Janet (Janet1943), your box arrived today, and I can't begin to know where to start to tell you how much I appreciate everything you sent! I love my lupine (of course :) I also love the blanket flower (my red one died last summer, so it is wonderful to have a new one.
The peruvian daffodil bulb is AWESOME! The couple of times I have tried them in the past they haven't survived. Of course, the bulbs I have purchased were dinky, about the size of a mature crocus bulb. No wonder they never amounted to anything! I can't wait until next summer to see the gorgeous blooms! Same with the dahlia. This is the first year I got a full-size dahlia, always before I only got the bedding kinds. So now I will have 2! How exciting.
And the sedum! Yee-ha! How did you know I went and bought a bunch of new hardy succulents Sunday, so I need some good groundcover on top of them? Were you there with me at the Cactus Show? LOL. I can't wait to finish preparing the bed for them. I know they will really love their new home. And to top it off, a new yucca! Wow! Just perfect to add to my desert bed.
BTW, how did you know I was one of the few hold-outs on brugs? Did Windsurffer tell you? LOL. She has told me that somebody would get me; you did! I can't wait to see what it will look like: any hints?
Anyway, I love everything you sent; I spent the past 3 hours planning and planting and scheming and dreaming about my new babies, unfortunately I have run out of energy before being able to get everything completely planted, but the as yet unplanted ones are all safe soaking in compost tea. Oh, no, not the needlepoint. Did you make the magnet yourself? You sure are talented.
One last thing, I hope you have heard about my weird sense of humor. Here goes: the unexpected guest arrived safe and sound: when I opened the bag with the potted mums (I never have the foresight to pot up any of my extra mums in the spring, I am really impressed with your planning!) a bee escaped from the bag and flew off. I hope he (she? it?)is accepted at a local hive and makes it OK. He was kind of buzzing around a lot, so I think he didn't plan to be sent across the country either; I guess if the PO can keep a bug alive for a few days, they can be trusted with plants :p
Kathy lupinelover
My secret trade arrived!
Glad you were happy with everything I sent and yes I made the magnet ..The brug is a light pink in color...don't know the species.....as for the bee...I wrapped stuff in the house and didn't notice any...wonder where he came from??I do have a neighbor that has hives out behind the barn but thought I would of seen it before wrapping.....Well hope he finds a home.....Happy planting...I'm still waiting on mine and it is raining today and getting moisture in the ground for when it does come....
OH I envy you the rain. My only kind has been the stuff I am apply myself, a drip at a time. It is amazing how bugs can get everywhere! I got a box from Plants Alive in the spring that contained a big slug in one of the pots. I wrote them a teasing e-mail and let them know I thought that was an effective, but expensive, way to eliminate their pests!
I hope the wayward bee finds a home in a local hive. Way fewer bees the past few years from the mites and other diseases are having a bad effect, not only on me, but also the area farmers. A few of them are having terrible financial problems. And several of my honey-producing friends gave up their hives from this problem. The others have given it up as a major job, and just do it now as a hobby. So sad.