bejay I sowed some bean seeds yesterday after the soil temps rose to nearly 70 in that bed. We have a ten-day prediction of highs in the 70s-80s and lows in the high 40s and 50s. The soil temperature right now is nearly 70 degrees in that patch, though the planting soil there is very dark and so absorbs much of the sun's energy. (I dumped my container soil there a couple of months ago.) Rain is predicted for today and Thursday, though if that doesn't happen, I think I'll drag out the hose and connect it to the soakers. If the beans can germinate and get above-ground before it turns cooler, if it should, I think it will be smooth sailing from then on. I even checked the garden in other areas that are covered mostly with hay, and their temps read 66 degrees. They certainly rose fast! I'll have to do a little weeding before I can plant there, since I had thought I'd clear out some rows for planting and put the hay down to snuff the weeds beside the rows. Anyway, the soil temperature seems to me to be the best way to know when to plant, but even that isn't fool-proof.

I provided this information on cosmos for comparison purposes even though they wer not on your list because they have a similar fast growth rate and are a tall annual similar to the california poppies. A slower germination rate might allow you success with starting the california poppies now and a faster germination rate may be the reason my cosmos didn't do well in 16 degress temps. The fact that both bakemom and agirlsgirl have experienced different results with california poppies despite being in the same zone does raise questions about possible differences in the climates of their yards. The dramtaically changing temperatures here in Atlanta make wintersowing tender perennials and annuals a challenge in knowing exactly the right time to sow them. I think you'll find the best knowledge comes from personal expereience and stand by your original decision to save some seeds aside just in case.

Hi Christy, Lilypad kind of hit the nail on the head. We have seen where people have, quite too frequently, come in here requesting leaves and even offering postage (which they should) when in fact they never intended to reimburse the kind person who donated the leaves at all. And gave not even a "thank you" for the effort. You have kind of passed up a few steps of unwritten protocol here. First people come in and introduce themselves. Then they ask questions about the hobby and talk about how they're doing with their hobby. They basically become part of the family/neighborhood. When people get to know who you are, then they will feel comfortable doing trading with you. I see that you have been a member of the garden web for a couple years and a member of the "growing tomatoes" and "seed saving" forums. Maybe things are a little more relaxed over there. With being a member of the African violet forum, I am also a member of the house plant and gesneriad forums and I can tell you that you would get the same reception from either of those groups for the same above reason. You may find some nice person here who will decide to give you a break. If they do for goodness sakes reimburse them for postage and thank them. Otherwise I think finding a local African violet club is a good route for you to go. Here is a link to local affiiates of the AVSA where you can look for a club in your area. It looks like you are from New Jersey. There are plenty of clubs in your state. You will meet a lot of people who can give you a plethora of advice on how to start and care for your leaves. Then when the babies are ready to be separated you can have people help you with that too. By that time all of us would be willing to help you along the way with advise. Who knows maybe you will become an Afican violet addict like the rest of us. I'm sorry that you seem to getting a less than warm welcome from this group. As soon as you get your leaves, we will bend over backwards to help you start them with success and get them to where the offspring are blooming. Good luck, Larry

well, it's violet season in australia and perhaps not so much in your hemisphere, so i'll try to answer.... part of the way violet species can be divided up is 'stemmed' and 'unstemmed' or caulescent and acaulescent in botanical latin. in caulescent plants/species, the flower stems, (peduncles) arise from the joints between the stems and leaves, or axils. in acaulescent plants, the flower stems arise directly from the crown on the plant. a stipule is an appendage at the base (or insertion) of a petiole. (a petiole is the stem part of a leaf.) the leafy part associated with a flower is a bract. it could be called a bractlet when, as in sweet violets and others, it appears on the flower stem or peduncle. pedicel seems to be interchangeable with peduncle. i have seen and heard both words used. there are some good pics and a brief dictionary in doretta klaber's 'violets'. (so, can i ask for some seed now?!) ;) ) rob...