Yes, Martha, the new garden makes it OK, justifies a lot in fact... I'd use a lot of annuals too in a new garden.

Have you bought Rosy Dawn coleus before? Their plants are wonderful.

Karen

That's my problem as well. I also do a lot of vegetables, and we finally decided to eat healthy (we'll see how long it's going to last, hope untill the harvest), so I have order yet again tons of different greens. No trip to any story that carries seeds is without some purchase. But I'm seriously "gardening" right now in my zone 5b (Chicago subs). I have some greens and lettuce going in my kitchen window hopping to put them soon into a hoop house. Yet, my husband has to finish it. I planted peas outside (!!!) in a large container - now under the snow. Also, last week, I planted peas in containers that I keep in my screen porch. Yesterday, I sowed lettuce, radish and spinach in containers on the screen porch. My screen porch is becoming my green house. Of course, still ws'ing, almost 100 large, fat milk jags outside. I'm still new in this, I'm in my third year, but my beds are already full. Time to make some more....

Karen,
No, I've never bought from Rosy Dawn before. In fact, I just learned about them a day or so ago. I tried to grow coleus from seed under lights, but I'm just not attentive enough to keep the moisture and light just right. I'm hoping to try propagation by cuttings, though that may be out of my realm as well. If so, at least I know where I can get beautiful plants. Coleus just seem to make so much sense for shade. The foliage is as beautiful as any blossom, and it lasts all season. Do deer eat coleus, I wonder? I'll have to check that out.

Martha

Martha, I've been growing coleus in my front bed for several years and the dear haven't hit them yet. Everything else, but not the coleus
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And propagating from cuttings isn't hard. My problem is negligence with the basics- like watering...
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Karen