I have taken them up in the past but don't bother anymore. I just replace them each year. They are goners if you leave them outside. I don't know about gophers since I don't have that problem. But they are aroids, related to plants like callas and Arum italicum. They get little hooded thingies (spathes?) on them and I pick them off. As for water, I water them along with every thing else in the area.

In the bottom photo they are nestled in amongst some piggy back plant (tolmiea), sweet woodruff, and various weeds. I know I have better pictures, somewhere in my vast archives...

I thought your last post was beautiful. : )

thanks Lynn. If I ever accidently find my other pictures I will post them. It would have to be an accident though. I am slowly but surely getting all my succulents into one folder

Your caladiums are all so beautiful. Those hot pinks are amazing, Debbie.
And that the tote Connie is using is clever!

I had mine in the shade but 110-117 and a very dry regions so far isn't good for them. When I lived in Tulsa, I had no problem!

That would be difficult Becky. : (

Connie I spent last year moving my plant photos into a filing system on my computer. I had them all over the place.

Well Lynn, I keep working on it when I have a little extra time. I'll get there! Most of my photos are my lilies but even they are screaming for some kind of order!

Part of my lily patch:

That is a lot of lilies Connie. I have just a few scattered in the perennial borders. I only have one that I know the name of. But that's okay, because I love them all.

These are some shots from today

wonderful JoAnn!!

I have wanted Chinese houses eversince I as TomTom's. She sent seeds and I planted them inthe house so I would have early blooms,like June or july.
Not to be they shrivled up the first of June.
Seeded a planter in mid May and those are the 2 blooms I have and not very outstanding.

Maybe I can find som greenhouse plants here next spring.

Jo Ann those are growing like crazy. What is the very dark foliage plant in the 4th photo from the top?
And what are Chinese Houses? Which photo?

Heres one of my baskets, I tend to overwinter alot of little foliage plants, so I am tryint to use them In containers rather then have a bunch of little pots everywhere in the summer.
This one is Parsley, Wave Petunia and Oxalis



This one is Red Celosia, Lemongrass, Apple Scented Geranium and Variegated Aptenia...its grown alot since this photo

love the basket with the cleosia... the golden delicious pineapple sage would smell great with your geranium I bet

Thanks-you Allison, and a great idea! I've got the pineapple sage in another planter, next time I'll make a 'fruit salad' planter! With the geranium, pineapple sage and maybe grapefruit mint?

I have an orange & pineapple mint!!... love that idea!!!

vallylyn:
The dark plant is sweetpotatoe vine.
The chinese houses are in front of the caladium leaf second photo down,teeny pink-lavander thing

This is how they are supposed to look

love those!

Steven I am in love with your containers. Love the idea of using the scented plants. Can't wait to see more of your containers, I am intrigued with your combinations. I have much to learn about doing container plantings other than hardy succulents. I am learning so much from all of you about the world of none succulents. : )

I am happy to report that my fuchsia made it through the winter, I actually did cuttings from it that rooted last month. I gave them to the neighbor. I am so proud of this hanging basket that Kin (floraseeker) gave me last year. First time I ever kept one alive for more that a month.

Thanks to Allison's wonderful article I now have a coleus cutting actually growing. Boy do I feel empowered. Thank you Allison. Now to make you a cutting of Redhead.

Mmmm, orange and pineapple mint. Yum

Jo Ann thank you so much for the info. I looked them up, they are such sweet little flowers: Collinsia heeterophylla. Says they are easily sown directly on top of soil in fall or spring. Must need light to germinate. I am going to have to try them.
The sweet potato vine is lovely. I didn't know they would grow upwards like that. Such a wonderful dark color.

Everything in my courtyard is in containers, but this is quickly becoming one of my favorites this year:

Well I can see why Janet. Those colors are stunning, as is the container. Love the glaze colors.