I'm wondering, Carol, how long you will have at each of the gardens - two days isn't much to do all four. We easily did both Sissinghurst and Great Dixter in a single day. We gave a day to Wisley. It's bit, and a terrific garden but we were unimpressed with their rather ordinary rose garden - the long, long, long border and rock garden were much better. We went to Mottisfont several different days, and I would think it needs at least half a day, if possible - hope you aren't too jet lagged on your first day in England. Mottisfont's rose gardens aren't huge, but there is so much to look at and it is so beautifully done that I couldn't stop looking! I think it might be open a bit later than usual in June, if you are staying nearby. Janelle and I did fine on our first day in the UK without a nap, and really adjusted without much jet lag. I slept in a bit later than usual the first few mornings - she didn't. When I went to London with my husband some years ago, I didn't do as well - literally fell asleep on my feet while visiting a museum. Maybe it was an advantage to be outside in fresh air, sunshine, and gardens rather than inside. I got sick on the trip to London, but was utterly healthy and thriving during the garden trip. In any case, your trip sounds wonderful. I think you've said that your husband isn't really a rose garden kind of guy, so how nice that you are getting these two days plus a day at Kew. My husband isn't much for gardens, but he was pretty enthusiastic about Kew. I still think that Kew is a great choice, but have to say that we heard good things about St. Albans from the people on Clair Martin's Great Rosarians trip last year. It wasn't open to the general public but was open to RNRS members and tour groups. We could always have joined the RNRS and gotten to see it, but we just didn't make the time. Anita

sambacmouse, thats great news. Atleast your sprouted sooner than mine. It takes really long time to sprout. I am from southern part of india. You can get these plants for quater doller(25C).In 2-3 years they start bloming. I grow up with this plant and i love them. I never knew that there are different varieties like Artabotrys hexapetalus and Artabotrys odoratissima.

This post is several years old. I won't be giving out free marrow seeds this year. I only do that on years I have a very large surplus of seed that I could never trade or sell. If anyone is still interested in getting the marrow seeds then you can get them on P&P Seeds http://www.pandpseed.com/ I also sell them on ebay. Just search for my handle: "sunflower_info" or do a search on the words "giant" and "sunflower" or "corn" or "amaranth" or "squash" or "gourd" or "millet", etc. You'll find them!

FWIW - you might consider going to MG 12-4-8 liquid. Same 3:1:2 ratio, but easier to use because it's a liquid and won't absorb moisture from the air like the granular product will. If you do need Ca and/or Mg, you can supply the Ca by the addition of CaSO4 (gypsum) and Mg by the addition of MgSO4 (Epsom salts). Neither will affect medium pH to any appreciable degree. Al