Many of mine haven't sprouted. Some just one or two and don't know if the others will come along or not. Surprisingly, the Tithonia I planted way back in January which was far too early for that is starting to sprout. And the Adenophora Bulleyana I failed with 2 winters ago, have two sprouts aka Ladybells, look pretty on the pkt, look true blue but may be another purple. Also have quite a few pansies sprouting, some older Johnny Jump Ups but not too many, and think I saw a couple of my Alpine Columbine. My Candy Mountain foxgloves there are lots, two kinds of delphs have put up quite a few, the most wanted now that I've seen what their early leaves look like (pointed), I think not but two of another kind. Think I have a couple Livermore Poppy sprouts. Also some pansies and violas are showing up, VA bluebells, thought I saw some Prairie Smoke but can't remember where and what kind of container it's in, a few aconitis, think some Verbena bonariensis. Several others I've already mentioned. The warm spell caused some to suddenly appear, but it's gotten too cool again to see much new activity while it lasts. Supposed to be 70's the next 3 days. Some have sprouts that don't seem to belong in there, either mis-planted, isolated ones that got into seed pkts, or came up from the potting soil will wait and see on those. Had significant rain, seemed gentle, but still have to watch things drying out anyway, especially noted some in the edges or corners. Now that they're off, I'm leaving off most of the covers and watching the forecast, am dropping the lids on my Jiffy covers once the sun isn't hitting them until it gets too hot.

The Melochia looks wonderful, Susan! I've tried S. darcyi, but it never thrived and never came back. I planted a S. darcyi hybrid last year that I ordered from Plant Delights - I paid a big price for it, but it didn't come back either. This is one reason I decided not to order Buddleia 'Orange Septre' from Plant Delights - just because a plant costs a lot and the owner of the nursery says they've "trialed" it doesn't mean it'll do here. One of last year's new salvias that has done real well for me is S. 'Hot Lips' - it continues to grow taller and thicker, and it's in continual bloom. I love the variations in the blooms - some pure red, some pure white, but most an interesting combination. I've got S. 'San Carlos Festival' (that I ordered from Plant Delights) that only blooms once a year, also, a S. microphylla that also only blooms once, and thinly at that. I'd highly recommend 'Hot Lips' - in addition to its beauty and vigor, the butterflies (sulphurs mostly) and hummers use it. Another vigorous salvia has been S. farinacea 'Henry Duelberg' - it's grown quickly to about ?3' tall, it's making beautiful blue flowers, but I haven't seen any butterflies or hummers using it. My S. coccineas didn't return, but they reseeded all over the place, so I transplanted the seedlings to spots where a small, red shrub is in order - they bloom continually, once they start, and the butterflies all flock to it. I also had two S. ?coccineas? that have coral pink buds which open to pale pink blooms, really beautiful! One died, but, surprisingly, one has returned and is now blooming. Makes me wonder if it's S. coccinea or something else, even though the leaves sure look like it. My Salvia guaraniticas are about to bloom - it is over all the best salvia in my garden - hummers and many types of butterflies LOVE it, and it's vigorous, the electric blue color is to die for and, with a dab of fertilizer and water, it'll thrive, come back each spring, and colonize. You can plant the sprouts in places where you want more S. guaranitica. The plant that's most interesting, though, is a Rudbeckia maxima/giant coneflower that I ordered from Bustani's last year. It floundered around, got browsed by rabbits (I think I've successfully sealed the gate where I think they were getting in, because nothing has been browsed in the garden this year, knock on wood!) and never grew much or bloomed. This year it's growing so fast you can practically see it, and the leaves are huge and healthy looking - I imagine it'll bloom, and I'll get to see those huge coneflowers! I've thought about ordering Liatris ligulistylis, but I think I'll pass. I have so many nectar plants already, and I sure don't need any more plants to take care of! I also planted two willows/Salix nigra, one in my garden and one close to the house and the well house. I'm keeping them wet at all times, they're not getting browsed by any critters, and the one by the pump house has red-spotted purple cats on it. Red-spotted purple cats are everywhere this year, most of them on wild black cherry. I planted the willows hoping that I may get viceroys some day. I got them in years past (before the hurricane) but I saw one last year in the fall and the year before, so there's hope for eggs and cats. Well, I think I better stop typing - my hands are sore! :) Sherry

Ok, I pooped out much too quickly and wasn't getting anything done and the sod cookie mystery got me so here is what I think happened. They didn't have self rising flour back then so could it be soda and they forgot to write the a ? I found this recipe but doubt its the same as yours but the only one that had anything like sod in it, lol. It does say on most they can be made up to a month early and are better with age as Lucy said. I ate nearly my whole bag of candy and the orange last night, lol. Thanks again. Here is the recipe I found. Sounds yummy. 8 ounces candied citron 4 ounces candied orange peel 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground cardamom 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon aniseeds 5 eggs, separated 2 tablespoons butter (at room temperature) 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 2 to 3 tablespoons milk Additional confectioners sugar Coarsely grind citron and orange peel with grinder fitted with coarse blade; set aside. Sift flour with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and pepper. sprinkle anise seeds over flour mixture. Set aside. In large mixing bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat egg yolks with butter and lemon peel until smooth. Reduce speed to low and beat in granulated sugar. Set aside. Beat egg whites in clean mixer bowl with electric mixer or by hand until stiff peaks form. On low speed of electric mixer, gently fold reserved egg yolk mixture into beaten egg whites. Blend in reserved flour mixture, using your hands. Blend in reserved coarsely ground candied citron and orange peel. Shape dough into balls the size of a small walnut; place balls, 1 inch apart, on ungreased baking sheets. Let stand, uncovered, 8 hours, or overnight. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes or until double in size and lightly browned. Remove from baking sheets and let cool to room temperature. Mix confectioners' sugar with enough milk to form thin glaze; drizzle glaze over cookies. If desired, after glaze has hardened, shake cookies gently in paper bag containing additional confectioners sugar.

So much accomplished in one day! It looks great, and I hope the rest of the final details like the Lacanche install go as smoothly for you. Congratulations! P.S. more pics please as soon as you can!