Anyone interested?

Well, here is a list of what I have, that I am not already planning to use next year. Keep in mind that some are full unopened commercial packs (CP), some are partial packs (PP), some are things I received from trades (T), and a couple are things that I harvested myself (F = fresh).

HAVE:
Annuals:

Coreopsis 'Mahogany Midget' PP
Cosmos 'Bright Lights' PP, T
Cosmos 'Dwarf Ladybird Mix' F
African Daisies PP
Sunflowers 'Dwarf Border Mix', 'Earth Walker', 'Claret F1 Hybrid' CP, PP
Gomphrea 'Strawberry Fields' T
Nasturtium 'Jewel' mixed colors PP
Helichrysum bracteatum (Strawflower) T
Pennisetum glaucum (Purple Majesty Millet) T

Perennials:

Aquilegia chrysantha T
Echinacea 'Ruby Giant' T
Echinacea 'Sunrise' F (this may not come true from seed)
Coreopsis - unknown variety T
Gaillardia 'Burgandy' PP
Kniphofia uvaria 'Tritoma Mix' PP
Leucanthemum superbum (Shasta Daisy) 'Alaska' T
Lychnis, Rose Campion T
Rudbeckia - unknown, reddish center, brown eye T

Vegetables:

Asparagus officinales T
Popcorn 'Strawberry' T

WANT:

Zinnia 'Profusion Apricot'
Tomatoes (sauce type) such as Opalka, or San Marzano
Peppers: Paprika peppers, or mild chile peppers, or Italian roasting type ... nothing hot
Cucumbers: something good for dill pickles or slicing bush type preferred
Any type of annual foliage plant that would be good for containers, or flowering annual in soft colors like apricot or pale yellow, or burgandy. You guessed it ... no pinks, blues, or purples, LOL.

If you are interested in anything I have listed, or have something you think I may want (please feel free to tempt me), either post it here, or email me through my member page. All I ask is that you include enough postage on the envelope to cover the cost of mailing it to you.

Just thought this would be a fun way to get rid of seeds you aren't using, and maybe try something new that you wouldn't otherwise.

Bonnie

- Bonnie

Here are some things I could offer:

Consolida ajacis (Larkspur - blue-purple, probably the Rocket variety)
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) - I believe it's 'Hidcote'
Iceland poppy mix
Digitalis purpurea (common Foxglove)
Salvia nemorosa 'East Friesland'
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower -- these are likely mongrels, since I've grown 'Magnus', 'White Swan', and some other variety near each other)
Gaillardia grandiflora (Indian Blanket Flower)
Lavatera tauricensis - a perennial Lavatera that I really like, with pink Hibiscus-like or Mallow-like flowers. It flowers for a very long season. I have never seen this anywhere but my garden; I got the seeds from T&M maybe 10 years ago. I have read online that it may be synonymous with Lavatera thuringiaca, but it comes from a distinct population in the Crimean mountains and has a different leaf shape than a typical thuringiaca. Here's a photo:

Steve, I don't think these Marigolds are French. They are called 'Safari Primrose' and are about 10" tall. I bought the seeds at Lowe's. I'm still waiting for the seeds to ripen, and thought I missed my chance, since the last two nights have been below freezing. Fortunately, the floating row cover was enough to buy them some more time. It didn't save the pepper plants or basil, but at least I harvested all of the peppers Saturday, and strung them up in the garage. They are still completely green though. Will they ripen in the garage?

Your list is a little too purple for me, Steve, LOL! But I am sure someone will be along to snatch up those pretty Lavateras.

Bonnie

Funny observation -- I've started to notice that most of the flowers I like (and buy) are purple and about 3 feet tall! I'm trying to diversify in height and color these days. Yellow is another color I probably overdo.

But I am going to completely redo a long, narrow flowerbed that surrounds two sides of my back lawn. I'm going to make it mostly an annual bed, and I could use some of those Safari Primrose marigolds if we can work out something to trade!

BTW, I googled it, and it is a French marigold. I like those small marigold plants -- I just wanted to be sure it wasn't the real tall kind with ball-shaped heads.

I definitely need some more flowers to round out my garden/yard!

I don't do anything special like bag the blossoms to prevent
crossing with other tomatoes, but so far I haven't had any mix-ups. Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but sometimes a bee or other insect can come along and mix things up. (Just to let everyone know that I can't guarantee purity.)

I'll get a list up by the weekend hopefully.

Stevation, I could probably trade actual plants with you in the Spring as I always have extra.

Tyffanie

Tyfannie, I am looking forward to your list, since I am looking for tomatoes and peppers. Let me know if there is anything on my list that interests you.

Azura, good luck on those exams, and I am looking forward to your list too!

Bonnie

Also, these plants were mingled with other marigolds that aren't the kind I'd want, so I'm wondering if they easily hybridize with other marigold varieties and might not produce what I'm looking for.

Not sure about the cross pollination.

Bonnie

I was getting kind of sad to see summer end, but now with so many plants going to seed, there's still fun to be had out there!

Bonnie

It's also fun to go through your lists and look up the plants I don't recognize. But I don't have any more flower bed space until we get rid of more lawn, so it seems a bit greedy to ask for any seeds. But maybe some of those Lavatera from Steve, they are pretty!

Flowers:

Red Gerbera Daisy collected

Cosmos "Cosmic Orange" collected & open packet

Marigold collected
looks like these: http://www.bodger.com/seed/7034323.jpg

Morning glory (purple with pink bars) collected

Morning glory "Crimson Rambler" collected

Cosmos "Single Sensation Mixed Colors" unopened packet 2006

Vegetables:

"Black" Tomato collected

Carrots "Touchon" open packet

Melon "French Orange" open packet

Lettuce "Anuenue" (organic) open packet

Acorn squash "Table Queen" open packet

Cucumber "Diva" unopened packet

Sweet corn "Painted Mountain Organic" open packet

Peas "Sugar Sprint" open packet

Garden beans "Oregon 54" open packet

Turnip "Purple top white globe" (organic) open packet

Potato "Zolushka Hybrid" open packet

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunburst' and Dianthus knappii

Alice, "if you grow them, the space will come" LOL! I don't really have any bed space left either, but I just keep buying more containers until I can dig up some more sod. BTW, how tall do those Gerbera daisies get?

Bonnie

Thanks for sharing,
Bonnie

Bonnie

Un-veggies

• Avena sativa (Cat grass) - P7
  
• Buddleia Davidii (Butterfly Bush Mixed Colors) - P7
  
• Echinacea Purpurea Bravado Coneflower - P7
  
• Forget Me Nots - T6
  
• Helenium 'Moorheim Beauty' (may not come true from seed) - M6
  
• Lagurus Ovatus (Bunny Tails Grass) - P6
  
• Liatris 'Blazing Star' - T6
  
• Linum perenne "Appar" (Blue Flax) - P6
  
• Lobelia 'Crystal Palace' - P6
  
• Nasturtium 'Cherry Rose' - P6
  
• Nicandra (Shoo Fly Plant) - M7
  
• Nicotania Lime - T6
  
• Portulaca 'Sun Dial Peach' - P7
  
• Rose Campion "Pink" - T6
  
• Sweet William Biennial - T7
  
• Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue-Eyed Grass) - P6
  
• Zinnia Lilliput Mixed Colors - P6
  

Veggies:

• Bush Bean Trio (Botanical Interests three-bean mix Blue Lake 274, Cherokee Wax & Purple Queen) - P7
  
• Corn 'Early Sunglow' - P7
  
• Watermelon 'Ice Box Mickylee' - P7
  
• Watermelon 'Moon and stars" - P6
  
• Thai Dragon Pepper - P7
  
• Chinese Leek Hiro Haba - P7
  

I have tons of mixed cosmo and marigold seeds. The cosmos are sensation and sonata mixed several generations ago. They are bright pink, light pink, white and "red". The marigolds are African and French that have intermingled for many generations. Their colors are bright yellow to hurt-your-eyes orange.
I also have some daylily seeds and rose hips I will probably never do anything with. I doubt they are of interest to any of you but let me know.
I have other seeds that I dont have the time to go through right now but if you are looking for something in particular, please ask. I hope something sounds interesting to someone out there. :)

Email me your address through my member page, and I will send you the penstemon seeds, along with anything else you are interested in, and a SASE.

Thank you for taking the time to participate. I think trading seeds is so much fun. It's like baseball cards for grown ups, LOL!

Bonnie

Thanks, Bonnie

I collected a few seeds from my Gazanias, which are probably my favorite flower planted this year. I love their sunny flowers, and they're still blooming! I would have put them on the exchange, but I'm a little greedy, most of the summer I deadheaded the flowers, but now I'm letting them go to seed, and they don't seem to produce that much seed. But next year when I have a lot more I'll have these seeds to exchange. They are just the sunniest, happiest little flower I have ever seen!

Anyone interested in those Lavatera seeds? I REALLY like these flowers, and they are quite unique. I'm willing to send some seeds out to a few folks even if you don't have something I want in trade. Perhaps I should ask for a SASE, but if it's a few people, I don't mind using my own envelopes and postage!

I sent you the private message with my address. You should know that these Lavatera are much taller than evening primrose, but not as tall as some Lavateras can be. These are about 2 1/2 feet tall. Very nice, long bloomers. I think you'll like them.

Please save some for me! I’m off this week so I should be able to list what I have by mid-week for sure. If you still have some, I’d be interested in some of the Iceland poppy seed too.

Bonnie, I’d be interested in some of your Agastache ‘Apache Sunset’ too. And if you were able to get seed from the ‘Safari Primrose’ marigolds, I like them too.

Azura, I’m interested in some of your ‘Moerheim Beauty’, and maybe some of your blue flax—but I got a couple small blue flax plants from somebody at the Spring Swap, and if the "somebody" was you, I already have some. Was what you had at the swap ‘Appar’? (Also, the blue-eyed grass I got from you at the Spring Swap is doing great! No flowers this year, but I can hardly wait to see them bloom next year. I LOVE Sisyrinchium!)

I’ll be back with my list! If anybody wants to contact me and doesn’t have my "real" email address from the swaps, email me at SkybirdDEN@gmail.com.

Skybird

P.S. PM's don't work for me on GW, so don't PM me and wonder why I don't answer you!

Steve (Stevation)-
I expressed interest in your gorgeous lavatera earlier in this post but I'm not sure if I have something to pique your interest. I have a lot more seed that I really should catalog one of these days. Is there anything you (or anyone) are specifically looking for? I can also send a SASE.

Skybird-
Yes, the flax I had at the Spring Swap was 'Appar' but I would love to send you some seed if you are interested. I'm happy to hear the flax and blue-eyed grass are doing well for you. I have adapted your "cut em down" theory on plants to avoid transplant shock. I remember looking at those tiny wilting flax plants at the swap when you said you were going to cut them and thinking "She must know what she is talking about." It has worked for me so well! I have sent you an email so that you can respond and send me your address. I will send you some Moorheim Beauty seed and I will not accept a SASE, you have been very generous to me at both swaps. I have to tell a quick story about the sedum you gave me. About a month after the swap, I planted them below my whiskey barrel water garden. I forgot that I had promised them to my eight-year-old for one of his gardens. He loves the Sedum 'Angelina' because they look like little pine trees. He came to me with tears in his eyes. "Mom, you promised me I could have those!" He also informed me that they wouldn't get enough sun where they are planted LOL! He is right and we moved the plants to his full sun garden.
Btw, what was your final verdict on Nicandra? I'm sending some Nicandra seeds out to Catlady tomorrow too with the same warning I gave you, collect all of the seed, they can be invasive.
-Azura

You're in luck! I sent most of my leftover seeds out to the folks on the Winter Sowing forum for their free packs for newbies, but I saved the Agastache and the 'Safari Primrose' marigolds, because I am going to use some of them for myself. There's enough to send you some though, but I am holding them ransom until I see your list, LOL!

Thanks Azura! I'll keep my eye out for them. Isn't it nice to get something in the mail that isn't a bill, or junkmail???

Hey Alice, which Gazania do you have? I ordered the Gazania 'Sunshine Mix' a few weeks ago, but Jung's decided to sub 'Daybreak Hybrids Mix' without asking. There is a bronze one that I would love to have. What colors are yours?

Bonnie

I don’t think I need any of the flax seed, then. I’m not sure how many of your little plants I got at the Spring Swap, but I put them together into 2 little plants that are going to be pretty nice next year. Besides cutting them down when I planted them, when they started growing back, they were getting too floppy for my liking, so I cut them down a second time to get them bushier and in hopes that they wouldn’t flop so much when they became a little more established. So I didn’t get any flowers on them this year, but—especially now that it’s cooled—they’re coming back really nicely, and will be small, but nice full, really good looking plants next year. It’s gonna be a loooong wait till next spring!

Glad to hear you have an 8 year old to help you with your gardening! LOL I love it when kids are interested in gardening! But if your son likes the yellow "little pine trees," didn’t you get any of the blue spruce sedum. They look even more like little pine trees since they’re blue spruce green. If you didn’t get any, I’ll have to get you some at the Spring Swap! And if he likes sedum, I can make sure you get some of whichever ones you haven’t gotten so far—and maybe some hen & chicks. Bet he’d love those! I’m gonna take pictures of mine this year when they’re wearing their winter colors. And if he hasn’t tried rooting the sedum cuttings, I bet he’d have fun doing that too!

I won’t have a verdict on the Nicandra until next spring! I think I got most of the seed pods cut off before they dropped any seed. There are still seedheads on the (frozen) plant that’s out there—hope to get that and the other few annuals I have around here cleaned up this week—the weather is supposed to be beautiful. And the seedheads seem to maintain their shape even after they drop their seeds, so I’m gonna save them for possible dried arrangements—if I ever find time to get back to doing that! Just not enough hours/days/weeks...............

But I decided I absolutely love the Nicandra! And I have a kazillion seeds to send to anybody who’d like to try it. I still can hardly believe what it "grew into" considering it took me so long to get it into the ground that it was dying in the pot—and I was really pretty sure it was going to die the rest of the way after I transplanted it. But from what you saw at the swap, it not only grew (fast), but it THRIVED! It was over 5' tall when it froze, and so big that it was hard to get by on the path even with all the tying back I had done. Next year I’m gonna plant (probably just some seed) in the 12" of soil between the air conditioner and the house at the back end of the veggie garden—if you happened to check out that area at the swap. I’ve tried growing sunflowers in there a couple times, and haven’t been able to get them going. I have a feeling the Nicandra will grow pretty much anywhere, and it’ll be really nice to finally have something in that little space to pretty it up! Thank you for introducing me to Nicandra!

I’ll post my list of seeds in the next couple days,
Skybird

:-)
Skybird

And Skybird, I'll be happy to send you some Lavatera, too -- I have so many of those seeds I don't know what I could possibly do with all of them! I'm like the Johnny Appleseed of Lavateras. I'll look for your list soon, because I'm sure you'll have something interesting. Think low heights, in purple-lavender-blue colors or pinks-to-reds. Or interesting foliage that isn't too tall.

Click on any picture to enlarge. And most of them you can see more views by arrowing back and forth!

Agastache foeniculum, Anise Hyssop, 3' X 2-3', Sun, lavender, summer, z? (hardy)
Herb, strong licorice scent, use for teas, reseeds easily

Alcea rosea - mixed colors - single hollyhock, 60" X 24", Full sun, mixed, Jun-Sep, z4
This is technically a biennial, but mine always develop new plants at the base that bloom the next year. Also reseed very easily.

Alcea rosea ‘Nigra’, single black hollyhock, 60" X 24", Full sun, black-red, Jun-Sep, z4 Seed collected from ‘Nigra’ and it could possibly have cross pollinated, but there are no other hollyhocks anywhere nearby, so I doubt it. This is technically a biennial, but mine always develop new plants at the base that bloom the next year. Also reseed very easily. (this is '05 seed--after that I had other colors, so it probably wouldn't come true anymore!)

Aquilegia chrysantha, Columbine, 24" X 15", Part sun, yellow, Jun-Aug, z4
VERY fragrant yellow flowers–put them somewhere where you can easily bend over and sniff them on the way by, long blooming, comes true from seed, Colorado native.

Belamcanda chinensis, Blackberry Lily, 30 X 24, Sun, orange with red spots, Jul-Aug, z4
Flowers are followed by 1/8" black seed clusters

Callirhoe involucrata, Wine cup, Poppy mallow, 6" X 36", Full sun, magenta, Jun-Sep, z3
Colorado native, taprooted (very difficult to move), Plant Select selection, seed germination very irregular - may take months — cold stratification may help some

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, 30" X 30", Sun, red-orange, Jun-Jul, z5

Cyclamen hederifolium, hardy cyclamen, 6" X 6", Part shade to shade, white, Sep-Oct, z5 (I only have enough of this for 2 or possibly 3 packs---get your order in early!)

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Disco Belle Pink’, 4-5' X 3-4', Full sun, Jul-Oct, z4
Large 6" white to light pink flowers with a dark pink eye (seed was collected from pink and could possibly have cross-pollinated with another color---but I doubt it!) Comes up VERY late in spring--mark where it’s planted and just wait for it - grows amazingly fast once it comes up!. Reseeds easily. LARGE plant--plan ahead!

Lavandula angustifolia, English Lavender, ‘Munstead’ or ‘ ’Hidcote’, 18" X 18", Full sun, lavender, Jun-Jul, z5
Evergreen, xeric, reseeds easily, attracts butterflies

Snapdragons, Mixed colors, 12-24" high, Full sun
These are annuals but it’s not at all unusual for them to come back the next year, and they also reseed prolifically

Nicandra - 2007

Ordinary chives! - 2007

Parsnips - 2007

If you're interested in any of these or have any questions, contact me at SkybirdDEN@gmail.com -- or use my "real" address is you happen to have it from one of the swaps.

If you don't have anything to trade, that's fine too---all are available for a SASE!

In a few minutes I'm also going to post the seeds I had left here after the swap. Watch for more!

Skybird

Here’s what I have left from the seeds Cnetter gave me for the swap:

Penstemon strictus, Rocky Mountain Penstemon, 24" X 24", Full sun, lavender, Jun-Jul, z4, evergreen, xeric, Colorado native (I have a few of these that are mine too, but I have a whole bunch left still from Cnetter)

Mexican hat, I assume Ratibida columnifera v. pulcherrima, maroon & yellow flowers, CO native, reseeds

Red & white Papaver somniferum, (opium/breadseed poppies) Danish Flag (refining instructions not included!)

Tall generic gaillardia

And these are the seeds that were left by others! (I’m listing everything I know about them—can’t answer questions!)

PERENNIALS:
Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ - this is real pretty, similar to Steve’s Lavatera - google it! (I have seeds from somebody else or I’d keep it for myself!) - 1 pack

Aquilegia, white columbine (if this was grown near other columbine, it could have crossed!) - 2 packs

Small lavender iris - 1 pack

Mixed poppies! - 1 pack - lots of seed

Gaillardia - unknown variety! - 1 pack

Alpine Wildflowers - partial commercial pack - ‘97

Aquilegia ‘Pink Bonnets’ - full commercial pack - I think ‘05

ANNUALS:
Cleome - pink - 1 pack

Eyeball plant, peek-a-boo plant - yellow ball shaped blooms w/red center, reseeds, 12" tall - 1 pack

Nicotiana - white - 1 pack

Red poppy, Papaver rhoeas - full commercial pack - ‘07

Marigold - original plant ‘Janie Flame’ - 2 packs

VEGGIES & HERBS:
Broccoli, summer purple sprouting (Woc Brocc) - full commercial pack - ‘05

Radish ‘Sparkler’ - full commercial pack - ‘07

Garlic chives - part commercial pack - ‘00

Chives - part commercial pack - ‘93

Thyme - part commercial pack - ‘90 something

Oregano - part commercial pack - ‘93

Marjoram - part commercial pack - ‘93

Mammoth dill - part commercial pack - ‘93

Catnip - part commercial pack - ‘93

Sweet basil - part commercial pack - ‘93

Thyme - part commercial pack - ‘99

Sage (picture looks like ordinary garden sage!) - part commercial pack - ‘99

One more time! Don’t PM me thru GW—it won’t work! Use the address in the above post to contact me!

All seeds are available for a SASE—just let me know if you’re interested!

Skybird

Hmmmm... I am interested in the Blackberry Lily. When I clicked on the photos, I realized that the foliage I was seeing was from something else, since I found one in your album that showed the whole plant. I can't for the life of me figure out where I have two feet to put another plant, but I want it anyway, LOL. (sounds like an excuse for more lawn removal) How long does it take to reach that width?

I could also use some chives, since mine were a bust this year, but I would love some tips to help me be more successful with them next year. Your talking to someone who can kill mint!!!

Bonnie

I'd love some seeds for the Callirhoe and the Belamcanda. Do you want anything else of mine to make it a fair trade (more than just the Lavatera)? I'll send you an email with my address.

And just so everyone knows -- Malva sylvestris is VERY INVASIVE. So, in defense of my nice, polite Lavateras, please don't say they're equivalent to that thug! :-)

Seriously, I've been trying to wipe out Malva sylvestris from my front flowerbeds for the past two seasons. It's a lot like Mexican Evening Primrose, in my mind! Pretty, but takes over the world. You really might not like it in your very carefully tended garden, Skybird.

You probably found this picture, Bonnie, but the Blackberry Lily foliage is like iris foliage, but it isn’t just basal—it grows out of the stem most of the way up to the flowers (There’s another shot of the whole plant 3 frames back.)

Timewise, Bonnie, mine in the picture was put in as a tiny, tiny, tiny little division I got in that one-and-only, off-RMG trade I did, about 2½ years ago. Last year it had some flowers, but this was the first year it’s looked pretty good—and it is finally starting to actively spread out at the base. Next year it should be really good, but I need to move it because the foliage is too similar to the hardy pampas grass next to it. From seed I think it would be at least 3 years before you’d have a "nice" plant.

I’ll send a pack of the chive seed I harvested this year, and I’ll also stick in the two partial packs of commercial seed I have from the swap (regular and garlic).

For starting it, I recommend you do two things! First, sow some directly in the ground outside where you want it to grow. I’m almost certain it’ll come up for you next spring, and I’m guessing it’ll already have a root system established by the time you actually see it. Sow at least a dozen seeds all in the same place—and be sure you mark where it is so you don’t accidentally dig into it before it’s visible. I wasn’t paying any attention to mine when it was developing seed, and I (uncomfortably) suspect I’m going to have a whole bunch of new plants coming up in the area of mine next spring—which means I’ll have a bunch of them for the Spring Swap too. Then I’d also recommend you start a dozen or so seeds in a small pot inside right now and keep them on a sunny windowsill over winter. When they get big enough, you can cut and use them over winter, and, if you want to, you can also plant that one outside in spring—and since it’ll have a well developed root system by then, you shouldn’t have any problem with it. But be forewarned! Once you get them started, you’re going to have LOTS of them!

Steve, a pack of the Belamcanda seeds are yours! In the pictures you’re actually looking at the seeds you’re going to be getting (both of you!)—they’re still on the plant. I usually put my seeds in tiny zipper baggies, but with these I think I’ll but them in a small paper envelope since I’m sure there’s still moisture in them. If you don’t sow them immediately, I recommend you put them in a plastic bag once you’re sure they’re all the way dry. I think I’d also recommend sowing some of these directly outside now, like I did for the chives above, and keep some to start early next spring. I always like the idea of direct sowing outside since the seeds are exposed to the natural conditions they would be if human beings weren’t in the picture. But, having said that, I just found this info for germinating Belamcanda on the Tom Clothier site: >>>Surface sow at 20ºC (68ºF) in light under constant humidity, germination slow <<< So for any you sow inside, keep them on the surface or cover VERY shallowly (outdoors too), and don’t expect great things to be happening quickly! I’ve never grown them from seed!

I have plenty of the Callirhoe seed this year, so I’ll send enough that you can direct sow in several different places—I recommend 6-12 seeds in each spot since germination is so irregular. By sowing directly outside, they’ll be naturally stratified so you won’t have to mess with it inside. I know they will come up naturally outside, ‘cause at Paulino’s, we had volunteers coming up around the one we had in one of the display gardens—tho there were never a lot of them—and it’s not going to be invasive by reseeding. I’ve never had a volunteer come up, but I wish I would, ‘cause I’d love to have a seedling to dig up to move somewhere else. It really doesn’t work for me where I have it because there simply isn’t room enough and I’m constantly cutting it back, so it never really achieves its full potential.

Just a warning! If you try to start some of them inside, be prepared to wait months! The girl who used to start the seeds at Paulino’s tried to start some of the seed we collected, inside one year (ideal conditions), and, even after stratifying in the fridge (or freezer—not sure), the germination was VERY slow and VERY irregular, and we finally decided it just wasn’t worth the time and effort and went back to buying plugs!

I’ve looked over your list, Steve, and there’s really nothing else I can use. You guys wouldn’t believe how many seeds I already have around here! (I might need to buy the house directly behind me, tear it down, and use the property to extend my back yard! The property is higher than mine, and if it were all in flowers, it would be a BEAUTIFUL view!!!) And most of the things I’m still looking for are VERY specific things! I do want a Salvia, but I want ‘May Night’. I want more of the Iberis sempervirens, but there’s a light pink one I want rather than more white, and I want a ‘White Swap’ Echinacea, but even if you had seed from that, it probably would have crossed and would wind up being the dominant purple! And I want a dwarf Gaillardia—preferably ‘Fanfare’, but it probably wouldn’t come true from collected seed. I want a different Russian sage than I have, but I want ‘Longin’. Etc., etc., etc......... So I don’t see anything else I can use right now (until I tear that house behind me down!).

I did kind of think about the annual larkspur. Not sure where I’ll put them, but you could stick in a few of those seeds. How tall does it get?

And if anybody has any, I would like to try Oenothera missouriensis—or any of the other Oenotheras (yellow or white) except the O. speciosa, Mexican Evening Primrose! I think they’re really pretty, but I thought they were all invasive to some extent!

And can’t I talk you guys into taking more of the seed I have!?? The whole point is to get rid of some of the seed I’ve collected—or I’m going to wind up storing it into perpetuity—like I’m doing with all the rest of the seed I’ve bought and collected over the last 30 years!!!

HELP ME! Request some of my seeds! Sometimes I feel like I’ve got "Trouble with Tribbles," except my Tribbles are seed packets! They’re alive! And they’re multiplying!

So if you’re reading this and you don’t have anything to trade, REMEMBER, all of my seed is available for a SASE. If there’s something you want, that’s a whole lot cheaper than ordering from a catalog and paying a couple bucks for the packet, plus the "shipping and handling!" I don’t charge for "handling!" (as a matter of fact I rather enjoy handling them!) And I don’t charge for the seeds either!

Oh, BTW, Steve, my reference to the Malva being similar to the Lavatera was about the form of the plant, but I didn’t actually know that the "Zabrina’ would be that invasive. Is it just the reseeding that’s a problem? It doesn’t spread underground, does it? Here’s some pictures! You can see why I like it so much!

Please provide a new home for some of my seeds! They NEED you!

Skybird

Maybe the fact that it showed up out of nowhere is a hint I shouldn't trust it. Darn, it's so pretty. And I collected seeds from it too.

Stevation, I'm not sure how to get to the PM's. Maybe I have a problem like Skybird. Why don't you email me directly at aliceann8@hotmail.com?

Bonnie, no name at all on my gazanias. I think I got them at Kmart. They are a mix - my favs are a darker yellow, almost marigold orange with a dark stripe down the middle of the petal. The flowers are just perfectly shaped. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of them for you. I'll be sure to take pictures next year and collect a lot more seed - then if you like, I'll send you some.

Dee, I have no idea where I will put it, but I'd really love some of the "Disco Belle Pink". That is absolutely gorgeous! I'll email you shortly. Could you tell me the name of the plant that's shown in front of it in your album? It's the airy one with the tiny pink flowers growing off the long stems. I had one of these in Seattle, loved it, tried to bring it with me, but it didn't survive. I'd love to buy another if I knew what it was! I'll also take some of the Zabrina. I know, you're all shaking your heads. But is is so cute. And if Cnetter says it's ok...

And Dee, I planted 3 May Night Salvias this year. So if all goes well, maybe you can coach me next year on getting some seed or cuttings for you.

I don't have Gaillardia 'Fanfare', but I did harvest some 'Goblin' seeds the other day, if you want some of those.

I'm sure I will find somewhere to put that Blackberry Lily. I was just out there this morning removing more sod from around those tiny mums in the little island bed. I told DH that they were going to get big and that I needed to expand that circle, but the "real" plan is to add another layer. Today, I put in three 'Stella de Oro's and I think I will plant a red Geum in between them, or Euphorbia 'Bonfire'. Eventually, that whole corner of the yard will be one big bed. Shhhhhh... don't tell my hubby, LOL.

Let me know about the Gaillardia, and I will get your seeds on the way.

Bonnie

And don’t any of you want any other of my seeds? If I’m sending something anyway, it’s easy enough to stick in a couple extra packets. And since the seed is all fresh, it should be good for at least a few years if you don’t get around to starting it now.

I have email addresses for all four of you, and I’ll send you my snail mail address later tonite.

I’m going to send the exact same thing I post on RMG to your email addressses in a little while.

Skybird

If you’d like to try mint again, I have an unopened commercial pack of Peppermint seed (‘96) I can send. Being mint I can almost guarantee the seed will be viable enough for you to get a good start. It’s another one where you could sow some of it directly outside now, and start more in a pot sometime during the winter. You just have to promise not to send a hit man after me when it takes over your yard!

And I have you down for sending me Agastache ‘Apache Sunset’, Marigold ‘Safari Primrose’, and, yes, go ahead and send a few ‘Goblin’ seeds along too. Actually, ‘Fanfare’ was a sport of ‘Goblin’ to begin with—it wasn’t unusual for me to see a ‘Goblin’ that looked like ‘Fanfare’ when I was selling them—I always called them the "pretty ones," and then somebody isolated it, renamed it, and made a fortune on it!

And——I won’t say anything to your husband (he might confiscate our shovel!), but you have WAY too much grass out there! Some of it DEFINITELY needs to go away—mysteriously!

I know I have your mailing address, but I don’t have a clue where it is right now. Could you please send it to me again and I’ll make sure it gets in my address book this time.

Thanks,
Skybird

Are you sure you don’t want anything else? You have a BIG yard! How about some of the Hibiscus?

Are you SURE you don’t want anything else?

I need your mailing address to send the stuff out. I’ll send you mine from my "real" email addy later tonite, and you can send me yours back to that address.

Skybird

I have you down for getting ‘Disco Belle Pink’ Hibiscus, and the Malva ‘Zebrina’ There was only one pack of the Malva, so that’s it for that one.

The plant with the tiny pink flowers in front of the hibiscus is Gaura lindheimeri ‘Siskiyou Pink’. I love it, but it was put in by the previous owners, and it’s too close to the sidewalk, and it tends to flop, so it flops all over the sidewalk for most of the summer. It blooms almost all summer. This year when it just looked too bad because of the floppy factor, I went thru and individually cut out the (large) flower stems at the base, and it came back and started blooming again—more upright—but it’s frozen now. Gaura is sometimes considered only marginally hardy to z5, so it’s one of the few things I don’t cut all the way down to the ground in fall. Leaving some of the foliage on seems to help protect it a little over winter. When you do that, tho, you need to be sure to cut it down pretty promptly in spring—it starts growing early, and if you wait too long, you’ll wind up cutting the first flush of flowers off. So leave a decent amount of foliage on over winter, cut it down early in spring, and be prepared to cover it overnite if you have a cold snap. It should be readily available locally in spring. This IS the pink flowers you’re talking about, isn’t it—all mixed in with the lavender?

And—seed from ‘May Night’ will be very easy to harvest next year—you’ll find it all by yourself (but ask if you don’t!) The problem is that if you cut it (all the way) down promptly—too promptly for seed to develop—after it blooms the first time, you can usually get a complete second bloom that’s very close looking to the first one. So you need to either decide to forego seed from the first flush and hope the season is long enough for seed to develop after the second bloom, or let the first flush produce seed and hope there’s still time to get a good second bloom, and that the seed production doesn’t mess up the second bloom for you. I’d go with the first option and hope to get seed the second time around since salvia produces seed fairly quickly after blooming.

If questions about any of that, let me know!

Skybird

Alice, I just sent you an email so you'll have my address for that SASE. I did try it through the link here on GW, but you must not have gotten that.

And as for Malva sylvestris, the variety I have is not Zebrina, but it is another variety of the same species, so I'm pretty sure it will have similar characteristics.