So they are slimy and rotting? Mushroom compost is expensive and you are getting it for free. :) I love seeing mushrooms; it means my soil is alive. Yes, fungi it a good sign. You will also at various times have critters and other kinds of seemingly odd visitors and residents. Relax and enjoy the show. Takes pictures and document their comings and goings and how your garden does before, during and after they arrive. Unless you can specifically show that something living in your garden is causing appreciable damage (like squash bugs, for example), leave it be. Gardens are spaces which are alive and attracting biodiversity is good. Even something which causes only a little bit of damage should be monitored but ignored, because the predators that will solve the problem for you always show up later and need something to eat. However, it doesn't sound like your garden gets much sun. 5 hours might be okay in OK, but some sun-lovers like tomatoes might under-perform. If so, next year choose a smaller tomato or a grape tomato. They need less sun than their larger-fruiting cousins. You might be okay, though -- 5 hours of direct afternoon sun is marginal but sufficient here.

Newbie, Yes he is one good hubby most of the time, but, there are those days when his 'engineer brain" takes over and that can try even the patience of a Saint. BUT after 34 years, as of Monday, one just rolls with it. The candylily is actually more of an iris and not a true lily. They start to bloom in the second year and multiply in fans very quickly. OK DAWIFF, that's it, there is something in the air out there in Seattle. We WS some salpiglossis Chocolate royale a couple of years ago and your words where "I don't really like it, don't want them next year." Now she says "chocolate royale this year that I just love." And guess what? I got some old seeds of them saved from the year we sowed them. Seed pods for them are right where the flower was, but it takes quite a while for them to form and then ripen. give them time and they will get there for you. My seeds where from Kmart, martha stuart brand. She seems to be the only one that puts them out on the shelves in packages to buy and K-mart sells the commercial seeds for 40% off the package price. I only have a couple of plants though. Germinated beautifully and planted out but that's as far as they made it. Watched the groundhog gourge on them, and what was left went down the throat of the chipmunk except for a couple of them. Will save some seeds for you of these and whatever else blooms and will send you the chocolate royale too. Nancy, Mine are candylily and some of the blackberry lily look almost the same, but there are some blackberry lily that TM seeds sells that are supposed to be pastel colors of pink, lavender and yellow. I sowed them this year and expect them to bloom next year. The first year my candy lily bloomed it was a bit of display of bloom, about 10 flowers and the one fan had become 3 fans. From the next year on, they just bloomed and bloomed and multiplied in fans to now I have 14 fans and plan to separate them in the fall. Fran

Folks...I guess I was having a "senior moment", or maybe it's a blonde thing...but whatever it was, I incorrectly labeled the dl above that I called Strawberry Masquerade. It's really "Raspberry Masquerade" DUH!!! I knew it was one of those berry ones!!! LOL Sorry bout that....I'll try to pay closer attention from now on. Thanks to all you folks who've commented on my photos since the last time I was on this thread. So glad you're all enjoying my garden and dl's. Jan

Thanks everyone.. the Reilly seedling is out of a Smith seedling that isn't yet registered and yes..it is just as lovely in person. Nice diamond dusting and holds up very well in our heat. Nancy TRIED to fight me for it.. but one knock out punch and the seedling was mine! As for a bloom dance Nancy-- I need a RAIN DANCE! We have only had 1 1/2 inches of rain since the first of May.. luckily my well is DEEP! Noticed my two seedlings posted about a week ago are blooming again..so time to grab the camera, a cup of coffee and see what else I can snap a shot of. Shelly