Tante---

I have loads of Thai Basil seeds. Now--these may be just regular Thai basil seeds.
They have an Anise taste and smell. Probably not the spicy ones you are talking about.

Sweet basil is the most common one used here. it has oval, slightly puckered leaves.
When i smell it--I always think of Chicken. I have somw seeds from this basil
as well as some lemon/Lime basil. So Jill named it when i first started collecting basil seeds.
Does not mean that is the official name.

You asked:
"What are those small bulbs that I bought from you? I have not planted them yet. You told me to plant them about 1 inch of soil topping them---I should write everything!"

I am sure these small bulbs were crocus bulbs.
They come up and bloom in pretty early spring. You can plant them when the weather gets
really cool--or if you plant them now--they may start coming up too early.

https://www.bing.com/images/se...

Gita

Gita, the lemon/lime basil seed was an accidental mixture of lemon basil and lime basil (both thai types, I think, with small pointed leaves).

The small bulbs weren't crocus bulbs (didn't bring any), and not muscari (ditto). I think they would have been either Iris reticulata 'Harmony' or blue Scilla siberiaca. In any case, with fall-planted bulbs you want a hole 2-3 times the diameter of the bulb. For a little bulb that's about an inch across, you dig a 2 inch deep hole, put in the bulb, and add an inch of soil on top. Little bulbs are super easy to plant if you are planting perennial or digging in bigger bulbs... just stick them in before you fill in that last bit of soil... dig less, plant more!

Jill, Gita, I bet those small bulbs are Iris reticula. Vague memory from Sort Fest.

We had both Iris ret. and Scilla available at teh swap -- and they are both small bulbs. The name of the bulb should have been written on the bag.. Hmm, if they were 10 bulbs in a perforated plastic baggie, they would be the Scilla. hth

Sorrrry.....I did not have any details on this. Thanks for clearing it up.

No worries, just wanted to let you know what you had!

Francine, I took some basil to the swap, and Jill thought it was Italian Basil. I myself really cannot tell one from the other . Anyway, I am now keeping the flowers on the basil and hoping there is still enough warm days left in the season for the seeds to mature. I do have store-bought sweet basil seeds that I can share with you if you remind me before the swap.

Hi Jill, they are in a perforated bag, no name written there, so they are Scilla. I have to check how they look like.

October already. I managed to fill 3 times big, specially for garden refuse bin from the Fairfax County and had them taken away, plus 1 with branches with Rose of Sharon with flowers and seeds that are occupying my garden space from my neighbor. I also pulled hundred of little plantlets from the same Rose of Sharon. And Buddleja plantlets from my back neighbor. Cinquefoil, the Hedge Bindweeds, some of the vines I pulled was 5 yards or more, same length of roots, burried under the weed barrier that I had a garden company installed; some kinds of little daisy-like flowered weeds etc. etc. Then also small descendants of the huge maple tree, and 1 each side pink crepe myrtle. They are all planted right next to the fence. I also have I am not sure what the name is, they are good too as hedge I guess, with stiff leaves, I can save some if anyone is interested in them. They are nice. I also pulled their babies too, and orange trumpets vine (native plant), very healthy and hard to get rid of, Japanese honeysuckle (I love the scent, but very invasive, so I am still trying to get rid of them).

Good to know about Buddleya:
http://www.rodalesorganiclife....

I thoroughly enjoyed last Saturday's time spending at the Convention Center in DC, was the "stage manager", warning the speaker when only 10 minutes, 5, 2, time is up for their presentations. Although meant for children up to 6 grade, I managed to learn a lot!

I better quit!

Francine

Francine, you've been really busy!
Good article. I've heard/seen the name Doug Tallamy before..

Greenthumb, ecnalg, and I went to a great lecture by Doug Tallamy several years ago in Leesburg. He sure is an interesting guy and a fantastic speaker.

Never pass up an opportunity to hear him speak, it is a pleasurable experience. His book Bringing Nature Home is a must read for any gardener, very informative.

I love that book--used it heavily when I was planning my pollinator garden!!

We thoroughly enjoyed his talk. There will be a program related to it later this month. I've copied the info from Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy's email below. Unfortunately it is not all that convenient a location (Leesburg, VA) for many of you.

The Meadow Project’s "Hometown Habitat — Stories of Bringing Nature Home" film
Wednesday, October 19, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Rust Library. We’re seeing a groundswell toward greater awareness about sustainable, native, healthy, easy and affordable land care practices that support wildlife and human life. The Plant NOVA Natives campaign is partnering with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Watermark Woods to present segments of this beautiful film, featuring renowned entomologist Dr. Douglas Tallamy narrating how he came to see the need to create natural habitat in our urban and suburban spaces, and how individuals and communities have succeeded in turning this dream into reality. A Q&A session will wrap up the presentation. Registration required:Sign up here. Questions: Contact Becky Hutchings, [email protected].

That does sound really nice, Ecnalg! Too bad Leesburg is such a distance...

Thank you Ecnalg! I am going to try to get that shown in LOC. Very useful. Or maybe in Falls Church!