Suzy, it's always tough on busy people. and some work odd shifts (I always have to throw that in, because my family has a lot of computer operations people and nurses who work in 24-7 situations).
I do agree with LeBug on the small pack/tough germination issue. If 2 people get them and only one seed out of the 10 germinates, one of those people has wasted their time. There's a better chance if there's not 'too few' seeds.
CG Forum STOKE'S SEED SWA-OP
For right now.... I think I'm going to have to sit this one out. I've got to get caught up on the things I'm supposed to do and If I can do that and be back in time for this next round, I certainly will!
:)
Susan
I'm going to sit this out too.
Robin
Happy New Year everybody!!!! I hope all your seeds come up and grow like crazy and all of your new little babies from plantings last year make it thru the winter!!!
Suzy maybe you can set a date for when we start putting seeds up and we can all agree on it if that's possible lol It will be a lot of people in the swap I'm sure but it's worth a try? Maybe? lol
I'm glad you agree on the small pack issue I've had this happen before in a swap and was so disappointed, I don't want to sound greedy but I am a gardener and that's my only excuse lol And I want to say now I love shrub and tree seeds! lol I planted a golden rain tree this fall and am so hoping it makes it, it was only three inches tall but my dogwood made it at four inches last year so there is hope but I have two more just incase :)
Suzy you do a great job explaining, just sometimes I get confused and with another year here I'm sure I will get confused even more lol I don't like these years creeping up on me and they come so fast! I will be 59 in four months and am fighting it with a vengeance lol
Holy cow do I have alot of seeds! I have been swapping so much that I have double and triples of stuff. Resolution for 2008 keep better track of what I have! Thank goodness for Suzy's second chance swap! Rachel
Ok, we're up!!! Here's the link:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/801335/
Happy New Year, everybody.
Leave this on thread watch.
Suzy
Thank's Suzy...I'll be over to sign up
Soulgardenlove, I was hoping you were going to be in the next swap...I was going to ask you if you had any extra moon vine seeds? My only vine got nibbled in half by a critter before it set seed. drats :)
I'm still sorting thru the seeds from our other 2 swaps!
Here is a photo of Delphinium Astolat...scroll down to number 16
http://www.gracefulgardens.com/delphin.htm
Happy New Year!
Wind.. I never even harvested them and the whole frozen over vine is out there still.. I will probably get some seed at wallyworld. :) or else I'd offer :)
Yes, I still need to really organize where everything from the last TWO swaps/co-ops is going to go!... and i'm supposed to be running a household with two small boys here too :)
Happy new year! :)
Yeah, but you have until about Jan 25, SGL, so maybe you will have time later. The Moon Vine seeds, though, are fine right where they are...just pull them, dry them for a week and they're good to go. I have some Asarina (purple climbing snapdragons) in the same boat that I have to go get, too. In a couple days it will be warmer and I'll brave it then.
Dryad, Nice going! Dropping out, does that mean you aren't going to help me sort??????? (Not that we don't want your seeds. LOL)
LeBug, If you write out a sentence about small divided packs, I'll put it up. Something like, "While it's nice to share with so many, don't divide the packs that are very popular until they are so small there are hardly any seeds left in them." ???
Suzy
Good to know about the MV :) I'll have to see what I have..
Are you trying to tempt an addict here? Okay enabler.. I'm watching the thread and will see what I can do to get it all together before then..
Susan
Suzy yours sounds good except just to add 'esp. those seeds that are hard to germinate' maybe, you are much better putting into words than I am that's why you do the swaps and I just join there is no way I could do as good as you!
What about this?.
"While it's nice to share with so many, don't divide the packs that are very popular until they are so small there are hardly any seeds left in them, especially things that are hard to germinate." ??
I keep thinking of Nasturtiums that are hard to harvest and come in 10 seed packs when you buy them from Burpee. On the otherhand they are easy to germinate and grow on.
Suzy
Perfect Suzy! I'm ordering Nasturtiums for the first time this year lol
What kind of Nasturtiums....there ar a lot of kinds and colors out there, but you might tell me what kind(s) you're interested in. ...just in case in have them here. :)
I wanted a lot of nasturtiums last year, but I sowed a whole pack of 'Indian Chief' for the front of my sister's house and got bogged down with all those darn WS jugs I had and didn't have a chance to run over there to plant them. So I planted them here, which means I didn't have any cool ones here, they're still in their packs.
If I don't have what you want, maybe you can buy them and we can trade 5 for 5 or 10 for 10 or whatever...always can use more Nasties!
Oh, wait, I am cutting back. Okay, well I can usually always use more Nasties :))
Suzy
here is browallia...has anyone ever tried it?...looks like it might be more blue than purple? I wonder if the bloom size is really 2"....sounds nice
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Solanaceae/Browallia_americana.html
Hi Suzy, I have a question for you about the Delphinium elatum 'Pacific Astolat' ...
What does it mean by "Germinate in cool soil ... according to color (best colors are smallest seedlings)? LOL, what are the "best colors"? This is interesting...
I've given up on cutting back but it really sounded good didn't it? lol
I have red fox seeds and already have planted a blue veronica and just wanted some trailing nasturtiums in with them until they grow it's a pretty good sized area but haven't seen any trailing ones for sale they do have them right? I was thinking yellow, if you have anything like this it would be great! I want to plant some doesn't have to be trailing in my butterfly nectar garden too don't really care what color just the same or if they are trailing in there. I do like the light yellows that T&M has but these are smaller plants for nasties I think from what pictures I've seen on here. Did you see the mirabilis 'yellow & red marbles' in there I'll trade you 15 seeds in there for some nasties :) But you might not want these not sure. I don't usually plant 4 O'clocks either but these are really pretty and the catalog says they look orange from a distance :) Whatever colors that would go nice with the veronicas until they spread out. Do the nasturtiums reseed?
Those 'Indian Chief' are pretty! I need more reds and yellows in my gardens I'm posting that if I ever get finished doing my list for the swap.
Wrightie,
I think it means the ones that are less mauve, which is not a good color for this strain. From other mixes I've sown, the very first and most robust plants are comprised of colors the flowers would like to be if it were a wildflower, or that color mixed with the supoosed-to-be color -- so purply blue + pink = mauve. If you prick out all the early, robust seedlings and plant them together, it will be really pretty. The next colors will be the raspberry, the bright pink and the clear pink with no mauve or lavender in them. The last colors (as my guess, I haven't grow these) will be either white or dirty white. Earl Grey Larkspur was probably found ths way -- a runt of the litter plant.
LeBug, oooh, yes I want to splt the Miribilis Marbles, thanks!!!...I can get you climbing (trailing) Nasties, but I don't have yellow. I have reddish orange/scarlet (Indian Chief) or a mix that would include one yellow in probably in 10 seeds. I htink it's Park's Fragrant Giants. The nasties in a Mix like that are orange, then they throw in a couple yellows and a couple of reds to shut you up. :)) -- Just kidding on the last, but they really do seem to have orange as a predominat color. They will shade out your Veronicas a lot, though...I'm not sure I would use that combination...the Nasties were shading out 14" marigolds here by July. I had to go through and manually remove leaves so the Profusion Zinnias and Marigolds could see some sun.
Yes, Nasties reseed.
The pale yellow ones seem to be very sickly compared to the red and orange ones. I grew Milkmaid and it just hobbled along all summer. Indian Chielf grew 8 feet and took on English Ivy, so I want it back, right where it was!
I read somewhere that the butterflies & hummers only like the Nasturtiums with the spurs, because that's where the nectar is. I wish I could find somebody who knows for sure.
Back to Four O'clocks...I love them! They have one called Red Glow, and nothing would do but I *had* to have it lastyear. When it bloomed, tho, in my red bed, it had a fuschia overlay...it's a beautiful color, but most people would call it hot pink. The flowers were smaller than the regular ones you get in a swap, and it was more upright and gangly, plus I didn't notice any scent at all. All-in -all I would take a regular pack of mixed and pull all the ones except red and use those instead of the Red Glow.
In fact, I'm going to be doing that with a lot of mixes I get in the swap this year -- sowing the whole pack and only keeping the very prettiest -- or what I consider to be the very prettiest -- flowers.
Suzy
Nasturtiums with the spurs? Maybe you should take that question to the butterfly forum how do you know if they have spurs? I'm not that familar with nasturtiums and the butterflies are the reason I'm planting them. No veronica and nasturtium combos, got cha, thanks I never would have known this I was chopping away too much at my perennial Inoxia this year to get sun to my cherry bells and sedum and it just killed me I love it, I'm just gonna have to plant another Inoxia in another spot this year and take that one out.
I'll enclude the yellow and red marbles in the swap for you :)
Burpee was mentioned.. have you seen the prices of their stuff for 08?? Ouch!!
Holey Carp, Suzy. You are a Wealth of Information! I had absolutely no idea that color played any role in germination. Thanks!
LeBug, Nasties are sort of like Columbine -- the ones with spurs (and you know what spurs are, right? The long wing-things that the New World Columbines have, but the European granny's bonnets don't have) are the ones the hummers like. It's one reason to grow the native red/yellow ones...they are the first flower to blooom when the hummer scouts could be coming through. I haven't grown them in decades, but as I recall they were sort of no account, but there is a new variety called 'Little Lanterns' that has a better habit and probably more bang for the buck in the garden that I am trying out for next year. I hope it blooms for me, because if it does, I can put the seeds i the swap. (Naturally it's bright red and yellow, so all those pink and purple people will turn their noses up at it. LOL!)
I didn't really answer your question. On Nasturtiums, the spurless ones are usually the doubles, and also the Whirlybird family. I found a website that said the nectar is definitely in the spur. It allso said the Alaska variety has been superceded by Tip Top. I was having trouble with my windows -- on the computer -- and lost the page or I'd put in a link. I also lost this post and am having to retype it.
Now after typing all that out -- I do not know if the Granny Bonnet Columbine, the ones with the small or short curly spurs has nectar in it that the hummers and butterflies like. Same with the nasties. I know they love the spurred ones, but I don't grow the spurless of either Columbine or Nasties to know if those are ok, too. I suspect the hummers and butterflies like the things that only they can reach. Keeps the riff raff out of their nectar.
SGL -- I didn't keep my Burpee catalog front and center as I normally do, so either the offerings had not much new, or the prices were too high. I guess it was the prices. I wonder how the WalMart/grocery store Burpee rack seeds will be priced? I noticed last year that they felt empty when I picked them up and shook them, and that the seed count was not on the seed pack -- just the weight.
I received a lot of small catalogs from specialty outfits. Naturally I want one or two packs from each one. The freight will kill me, so I really need to stop and think about if I really , REALLY, no, I mean REALLY need each one. And I think we all know the answer to that one!
Wrightie - LOL! I learned it on the Stokes website, so I can't take credit for it.. EXCEPT I actually remembered it, so I do get points for that.
Suzy
Suzy, I learn something new each day from you girl lol Nver gave it a thought about the spurs on the columbine and hummers. I hung around the butterfly & hummers forum all last winter and never read anything like that maybe you could bring it to their attention if you haven't already if someone has talked about it it could take some repeating, good information there, thank you! I've seen nasties in the stores and I love the foliage on them and yes they are like columbine very nice. I'll have to check my columbines out and see if they have spurs I have a few new ones this year for me anyway but I know I have some that I do. I had that yellow star this summer and I just loved it and gave most of the plants away this year before I got them all planted I only planted two and wish I had planted all of them lol I'm planting more seed for sure now! I can't wait to see the nasties in my butterfly garden :) 'Little Lanterns' sounds pretty, I like yellow and red! lol
The hummers are always at my columbines but never noticed if they were at one kind or another more I'll have to watch them more closely this year. I have one of the pailer red and cream columbines that are tall not much to look at but the hummers just love them I remember they have spurs. Save me some of those seeds from the little lanterns they really sound pretty!
The winds have been howling here like crazy and I thought I heard a big growl out there earlier that must have been you when you lost the link and the posting! Don't you just hate that! lol I'm sorry for laughing I know the feeling really!
soulgardenlove, I was looking at Burpee's last night and put it my pile of catalogs to cut up lol I just couldn't believe it and they used to be so cheap when I started buying seeds and a good count too, so disappointed!
Yes! Those washed out red and pale creamy colored ones are the wildflower ones, Aquilegia canadensis. I can't find it in plant files, tho. Anyway, when the hummingbirds send out their scouts, it should be in flower, and it apparently is like a beacon to them, but as you said, not really much to look at. Speaking of which, you also mentioned the height on it, and 'Little lanterns' might not be as good because it is so much shorter. I noticed on the Nasturtiums that the ones that grew flat to the ground didn't get any hummer or butterfly activity, but the ones that grew up against a little piece of 36" fence I have were very popular.
Margaran just joined the Second Chance swap, and she has a TON of butterfly plants (and wants more, I'm sure) so be sure to look at her list when she gets it up. A lot are the tender perennials we grow as annuals since she's in Florida. Asclepias curvassica is one I'm thinking of, but it grows fast and blooms at the right time.
Windy here, too, but at least we didn't get the foot of snow that lower Michigan got!
Suzy
I'm sitting here reading eveything and thinking, you guys have GOT to join the seed swap I am going to do in March. The Monthly Mayhem "series". It'll be my first try at hostessing anything, and I decided to do seeds for hummingbirds and butterflies. I'm already trying to research and find flowers they like. It sounds like you are way ahead of the game. Come help me out!!! I need you. I won't start a thread for a few weeks, but keep it in the back of your mind, please.
Suzy - me dropping out?? No, not me - not permanently at least! I'm just sitting out this swap as I don't really have anything to contribute. I will, however, be available for sorting and packaging!! Now, back to read the rest of these posts....
LeBug, I have some seeds of Nasturtium 'Peach Melba Superior', if you're interested. It's a yellow color with peach spots in the throat.
Robin
This message was edited Jan 2, 2008 9:15 AM
Another Nasturtium that I really liked was the Alaskas - still the bright yellow/ orange (I can't remember if there were spurs or none) but the foliage is variegated and really sets off that neat rounded leaf shape.
I tried one of the red varieties once - something about India - Empress of India? - and it's one of the only flowers I can say I really didn't like, because of the color. Blek.
Pagancat, I always wanted Empress of India and you didn't like it, that's a shame it looks so pretty in the pictures I've always debated gettin that one.
Robin, let's see what Suzy says about the Peach Melba Superior if it has spurs on it if it does I'll trade you something for it, I've seen that one before too and like it, but I do prefer them to have spurs on them like Suzy was talking about for the butterflies and hummers. I'll check your want list out and see if I have anything you might want and dmail you, thanks for the offer I want to grow a lot of nasties this year. Between you and Suzy I might get enough nasties to grow this year :)
Suzy, I have all of the milkweeds and butterfly weeds that I'm going to plant, I have the scarlet or bloodflower, silky gold and a white one and planting the orange and pink this year, I really like the natives here for the butterfly weed all of my seeds were wrong from last year they were suppose to be pink and orange that I didn't get to collect of my plants last year because of the early freeze so I traded for them and not one orange or pink one in the bunch lol I have the orange everywhere in my yard I love it! And a couple of pink ones in the wild bird garden.
I have two butterfly weeds that I can't id they have a thick leaf dk. green with a red vein in them and are a purplish red in bloom would you happen to know what they are? I never get any seed off of them and want to get some more but have no idea what they are, I've probably had them for about 5 years and no seed!
I collected some seed off of the Aquilegia canadensis if you don't have any and want some, I'm going to plant some more this year. Where did you order the 'Little Laterns' at they do sound like a good one did you order seeds or plants? I planted two columbines together last year WS lol I'm going to have to wait until the ones that came up to bloom to id them but it's going to be low to the ground I can tell already they are very short it's either chocolate soldier or rosea? lol I always end up planting two different seeds in one jug WS lol It always happens lol
cat64129, I'll join your swap sounds good! Are you going to post it in the seed forum or the butterfly?
We got an inch of snow last night it was so pretty coming down :) Do the nasties attract aphids? Would it be a good one to plant with my butterfly weeds they really need something planted in between them. I have a lot of space there it's a large garden.
Has anyone tried the salvia 'artemis', I'm just wondering about the blooms on it if they are good for the hummers and butterflies I want to grow more this year mine didn't bloom last year it was the first year for it but the foliage is to die for I just love it, it's huge and fluffy and white.
Cat - I would love to join your swap!
I've not grown salvia artemis - but it was in the Chicago Botanic Garden in 2006 when I did my last volunteering stint there before the move. It was the first year, so no blooms - but the plant was striking. The leaves are fairly big, and VERY fuzzy. I'm not sure but I would guess they planted it for the leaves and plant, rather than the blooms - although the location where they had it has a lot of different salvias so it could be just an addition to their collection. It was very nice though, made quite a statement with its color and texture.
Wind - a friend of mine grew browallia in Chicago, it is more blue than purple, and quite nice.
Suzy - you snagged me - I'm in on the Swap :-)
This message was edited Jan 2, 2008 12:45 PM
Thanks Rachel. I'll need all the help I can get! LOL
I had mine with the purple majesty and it was georgous! I've got to have more I had several plants of it, the seeds germinated very well and planted three and gave the rest of the plants away, story of my life lol, now I wish I had kept them but you know how it is when you have a 1000 plants to plant so if you have the chance you get rid of a few and just thought three plants would be enough who knew they were going to be so beautiful!
Is anyone else still waiting for seeds? I have this terrible preminition that mine are freezing in the back of some posty truck, totally forgotten!
$#@! I forgot all about you, even though I worried all last weekend. Michaela -- they are lost for sure. Let me dmail you the address I used. I sure hope I didn't mess up your label.
Suzy
oh that stinks!
Seandor, I'll be glad to share or give up any I have if it was something you had your heart set on. Really I DO NOT NEED SO MANY SEEDS, I'll be planting til the cows come home! I can send any requests to Suzy in her current swap when I send in my seeds.
~Diana
Yes, I can do that, too, but she also bought some seeds, and some of them were really pricey.
Let's give it a week in case it comes back here for some reason-- too fat? I will say that this had made me realize that although those maliing labels I made with your names and addresses on them were so cute, it is dumb to have all the delivery info on one sticker. If it shouuld fall off, there is no one for them to deliver to. At least with a separate sticker for my name, and a separate sticker for the recipient, they could return them to me.
Fingers and toes crossed on this one!!!
Suzy
No . . .no. . . LOL
I am working on the premise that if I say something, I will be embarrassed by them turning up in the next day or two!
You know, like the bus ONLY arrives the minute the rider lights up a cigarette!
I have immense faith in the American postal system - it's light years ahead of the Canadian system.
Please don't fret :-)
I hope you are beet red with embarrassment tomorrow, then!
Suzy