We've been so very fortunate to have such wonderful speakers these last several years. Getting a return engagement from Marty is such a big plus! She'll keep the streak alive for us. If you're trying to figure out a way to propagate something then Marty will give you the hook-up on the best ways possible.

It's so nice to see this thread resurrected. I forgot about it! Now I can talk about my results with my desert trials. Agastache sprite (thanks, Penny!) and cana have come back each year. They smell like root bear. I put one on my deck table for the hummingbirds and take it indoors every winter. I have many penstemons that thrive here, one is Red Rocks from Bluestone Perennials. The others came from a penstemon seed mix... I just love the colors! Not all of them survived, but the ones that did, are gorgeous. Mexican goldpoppies (from a southwest seed supplier) fill my garden and also any sunny, gravelly area. They bloom from June through many frosts. They seem to love cool weather (since they bloom in February in Arizona...70 degrees and sunny). They are the cheeriest flowers, glowing gold in the sun. Their petals feel incredibly soft and velvety. The opuntias died a horribly ugly frozen death. We're returning to Tucson area this winter. I'm checking on and hoping for rainfall because that's what brings the annual poppies and desert bloom. The year after record rains brought carpets of flowers to Death Valley in '05, was a drought year. We were disappointed, but the green desert plants and shrubs looked great, even without the flowers. And anything is better than a foot of snow covered with 6 inches of ice pellets! lol. I hate winter more each year. lol.

Hi Rebecca It is 'fasciation' an unpredicatble but usually harmless problem. Nice pictures! Here is a link that might be useful: fasciation

Hi there! I am doing an experiment this year, trying to grow some native Australian Flannel flower from seed, for my cut flower garden in the PNW. I know they will need some smoke treatment for germination, but I'm curious if anyone has any experience growing Australian plants in our climate..... I am unsure when the best time to start them is for best success, since our seasons are so different! Any advice is appreciated!