Janice, that was so nice to hear, I added a "potpouri" photo up above, of that same bed a month or two later (I think).

Here's the bed where the Mikado was, and going to have to be broken up this weekend. Odd that I only took extreme closeups of a few flowers, no perspective shots, after things bloomed!

RickCorey said:Here's my "Orange" California poppies (yellow-orange ) from Botanical Interests. Last year I tried around 4-6 varieties and these were the only ones where more than 1 came up. Eschscholzia californica. I thought it would reseed better than it did, but a few came back (from seed, I think) this year.

The flame red-oranged are also Eschscholzia californica but only one plant emerged and I saw few seed pods.

BGoth were called "perennials grown as annuals". Supposedly hardy dfown to Zone 6, but I'm Zone 8 and it was a warmwinter. Maybe the fact that December and January were much warmer than February tricked them into sp[routing and then freezing! I know I saw of the yellow sprout in January, and there seem to be fewer now than there were then.


Yellow California


Mikado



Snapdragons, Pansies Lobelia Poppy

The colors in this last photo are wonderful! and really like the way you've used the stones to edge your beds. Very innovative!

Thank you! Those concrete paving stones are the cheapest and easiest way I found to make raised beds. Home Depot, 98 cents to $1.29.

My favorite feature: I can move beds as fast as I can move furntiture. Just move the stones, and then shovel or hoe the soil to the new dimensions.

In in slug-breeding season, tip stones away from soil and spray the slugs and egg masses with ammonia.

Those are 8"x16" and 3/4" thick ... I use them "the long way" if I expect roots to be able to force their way into the underlying clay. I loosen it, amend it some, and am carefull to see that it has a drainage trench so it doesn't flood.



Where I have a very deep bed, e.g. a sunken walkway between two deep beds, I use them "the tall way", a 16" tall bed seems deep enough for almost anything.




However, the 12"x12" 1" thick paving stones are more stable and make a bed deep enough for most things. One auther suggested gluing or mortaring four of them together in a cube and filling it with soil mix for a one-cubic-foot planter (7.5 gallons). But put it where you want it before glueing it: it's too heavy to move even BEFORE you add soil!

I've wintersown those, maybe they were Iceland, don't remember. Also did Flanders, Shirley, Breadseed poppies... so pretty in spring, then ZAP! our heat and humidity arrive and the poppies bolt. Foliage immediately turns brown. California poppies are the only ones that don't fry here. Poppies are fun to wintersow because they're always first to sprout. Cute babies. They transplant fine as long as you do it when they're small, before that tap root is too big.
Poppy babies




Frying foliage, butt ugly


So I'll just enjoy everybody else's.

Karen

I have been planting my Fruit Punch Poppies today. Got 2 of the 3 trays done. The last tray goes in a different part of the garden anyway. I really don't know why I got three trays. Two trays would have been fine!

Brent and Beckys Bulbs is having their 50% off sale now.

(Like I needed anything ), but with those prices, could not resist the Crocosmias and Bletilla and perennials and....................

I order stuff from Brent and Beckies all the time. Lily bulbs and spring bulbs but sometimes something else. I love Brent & Beckies! Good for you Janice, you know you will love the new plants.

Thanks, Rita! Let's together!!!

sandnsea2 said:Brent and Beckys Bulbs is having their 50% off sale now.

(Like I needed anything ), but with those prices, could not resist the Crocosmias and Bletilla and perennials and....................

I checked last night and all they said was 5-10% for spring orders.
I really need the 50%!

No it is 50 percent off I just ordered by phone.

How can you get it on line? Do you need a code? It don't say anything about 50%. I will check my email maybe they sent me a code and I just forgot or something.

https://store.brentandbeckysbu...

Use this link to their site, Susan. It says 50% off

https://store.brentandbeckysbu...

Susan , I see that you are in Virginia, like B & B's.

Have you ever been to their Warehouse Sale?

I hear it is amazing and we thought it would be a fun trip.

Yup, I sent them a message on Facebook and told them I was only an hour a way and they begged me to come visit. Hopefully I can zip up there one weekend, it would be a lot of fun.

I must have had the old link thanks for the information. I put in an order with them for the small Iris, and I wanted to add a few more!

Thank you!

You are most welcome.

I'm really liking Bluestone this year. The plants arrive in great shape, good root systems, nice and healthy. Although the prices are higher this year, they are still very competitive especially since the plants are bigger than before. They give lots of discounts once you order from them. I had coupons from last year, so my spring order for 9 plants was $70 which included tax and shipping. Then there was a pre-sale 50% off everything, that order was $53 total for 12 plants, arriving tomorrow. The regular sale is on now, and many, many plants are 50% off all week. I'm considering ordering again, there are still a few things I could use.

Those cheap 3-packs are history, but they do discount if you buy 3 of something. The prices still seem fair to me especially when I look around at the other sites. I don't understand why they're getting such a bad rap.

Thanks, Pam! Yesterday, I placed an order with them.

It sounds like I will be very happy, based on your review!