Time to start seeds!!!!!!!
 

I have lots of extras. I live in upstate New York. Would love to exchange for something new or that I dont have. This is what I have. I could look for packs of something someone is looking for too. White Moon flower (the one that looks like Easter Lily), Purple Moon flower (same kind except ruffled inside), white pumpkin, purple larkspur, purple zinnia, (can you tell I love purple yet?) bells of ireland, orange cosmos, pink and orange low growing zinnias(they are similar size and spread of marigolds), also chleome (pk and mauve color), pampas grass, and purple cone flower. Happy planting!! Cant wait for may to get everything in the ground!

I'd join in as well, but I think your Customs Dept. might have something to say about that! :o

No doubt about that!!!! I guess there are good reasons to be safe. I live and work near Canadian border at a flower shop, and the Canadian wholesalers always have to go through a lot to get to us. Have a good one

Maybe Mrs D will reply. I didn't get a chance to save any seeds last year, cux I was pretty busy with the grandbaby. And Usually I just kind of crumple the dried pods into the ground in the fall and let nature take it's course.

Good luck with yours - and we'll want to see garden pix this summer.

ooohhh..
 

I didn't get to save much last year.. in fact I had to buy some
from Ebay.

But... If I get alot of allium's... do you want some? I can save those heads. They are easy to grow from seed but take 2-3 years to get the big heads. I discovered this a few years ago.
I deadheaded many so the bulbs would not deplete and threw the heads behind a tree across the street. I also did the same in
the back yard. And then one year we were greeted with a huge volunteer stand of them where I discarded the seed heads!

Considering what they cost per bulb in the stores (around $5 each) it is worth a try. So this year I bought a hybrid seed from Ebay and have them in the frig for cold stratification.

If they sprout, I will try the other half (I bought 50)

So anyone here who wants allium seed--- I'll save them for you this season!
http://www.bellewood-gardens.com/Bel...t%20Allium.jpg
I am not sure my seeds will be this big...but they are close and very nice anyway! There are several types. The ones I have in the frig are these biggies. But those won't bloom for 2 seasons if they germinate for me.

I can also save Rose Campion....My husband can dead head the first wave before he comes up on vacation to join me.
http://muskogeephoenixonline.com/blo...ion-785851.jpg
It is the hot pink/red flower in this picture. It is semi wild looking and fits in nicely height wise and type if you like wild flower effects.
This is my favorite and easy from seed too. Will self sow if conditions are right. I had to buy more seed this season, but we can try and save ours for anyone here.
I grew 8 plants on vacation last summer and there is a picture of them in my profile album with a toad who was living in one of the pots! I brought these 8 home and put them in my front garden, which is also in the profile pictures. I have a couple of the Campion posted there too. They are very hardy, can stand dry conditions, and will rebloom if you dead head them. And if you do NOT deadhead them treat them as biennials. I have a few coming back this spring that are 3 yrs old now...so dead heading extends them nicely. I used to replant all the time, from seed. All of my campions came from 2 plants I bought at a nursery as an experiment about 5 yrs ago. I really like them.

Dear Mrs. D, I would love some allium. Are you looking for anything in particular that I could trade. Please let me know. I have some of the newer king tut grass or the fiber optic grass also. I could pack it up now and get it to you. Lupine? (Purp) A great dark magenta colored phlox? Red hot poker? Let me know. I have many gardens at my home and landscape for a few people up on escarpement in Lewiston NY. Its about 15 miles from my home. The greatest view around here. One couple lets me plant anything I want. They just want it to look beautiful without getting their hands dirty. They really dont know what they're missing. I dont consider these side jobs, jobs at all. You know how it is if your a gardener!! Get back to me, Cindy

I'll save the allium seeds... They won't be ready til about
June for harvesting. The Campion are not ready til Sept. (there will be alot
of Campion this season, since I have many plants now instead of two).

Right now I can't think of anything I need. I bought some
things on Ebay last fall.

Let me think. I am naturalizing a city owned strip across the
street, that was damaged by the road work (which I show in
my profile album). I can't use tall grasses there, as there is a rule about car visibility. I might try the grasses to cover the wood left behind..stumps from the dead ashes? Look at the back of my car at that spot. They took the cuttings but left a horrible stump.

I only put in very hardy things there, since we are not home to water or care for it most of the summer. (wild oxeye daisies/rudbeckia) Right now I have some sedum there, and snow on the mountain, wild daylilies and myrtle, which seem to survive (we put those in last fall).
I found a few wild boston Ivy in my yard which I threw in there.
When I do a thing like this I throw a bunch of stuff together and see how they intermix, and get along. Some love it, and anothers don't do well...in the end I a get a naturalized effect.

Some of the allium are at the back of this strip where the creek begins (there is a steep decline leading to the creek), and I just threw those seed heads there and they love it! (very elegant and simple!) Not a lot of sun once the Oaks leaf up. A neighbor contributed some Chinese lanterns, but they tend to get eaten by "someone". Maybe Moe the groundhog or rabbits?
I also have some trillium and mertensia there as well. But it is pretty shady for most of it, and only a bit of sun along the curb.

I don't want to get sucked into caring for it too much since we can barely do our own things. But if you have things that are low growing...no more than 15in...let me know.
I'll put up a picture for you once it starts growing over there.
We just raked some of the leaves up this week, so I could get in there with fertilizer and the seed I have so far.

You can see the bare area across the street, in the picture with the digging going on... it is about 36-40in wide and in front of the black tarp . The city planted grass on this area in the end, but I asked them to leave it for us, so I could extend the natural garden effect. GRASS? who is going to mow that? and I know it will just die anyway, and it will compete with any seeds I lay down this spring and be a mess. Not enough sun for grass.
I built that wild naturalized garden myself over the years and just threw in "weedy" perennials and it worked well. I get alot of positive comments from people walking by.

Thanks!

Dear Mrs. D., How bout a variety of hostas or some ferns? I looked at your pics,, loved the frog!!! If it gets shady as summer goes on these might work for you. Let me know, as they will be popping up soon and I can get them to you at an early stage.

Wow.. that is really generous of you. Would this offer hold for next spring? LOL The reason I ask is that I could use them
in another place...but this season I have to concentrate my time on the problem at hand. Where I am working now, it is very dry...dry shade. The most difficult place to grow anything.
The huge trees we have suck all the moisture out of the ground quickly. And the front garden is mostly sand, from the building of the road, and that complicates things further and makes the water issue more acute. Both ferns and hostas don't like it that dry.

I have found one plant that grows wild that I have been increasing for dry shade...it is called early meadow rue, and stays short, and looks like maidenhair ferns! I can save some of these seeds for you too...I have finally put them in and spread seed over the past decade in places where NOTHING would grow!
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/image/vbig/...es/meadow2.jpg
This is a really nice plant for dry shade. It will also grow in more moist conditions. I am very partial to it, and it casts a very nice shadow if planted along a sidewalk or street.
This spring I will be scrounging for volunteer babies to move across the street.
It comes easily from seed. But it alas, has no flowers. It is basically a foliage statement.
This photo shows the little cluster of seeds on this plant.
I think it has to be cold stratified before planting. Like I am doing with the Allium.

Which BTW, I checked the Allium seeds in the frig..I wrapped them in
damp paper toweling and put that in a ziploc and they have swollen up 100%... so they may germinate faster than I expected. Once I get this experiment to work, that is how you can do them too. (I used to do daylillies this way and Siberian Iris). OH, that reminds me... I will have a TON of blue Siberian iris seeds this season... Want some of those?

Thanks for the allium tip MrsD.:) I planted a few bulbs in the back yard last fall. They're already poking up through the dirt. I'll collect those seeds and sprinkle around other areas where I'd like them to grow.

They're a hybrid of some fancy purple color from Burpee's.

update...
 

Some of my allium seeds are sending out roots in the refrigerator already...just over 2 wks there. So I am starting the
other 25 from the packet.

Only about 8 or so are doing it...I am going to plant them in
cells today and keep the others going to see if they germinate or not.

These are the hybrid large ones I bought on Ebay.

Dear Mrs. D., I did a little digging today (not in soil). I found a list of plants that grow in dry shade. Day lily (stella de oro), Periwinkle Vinca, Pearly Everlasting(Anaphalis) This has white flowers. Bearberry(Arctostaphylos) This is a very dense low growing green plant (kinda looks like a grass) that shoots up purple spikes that are no taller than plant. Ladys Mantle, Lily of the Valley, Barrenwort(Epimedium) This is flowering also yellow and ruby. Cransebill(geranium), Hosta!!! Foxglove, Grape Hyacinths (Warning!! Spreads like crazy) Japanese Spurge(Pachysandra), Lungwort(Pulmonaria), Lambs Ear(Stachys), English Ivy, Spotted Dead Nettles, this looks like an Ajuga (spelling?) It has silver on leaves, pretty! and one more Scilla Siberica which is a bulb. I hope this helps. You really need to try to add some compost to area and after planting add mulch to retain water better. I have lambs ear up the ying yang if you so desire it, and also day lilies. Check these out and let me know what you think. Cindy

That is a great list Cindy! I have about 2/3 of those already.

I didn't know Pearlies could grow in shade. Up North, they don't do well in the woods, but do very well on the rocky shore (where there is little or no soil).

I transplanted a clump from our other island (the family owns but is not built upon) to our shore in 2005. This picture shows them getting ready to flower in 2006. They were robust until last year, when they more or less were gone. But they reseeded, and have spread nicely. And the DEER leave them alone! HAHA
They don't transplant well, and may die when moved. The place where I took them had a clump about 36 inches in diameter.
Last summer that clump spread along the whole shore -- just above the water line. It had to be 50 feet LONG! It was amazing. We don't know if that was because I took a piece of it and that stimulated it, or it was just going to happen anyway!

So I will bring back seeds this year from ours and see if they take across the street! They'd even be nice in our regular garden! The pH up there in the Limestone(alkaline) may be the factor they love..we might be too acidic for them here...but it is worth a try!

Mrs. D., I went on line and just typed dry, shade plants. You could too. Good luck with it. It snowed here this A.M. lots of wind too. Yuk! Good day to stay under comforter with good book, and cup of tea!! This yo yo weather makes my sinus problems kick up. Come on spring!!

Yes... today we have snow too. Today is really a TWO cuppa for me! (maybe a 3 cuppa in fact!)
I hate sudden weather lows like this...I feel awful today. But I had a nice day
yesterday. Some beautiful and inexpensive pansies at Home Depot! They are
sitting in my van right now (it is sort of like a cold frame with plenty of windows/sun). I keep a planter at the foot of the stairs, and just leave
the pansies in their pots. These are 5 inch generous pots for $2.98...It was so lovely yesterday I couldn't resist.
We are supposed to get up to 5 more inches of snow today.... blech!

Thanks for the tip!

MrsD, OMG, I was also at Home Depot yesterday, I saw those pansies! I bought two pots of rock cress. One lavendar and one dark purple. Thats my fav color. Will look beautiful next to my purp forget- me- nots next spring. I also bought a pink smoke bush at Aldi of all places. $14.99 tho just a sprig. I also bought a pack of Cerinthe, its something new to me. Of course another purple flower! Thought I'd try it. I work in a flower shop as a designer and have access to a greenhouse to start my own seeds. Great boss! I also winter over many things there too. Its snowing tonight. Heavy flakes! Makes everything messy! Pretty to look at tho! Take care

Our Home Depot didn't have much out yet. There were some
tulips and hyacinths in addition to the pansies.

I'm getting them out of the car today, I think they'll be okay now.

That is great having access to a greenhouse... oh, my!

And thanks for being a good sport about my booboo yesterday;)

By rock cress you mean? Aubrietia? or phlox? I saw some creeping phlox at Home Depot too.

I was checking the front garden yesterday and given all the stress of the digging up the street last spring, things are looking good. Even the saponaria that got ripped out. It spread from underground stems! I didn't expect that :p

mrsD, The rock cress is Aubrietia. I love it. Another thing I saw there at Home Depot was a new variety of Curly Willow (Tree). It has a darker stem. I grow it myself (I dont let it get very big) to cut and use at flower shop in arrangements. Its very wispy. It added style to my work. I love using branches of unusual color and shape. I use red dogwood, birch, bamboo and regular willow. Of course all of it when all the leaves have fallen off. Im a regular ditch diver, as they call me at work. Sometimes the best finds, like kitty willow, and wild pampass grass is on the other side of a ditch as far as access to it. LOL I even climb trees to get a good truck full of curly willow. I especially love my job this time of year with all the spring flowers that are so abundant. We just got a load of the most fragrant stock in a varitey of colors (purple being my fav) and really tall larkspur also in a nice variety of colors. Tulips, iris, daffs and of course ornamental lilies. We have a large greenhouse that we grow our own callas (white) and fresia. Its just nice to use color. We go from xmas (red, green, white) to Val Day (Red again) to spring. Makes you creative!! Happy Easter! I had to put kitty willow because it bleeped out the word that starts with a P. If you think aboout it youll get it!!LOL What ever!

Do you have any pictures of your arrangements?

I'm going to check our nurseries for that curly willow.
Can you increase it by rooting it? How tall does it grow?

Dear MrsD., I need to get a scanner!!! I'm still new to this computer stuff. I will send pics when I get one. Soon! Curly Willow roots very fast. When I cut it of trees, I keep it in a cool garage at work. This time of year, thats easy. It drys to quick when hot, then its not pliable. You see, I wrap smaller pieces into a ball and place in a vase before I add water, then arrange from there. Its a very now look, as is plastic colored ice chips, marbles, rocks. You can get those at any dollar store. Anyway, I throw the stumps into a bucket with water this time of year. This stuff roots very easily, like P. Willow also. Then when its nice enough, I stick it in the ground. Ive also just stuck it in without rooting and that worked too. Its nice when you have long pieces to cut a bunch and put into a large, tall vase in your house. You can even make a wreath out of it the same way you make a grapevine wreath, or swag. I just love it!! I just recently went to Niagara International Flower Show in Niagara Falls. They showcased a woman named Els Tennissen. She is originally from Holland. She did many designs made with supplies from Accent Decor. Beautiful and creative styles. Look this website up AccentDecor.com this is the kind of designs we make. TTYL PS Curly Willow is a regular size willow tree. You can keep it from getting large by pruning every year. Just plant it where you wont care if it does get big someday.

bump...
 

The Alliums are starting!

Here is a pic.... I will be saving seeds.

The berms along the highway behind us have the ultra giant
alliums...I am going to skulk in the night when they set seed and
get some of them too! ---pray I don't get arrested! :p