Just another little update,I had some free time and wanted to share what's currently going on in my garden.
So far, aside from the complete lack of rain this spring, my garden is going very well. I created a three sided bed with one side being my herb garden, the center being for tropicals and my veggies on the right side. The entire bed is full sun from early morning to 6-7pm.
In my herb bed, all sorts of things are in bloom. The Valerian I planted this spring from a Swap trade is flowering and establishing itself quite nicely. Same goes for two Paw-Paw a friend gave me as bare-foot plants; their survival was a surprise to me! My poppies are all starting to bolt, the flower buds remind me of Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors (Feed Me! lol). I even had a rosemary cutting I left in ground over winter survive without much winterkill (I'm Zone 6).
In the center bed my NOID brugs are both loaded with buds. They're going to look pretty impressive in about two weeks. I have the plants situated about 8 ft apart with Tropicana and Red King Humbert cannas, Lion's Tail, and Holy Basil in the front between them and Plume Poppy and Castor Bean in back. I also have some different sunflower species (annuals and perennials) on the sides to help shade the plants once the really hot weather comes. My Datura wrightii is forking and developing buds. Its very first one blasted off (I wasn't too happy) but I think that the plant is now large enough to hold a flower.
The right side is lined with a fence, so I'm growing an heirloom rose, hops, and castor bean in the rear. I have a CG and a Supernova planted on this side as well as my tomatoes and Okra. My 'maters already have flowers on them! I'm really happy how this season is turning out. My relatives came over for my brother's HS graduation yesterday and were blown alway by what was just grass a few months ago. I included my species list at the end of this message if anyone is interested. Hope everyone else's season is going as well as mine. Also, a special thanks to Lynne and Karyn, who have both contributed a huge part of my success by sharing their plants.
Peace,
Nate

PS. There will be pictures soon, I'm waiting on the first good flush! BTW, Peaches and Creme is absolutely beautiful, but how in the world do I care for it? I've been handling it with kid gloves because I'm afraid to either starve it of light or burn it!
Agavaceae
Hosta x

Alliaceae
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Annonaceae
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Asphodelaceae
Aloe vera

Asteraceae
Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium)
Roman Wormwood (Artemisia pontica)
Annual Sunflower ‘Mammoth’ (Helianthus annuus)
Willow-leaf Helianthus (Helianthus salicifolius)
Gay Feather (Liatris spicata)
Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia)

Bombacaceae
Money tree (Pachira aquatica)
Boraginaceae
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Cannaceae
Canna “tropicanna phaison”
Canna x generalis 'Red King Humbert'

Caryophyllaceae
Lychnis flos jovis

Crassulaceae
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum)

Euphorbiaceae
Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii)
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
Fabaceae
Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus)
Fumariaceae
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Formosa)

Lamiaceae
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Agastache x ‘Black Kight’
English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lion’s Tail (Leonotis leonurus)
Mint Leaf Lion’s Tail (Leonotis menthifolia)
Wild Dagga (Leonotis nepetifolia)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens)
Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Wild Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa)
Monarda “Raspberry”
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
Rosemary ‘Arp’ (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Salvia patens
Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)
Winter Savory (Satureja montana)
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys lanata)
Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis)
Thyme (Thymus vuglarius)

Malvaceae
Okra (Hibiscus esculentus)
Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos)

Moraceae
Common Fig (Ficus carica)
Nyctaginaceae
Bougainvillea glabra
Oleaceae
Forsythia suspensa
Hardy jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

Papaveraceae
Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Poaceae
Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates)
Bloodgrass (Imperata cylindrical)

Ranunculaceae
Aquilegia x

Solanaceae
Datura innoxia
Datura stramonium
Datura wrightii
Iochroma cyaneum ‘Sky King’
Iochroma NOID
Solanum crispum
Solanum lycopersicum
Solanum quitoense

*Brugmansia
NOID Peach
NOID Pink
Jamacian Yellow
Peaches & Crème
L’amor
Strawberry Crème
Milk + Honey
Insignis Gold
Forever Morr
Dr. Seuss
Super Nova
Charles Gramadii

Rosaceae
Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
Rosa x

Rutaceae
Rue (Ruta graveolens)

Taxaceae
Yew (Taxus baccata)

Urticaceae
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Valerianaceae
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Wow, you've been busy... really busy. I'm impressed and depressed all at the same time, lol. Hmmm, would this feeling be zone envy? Yes, I think it is....

Peaches -N- Cream should do really well with mid-day to early afternoon shade. Best bet, imho, would be to keep it in a pot and move it around as needed until you find the right place. Either way, it's ok to be a little rougher with her, she's a tough girl, strong. Oh, and if something should go horribly wrong, she can be replaced.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of everything, please post an extra pic of your Dicentra for me. I've never seen one in person, but I've loved them in pictures ever since I first saw one.

Lynne
USDA 9b, Heat 10
Bradenton, Florida

That sounds beautiful and a lot of work. I can't wait to see pics. Are you going back to Henrietta's on the 17th? I'm going to try to make it. She has one of the most wonderful private gardens I've seen and she has a number of plants that I'd love cuttings of. My P&C is pretty easy as long as I keep it out of late afternoon sun. I wish we'd get some rain already. I can't remember ever having a spring this dry. The only thing it's been good for is the strawberries. They've been small but super sweet.
Karyn

I am usually the one begging for rain, and we have had much more than our fair share this Spring. In fact, just came in from paddling through my back yard, and see two inground brugs not too happy with their current conditions. We may be getting out of this weather pattern next week, so I hope they can hold on until then.
Nate, your garden (both veggie and flower) sounds amazing. You have really been busy, and I know the rewards are great!!!!

USDA Zone 7/8
Copper Canyon
North Central Texas

Nate, it all sounds so WONDERFUL! I think it's going to be lovely! If you have time, take a few pics - we'd all love to see them.

We've been very dry here also, but I think that's about to come to an end. Spot showers are predicted from now until Tuesday. Thank GOD! Wait...I think I hear thunder...

Carrie, I think what you are having is coming out way. Whatever happened to moderation...?

Kathy
USDA Zone 5
Connecticut

Thanks for the complements everyone! I'll post some pictures once I can borrow someone's digital cam (mine died ).
Lynne,
Check your in-box. I lost your snail mail, been sitting around with a sealed, un-addressed envelope for a week now. Its so funny that we share a mutual zone-envy. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side...although I'm thinking the lucky Zone 7 Folks probably have the best of both worlds.
Karyn,
I'm probably not going back down on the 17th, with the cost of gas being as it is and my work schedule. You're right though, her garden is absolutely amazing. That's the first time I'd ever seen mature tree peonies and her Brugs are over 4" diameter and well over 7ft tall! Keep me informed about how the day goes. BTW, what is the name of the "Butterfly plant" cuttings you gave me at the swap? They've leafed out and are getting flower buds. I had looked it up but forgot.
Carrie and Kathy,
I'm with you on hoping for rain. I heard thunder and saw ominous clouds all afternoon, but so far a drop of precipitation. Too bad, I have some awesome rain-barrels I installed that haven't had the chance to work yet.

Peace,
Nate

Nate I totally understand what you are saying about the gas prices. At least she's only 3 miles from me. It costs over $100 to fill my tank. I'm glad I don't have to do a lot of driving. Are you talking about the woody stem cuttings? Those were Clerodendron ugandense (Blue Butterflies).
Karyn

Wow, Karyn, you grow a lot of tropicals, don't you? How big is your greenhouse?

USDA Zone 7/8
Copper Canyon
North Central Texas

Thanks for the ID Karyn. I hope it blooms soon, I just took the two cuttings out of the greenhouse since they've rooted and now they're getting acclimated. Full sun, lots of water? Also, when I woke up this morning I noticed that my in-ground SuperNova is starting to bud as well...Its gonna smell awesome around twilight with my Datura wrightii and heirloom white roses blooming along with all these Brugs. :D
Peace,
Nate