and bulbs. Can you suggest plants that would be somewhat deer-resistant? Answer: Deer are crafty, and if they're hungry, persistent. This is to say, take all "deer resistant" recommendations with a grain of salt because hungry deer will eat just about anything. That said, here are some choices that would work where you live: astilbe, bee balm, bleeding heart, columbine, coreopsis, crocosmia, crocus, daffodil, dahlia, foxglove, gloriosa daisy, hellebore, lupine, moss pink, pincushion flower, poppy, purple coneflower, and thyme. The only guaranteed solution to keeping deer at bay is a fence -- one tall enough that deer can't jump.

Thank you drippy for the kind words,i could feel your warmth,this is the first i have heard of Solstice Sowing,and i was in a big hurry to get it done tonight,i posted what i did by mistake on a different thred.So i will tell you all what i did tonight. First, i would like to thank all of you for posting this,it is a beautiful thing to do, and i will do this every year from now on. For Rememberance**For*get*me*nots**for my very best friend who passed away a couple of years ago,oh,how i miss her,we were friends for 40 years. For* Leap of Faith**Primula japonica**because i really want these to germinate. For Mother Earth**Flowering Dogwood For Birds & Butterflies**Gaillardia*Razzle Dazzle & Gaillardia*Burgundy. I also did some hosta,and because i am so tired right now, for the life of me, i can not remember what else i did,lol But i am fellin good,and happy. My thoughts go out to all who are going through hard times right now,from a broken heart to the economy,may the new year be good to all of us. Carol

Mine are two years in and hopefully next year will begin to look 'peary'. So far it's been interesting to see their different spines develop and my fingers are crossed the flowers will be interesting as well. I have no doubts someday the hatred will grow and I'll end up with a palm (or butt) full of spines -and they'll end up in the trash- but until that day comes they are just the coolest little things. A xeric bed wouldn't be the worst idea here either. There's a miserable spot at the end of the driveway and between these and a few other bigger opuntia it might be a nice mix. I really need some companions for a few yucca. The yucca were the coolest little things a few years ago but are now becoming the coolest big things as they outgrow the temporary spot I had them in. They're another totally unnecessary plant which is probably a weed out west, but it's hopefully a pink tinted form of soapweed and as it is the foliage already shows much promise. I try not to let the unplanted seedling pots weigh too heavily on my conscience. Prior to the first summer getaway I try to shove as many as possible in every open nook and cranny, prior to the first frost I try and get everything else in. Any unsprouted seeds or pots with tiny bulb seedlings get put by the compost where I can throw a bit of protective mulch on top. Easy come easy go and I try to be ruthless with my thinning since I rarely need more than a half dozen seedlings... even if a couple hundred have sprouted :)