Coneflowers, liatris, golden yellow heliopsis in bloom now. Some unknown pink garden phlox. Phlox 'David' will bloom later. Garlic chives will open within a week.

Nearly all David Austin roses are putting out new buds.

Dahlias began last week. I have them in pots so I can move them around where color is needed.

Shrubs: buddleia (butterfly bush) just starting
hydrangea 'Quick Fire'

For shady areas:
Tuberous begonias (perennials if you bring them in)
hostas

Anne-Marie

MM

MM

MM

"Any chance that seeds will be available in the future?"

It will probably be at least two years before I have seed that "come true" enough to distribute. My F2s (seeds that were saved from these hand-pollinated F1 hybrids) that are coming into bloom right now are disappointingly not like their parents, although there are some interesting forms in them.

I would estimate that at least 95% of my F2s will wind up in the compost pile. I have set up a 6-foot diameter wire cage to contain that pile and it is filling up daily.

I am taking the "American Idol" approach to zinnia breeding, by growing a large number of zinnias and discarding all but the best. And then making hand-pollinated hybrids between the best. Here is a specimen that I have singled out for special attention.

I am putting a lot of pollen from choice cactus flowered specimens, mainly large white specimens, on this in an attempt to make progeny from this marigold flowered specimen have much larger, looser flowers. Specimens like this I refer to as "breeders" because they have potential for producing good new strains of zinnias. Oddly, this specimen has produced no pollen of its own yet, or I would surely use it on other candidate breeders. But I plan to get a lot of seeds from it for growing next year by crossing it with good pollen donors. Its stigmas are "buried" in the tight petal structure, so it is a bit tedious pollinating it.

MM