Now you have me on the hunt for this Garvinea gerber a – so interesting, how sis I ever miss this on QVC? Ha – although, I have to admit that I've stopped a few time to watch segments. Maybe now I will actually buy something. My annuals that are more tender sometimes survive our winters in micro-climates between the bluestone pavers. Few survive in the open garden.

Hi Matt: Browallia americana is not hardy but the self-sown ones came up this year despite -5 degrees here last winter. I am growing the Garvinea gerbera supposedly hardy to zone 7 outdoors. I saw them at a nursery in South Africa and searched for them in the U.S but had no luck until I happened to stumble on them being sold on the QVC network! You can also find them at Roberta's garden online. One of them was a runner-up for best in show at the Chelsea garden show last year. Gary

Do try some lily of the valley, I never regret it, but be patient – they force easier the later you wait. A late february Forcing is easier and faster than early January. I have no idea how old timers ever forced plants for Christmas!

Oh my, thanks! 🙂 Sometimes I do get a bit sappy!

HI Gary – I haven't thought about growing calendulas nor gerbera – I wonder where I might find some? I too have Browallia americana in the outdoor garden, they are covered in bloom right now – I have never grown them before – maybe they will self seed a bit? Not sure about the cold hardiness, but I have plenty of self-sowers that do survive such as Nicotiana langsdorfii, especially near rocks where it is slightly warmer.