The best time to repot your plants is right before they emerge from dormancy, which would be March through April. You can also repot your plants at other times of year as long as you minimize disturbance to their roots.

As for soil, use a standard mix of 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite. The peat moss retains moisture and adds acidity, while perlite provides aeration and drainage.

Because carnivorous plants grow in nutrient-poor soil, avoid using regular potting soil, fertilizer and compost. These items are toxic to carnivorous plants and will burn their roots. Very painful.

As you repot your plants, clip off any dried leaves from previous year. I generally clip off all leaves that have brown spots on them. Sometimes this means clipping off all leaves on plant, which is often case with taller Sarracenia species.

With Yellow Trumpet and Green Pitcher Plants, clip off their non-carnivorous winter leaves after new growth has been established.

So, set aside some time in March and April to repot your carnivorous plants. You will be greatly rewarded with vigorously growing plants this summer.

If you need growing instructions for specific species, such as Venus Flytraps, visit Sarracenia Northwest at http://www.cobraplant.com.

“The Marigold that goes to bed wi' th' sun, And with him rises weeping…”

4.As far back as 15th century, Marigold was thought to be a remedy for a number of medical problems including headache, jaundice, red eyes, toothache, bee sting, sprains, wounds, and ague (chills and fever). However, it was noted by Stevens in Countrie Farm that, “It must be taken only when moon is in Sign of Virgin and not when Jupiter is in ascendant, for then herb loses its virtue.”

5.Early Anglo-Saxons called Marigold “Golds” or “Ruddes” and flowers were often boiled to extract their yellow color for food colorings, fabric, and even hair dyes. After extraction, a yellow powder remains. In 1819, Geiger chemically analyzed marigold and named this yellow powder “Calendulus”. Today marigold flower still is dried, petals ground and used as a substitute for herb saffron.

6.Marigold petals mixed with chicken feed add intensity to color of egg yolks.