Well, I don't direct sow anything except a few veggies, but I have started some seeds this week that need warm/cold/warm cycles (sometimes more than once). In your zone, you might have to keep such flats indoors for a few weeks, then put them out - but in Alabama the temperatures are still warm enough to qualify for a warm cycle. Here's what's out on my shelves already: Cornus stolonifera and cornus sanguinea (red dogwoods) Dictamnus alba (gas plant0 Echinacea angustifolia (WCW is recommended, but you may be able to get away with just wintersowing these) Camellia sassanqua - not sure my seeds are viable for this; I plucked them from a plant in the church courtyard Rhexia virginica (Handsome Harry) - a little beauty that is one of my favorite wildflowers Rosa, rugosas, and seeds from a couple of hybrids Symphotricum novae-angliae (NE Aster) Trollius europaea (globeflower) Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) Calycanthus floridus (Carolina allspice) Filipendula vulgaris (dropwort) Tiarella Viburnum opulus (cranberry) In the next few days, I will be doing more; notably alliums, and some trees. I am certain these could be direct sowed, but (a) I'd probably forget where they were, and (b) I like the control wintersowing in flats gives me.

I'm sure that most of the plants on your lists are great and have some wildlife value, Anna, but the ones that jump out at me are - Castillega indivisa/Indian paintbrush - I can only drool at pictures of this beautiful host for buckeyes and fulvia checkerspots since it doesn't occur here, but it's also a good nectar plant for butterflies, and, judging by the looks of the flowers, for hummingbirds, also. It's supposed to be impossible to transplant, but it can be propagated from seeds. If I lived in Oklahoma, I'd order seeds and sow them in a meadow with native grasses - most members of the snapdragon family are parasitic or partially so on grass roots. Centaurea americana - you already have plenty of this - I'd make sure it stays! Antennaria and Artemesia - Both these are host for American ladies, and, if they're as tough as the cudweed in my area, they should be easy to grow. Asclepias, spp. - All of these are desirable, both as hosts for monarchs and the nectar in their flowers, which are real popular with all butterflies. Asters - These give beautiful flowers in the fall that butterflies nectar on, and they're supposed to host pearl crescents. I've planted some rice button asters to add to the naturally occurring asters in hopes of getting PC cats someday. Desmodium - This is the principal host plant for long-tailed skippers in my area - it's VERY easy to grow! Liatris pycnostachya - I just love this beautiful plant, and butterflies love to nectar on the flowers. Tephrosia virginiana/Goat's rue - As far as I know, this plant doesn't host any butterfly, and I've never seen any butterflies or hummers nectaring on the flowers, but it thrives on the poorest, driest, most eroded, pure red/orange clay parts of my property. The rainbow of pastel colors of the flowers is charming, and it might be useful as a host or nectar plant to something - I don't get to the parts of my property where it grows too often. Sherry

I've only seen Rhexia in very wet soil, or shallow standing water. Is the plant blooming now? It's really too early for Rhexia, which blooms mid to late summer. Hesperis matronalis (dame's rocket) has flowers that look similar to Rhexia, and it blooms around this time of year. Here is a link that might be useful: dame's rocket

Hi, me again, I totally agree with you on the new ID!!!...let me explain? Was given ID of Spanish Shawl/Centradenia Grandifolia on GW forum but couldnt access my old post to check it for some reason. I remembered the S. Shawl bit but not the C.G. part, so googled S. Shawl and was given Heterocentron Elegans with no mention of C.G whatsoever. It didnt ring a bell, and I wrongly assumed it was correct. When you gave the ID of C.Grandifolia I recognised it immediately as the Latin name I was given originally....sorry to confuse you!! but it just goes to show us how important these Latin names really are as several differing species can be known under the same common name. Brandy, the UK most definately has large urban areas of cities and the like, but conversley, there are miles and miles of open countryside with forests, pasture, dales, heath and moorlands like the area in which I live. The only thing we are short on is a desert I think! The site 'Google Earth' will give you a good aerial view of what its like over here. Regards and thanks for correcting me! Gill.