Echo, thanks for the recs--I have no Agastaches..and I don't know why! Must check them out. I don't think I've seen them in bloom. And I love Dahlias especially the black leaved ones. I have Heavy Metal ready to go into the ground! Just not sure where yet--perhaps next to the 'Rose Glow' Berberis! I have several Miscanthus that DH and I have to cut down with a chainsaw in the Fall (or else they shed/blow everywhere) so I've shied away from more giant grasses--they're creeping back in, though...they add so much and are so graceful! Rosie,hang in there good things take time! Thanks for the Chelsea Chop scoop! Thanks for weighing in, David, the Iron Weed sounds great! I have Zebrinus but it seems to have lost its stripes--it is still so pretty! I used to have the red Valerian but I let is seed everywhere then cursed the plant! They must have a taproot, had to dig them out--yikes! Same for Dame's Rocket--Hesperis matronalis. Been digging out babies for for or five years now, which is why I asked if any of people's faves reseeded everywhere. I have gravel nearby that is a perfect germination area! Trying hard to learn my lesson! Hollyhocks are on my list! Babera, that Hibiscus sounds awesome! I've had a 'Buebird' in the ground for years that has never bloomed or grown much...I know I should move it but haven't gotten around to it....bad me! It probably is too shaded, maybe. ROUGE!!!!!!!!!! Be still my heart! I love 'Splendide'!!! Those pics did me in! I believe I prefer yours to the one on the link, however. Looks great with your PeeGee! Allen, that Helianthus looks like a cheery force to be reckoned with--what a beauty! I'm just now in my gardening life beginning to warm up to yellow flowers. I've normally only searched out creams and very pale yellows--I've been livin' on the edge, now, got some Rudbeckias, etc.! Thanks for sharing. Christin, I'm on the other side of the mountains and the fireweed grows wild around here! Pretty! Is your Actaea in sun? I plunked mine in shade and would love to try it in the sun--can barely see it now and it is so gorgeous! I have lovage--same plant for years--do you eat it? Very architectural, fer sure--and yes, I think it may just want to be cut back to the ground after it blooms--then it'll send up a fresh new stalk of celery! I have Myrrhis that does great in my deep shade--I love lacy texture and the licorice scent, though. Is yours in the sun? I need to try more stuff in opposite locations than what the tags say... Campanula, if that Valerian's happy, it may reward you with many babies! Umbellifers scare me! Lots of natives here that have taken over the roadsides... Thanks, all!

I searched for Cimifuga and found this thread. Oh, Wendy, that is just wrong! Six years and you get one little bloom before frost. Seems this plant, like some others, want a very particular place as similar to their natural growing situation as possible to perform well. It's not as easy as it might seem to replicate a good woodland setting above and below ground...and we can't change the atmospheric conditions where we live/garden. I'm going to have to accept that I can't have so many of the plants I'd like because I just can't give them the situation they need. I'm not there yet as I still search and drool over these gorgeous plants. I was investigating this plant again because I had a couple native plant nurseries tell me it wouldn't mind pretty deep shade with only flickers of filtered light all day except early Spring and late Fall. If it didn't bloom it wouldn't be worth it to me. The conditions I have aren't even near optimal and don't want to knowingly invite more plant unhappiness...theirs and mine. Hope you got a few more blooms to enjoy, Wendy.

Fantastic list of seeds! I think it is just great that you have focused your life on nature at such a young age. I too would love to have 10 (maybe 5) acres someday to plant a wonderland of natives plants, and am already doing that on 1.25 acres. Difference is, my interest didn't come into sharp focus until age 45. :) There are quite a few seeds on this list I am interested in, and I checked your want list and I have a few on that list. Maybe we can do a trade this fall? Just a note - on your want list is Cynanchum louiseae - this is an extremely invasive non-native vine that is becoming a serious problem in the Northeast US. And it has the additional problem that Monarch butterflies will "sense" it is in the Milkweed family, lay eggs on it, and then it will kill the caterpillars because it is toxic to Monarch larvae.

Thank you! Gardenprince, it’s interesting that your James Compton is in full sun and doesn’t flower, whereas mine is in full to dappled shade and doesn’t flower. I may move the one that is in the woodland garden. The leaves are pretty but since it never achieves any height, I can’t see it there. I’ll plug one of the new species racemosa into its spot. Peren.all, NHBabs, what kind of spread does your species racemosa have? I’m staking out locations. They are coming bare root next week. I’ll have to see how Black Negligee does this year. It was a costly impulse purchase at a local nursery with high prices. It was a large specimen, though. Of course now I want it to justify my faith. The flowers did not smell bad, though: quite the opposite. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for Brunette or Hillside Black Beauty.