I have some sweet pea seeds, although i don't know what type they are. If you're willing to take an unknown type of sweet pea i'd like to take some of your older seeds off your hands, like some of the Starfire Tomato, Sunflower teddy bear fully double, or Marygold casaba melon seeds.

Hello Leftwood. I would like to do a trade with you. I need more Allium stellatum as I could only collect about a dozen seeds. Also would like Penstemon grandiflora. And any more natives that you think would be good to add to my wildflower collection. The zagadanus is native from Meeker co. as are almost all others. I forgot to add Lilium philadelphicum to my list above. Can you send me email please?

Barb, for looking and for your comments! Jim, for several years I've had the ground orchid, Bletilla striata, growing mostly in the shade with just a little dappled sunlight. I seem to remember that it took a couple of years for it to bloom after planting. So probably yours just needs to get established to bloom. The only 'problem' it seems to have is emerging so early in the year, about Feb. as I recall, that frosts tend to nip the tops of the foliage if I don't get out there and cover it. This doesn't leave it looking so good the rest of the year, but you probably won't have that problem in your zone, since it hasn't happened in the warmer winters we've had here the last couple of years. I did a little research just now and found that the variety pictured above is Spathoglottis plicata. I'm excited about it because several links say it blooms throughout the year while the beautiful Bletilla striata pictured below blooms only in the spring. However, since I divided the clump into about ten plants I'm pretty sure it won't bloom again this year and just might not bloom next year either. As mentioned above Spathoglottis plicata was purchased at Home Depot. I read online this morning that someone had gotten it at Lowes on 2007. So those two places might be where to watch for them next spring if anyone wants one. Here is a link that might be useful: Ground orchid, Spathoglottis plicata

They will flower. Give them a chance. Also, though, the plants are too close together and may be stunted. The weeds you see may already have been in the soil when you prepared the bed. I'd give them a chance. Thin them a bit maybe. Or rip them out. Your choice really.