Very nice, Petrushka! -I would love to see that plant stand you did (I can't really make it out under all that lush foliage ;-) I'm running out of space fast, and I'm looking for new ideas as how to maximize the space I've got.... even if just to spur new ideas! (I just bought a lemon verbena and a strawberry mint the other day, and saw several other mints I would love to get my hands on) -As it is now.... if I get anymore, something else has to go: "I'm looking at YOU, puny basils and YOU, Abyssinian Gladiolus!" I've had luck with overwintering muscadet lilies in the past... It always survived the winters... It was in my biggest container, but I don't think it had to be as large as that. I just placed the bulbs on top of the soil, and then gave them a THICK layer of mulch. SOme winters, the biggest bulbs wouldn't survive, but I think that might have had to do with watering. But the smaller bulbils would always make it, and also give blooms. -Perhaps the big ones actually DID make it, but where just under fertilized... I'm not sure... anyway, the story is, that they kept blooming every year, without protection. Muscadets ARE orientals, but I have no idea whether they are hardier than other orientals or not. I just bought them, while in bloom, because I liked the smell, and they were cheap and showy ;o) I also did the small pots to larger pots to big pots thing this year... Since I'm at home from work atm, I tried it out... but I don't think I'll be doing that again. I'm not very good with seedlings, unless they are fairly hardy, and can be direct sown. This summer I will sow some hardy perennials, and a biennial, (plus wintersow to make sure some of it makes it), and then in the future, all sowing I'll be doing for the balcony will be tomatoes and a direct sown squash, given they are a success this year. How you guys keep up with it, is beyond me, but I tip my invisible hat for you! Again, lovely balcony! VG

I would really like some Bergamot Seeds, I will trade for any of these seeds: Tasmanian blue gum tree, white sandalwood tree , African okra, sugar snap pea,and tea tree.

would be interested in your wild bergamot have several of what you are looking for, let me know

Ego45 is right. Guys who work on structures (carpenters, roofers, etc.) don't "see" plants the way gardeners do. To prevent damage to my "babies," I overturn trash barrels, buckets, bushel baskets and any other rigid and protective container, over the plants I want spared. Then I tell the workers not to move or step on any of the overturned barrels they see because they are protecting special items. It works. When roofers worked above, the stuff they threw to the ground bounced harmlessly off the barrels, and they placed their ladders between buckets without disturbing them. Likewise, painters put their tarps over the barrels and containers as though they were just bare ground. worked like a charm. One thing about lawn mowing workers to watch out for -- a lot of 'em know nothing about "real plants." They only know grass, and I've seen them hack away folks' tomato plants and perennials without a thought. Don't assume they will not mow over a bed of groundcover, either, if it is running into your lawn.