The price for the Easy Bloom dropped to $38 and free shipping, so I put it on my Holiday Wish list with STRONG suggestions to dear ole hubby. I'll keep you posted. In terms of my garden, I have some areas that plants do well in and several areas that nothing takes. Plants that should thrive, Homestead verbena, lantana, etc, do not survive. So I plan on concentrating my efforts in these areas first. Of course, it's the spot that you can see out my kitchen window!!! I think I'll invest in a soil kit from one of the big box stores and see what happens. If I do not have any success, then I will definitely contact the Extension office. Thank you all for your replies.

I hope Santa is very good to you all and brings you whatever garden gifts you want. I'd really like a garden helper/handyman but they are pretty scarce. I would also like a garden bench altho I might spend too much time just sitting and not gardening! ;-D I think those Travelocity gnomes are cute also and QVC does have them - link below. There are not a lot of 'things' I need for my garden and I like to choose them myself so I'm not making garden gift suggestions to family. No longer buying gardening books. Would like a new birdbath to replace the cheap plastic one but I made the birds a glass totem birdbath and only the chipmunks use it. The birds seem to prefer the cheap plastic one that's elevated 6' high - I guess they feel safer there. I buy a few garden decorations every year mostly at yard sales and have made more totems, etc. than my garden needs. Mother's Day is when I get my garden goodies, not Christmas, as the plant nurseries have just opened here and my enthusiasm is high. Right now I'm hibernating just like my garden! LOL Here is a link that might be useful: Travelocity gnome

Karen Hause, have you seen the flowers of this sedum? If so what color are they? We don't have a fully authoritative answer but have some strong leads regarding its identity. We'll write more about this, but the flower color would provide additional clarification. Incidentally, side-by-side comparison makes us more convinced that your blue sedum is S. hispanicum not 'Blue Spruce'. We'll write more about this, too.

Hello all, I am glad I looked. The date is set in my calendar. Lorabell: you gave me a plant that looked like a onion and had skinny and fleshee leaves coming out of it. Has that ever bloomed for you? Well, ... mine is blooming now. I had a BUNCH of stuff blooming in the greenhouse. Karen, you didn't tell me it is THAT awesome with a greenhouse!!! Cacti that have never bloomed before, stuff growing like crazy, Wow, super cool! (well, yes, I am excited for spring!) Vlad