Abstract: A new cultivar of interspecific Baptisia, ‘Starlite’, characterized by its early blooming bicolor flowers that are violet-purple with a yellow keel held, its densely flowered inflorescences, its initially upright then cascading plant habit, its vigorous growth habit, and its hardiness in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 8.

Abstract: An electrically heated and/or gas heated forehearth channel has a heat conductive refractory roof structure with arch blocks supported from the sides of the channel on side blocks, some of which side blocks may include gas burners for achieving rapid initial heating of the glass contained in the channel. Once the glass temperature has been raised close to normal operating temperature electrodes heat the glass by Joule effect electrical resistance heating, and the gas burners are no longer required. A roof superstructure is provided of insulating brick, and defines muffled cooling passageways such that the gas or electrically heated forehearth can be effectively operated by removing heat from the top of the conductive refractory arch block roof structure. Means is provided for selectively cooling the underside of these arch blocks when the gas burners are operated, or directing the flow of cooling air through the muffled cooling passageways in the roof superstructure when electric heat is employed.

Abstract: A new cultivar of hybrid Echinacea, ‘CBG Cone 2’, characterized by its compact and dwarf growth habit, its sturdy stems, its horizontally held blooms with medium pink florets surrounding yellow-brown cones, its long blooming habit, its ease of propagation, its vigorous growth habit, and its hardiness in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.

Abstract: A new cultivar of interspecific Baptisia, ‘Twilite’, characterized by its bicolor flowers that are violet-purple with a yellow keel held on erect flower stems, its densely branched, uniform and upright plant habit and its vigorous growth rate.

Abstract: A new and distinct highly ornamental Echinacea plant is provided. The blossoms are attractive and display orange-colored ray florets. A sweet orange-spiced tea fragrance emanates from the blossoms. Semi-glossy green foliage is formed that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. The plant is free-flowering and commonly blooms from early-July to mid- to late-August at Glencoe, Ill., U.S.A.

Abstract: A new cultivar of interspecific Baptisia,‘Starlite’, characterized by its early blooming bicolor flowers that are violet-purple with a yellow keel held, its densely flowered inflorescences, its initially upright then cascading plant habit, its vigorous growth habit, and its hardiness in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 8.

Abstract: A new cultivar of interspecific Baptisia, ‘Solar Flare’, characterized by its upright primary racemes and its spreading secondary racemes of flowers that are initially yellow in color and age to yellow with a distinct orange-violet cast, its stems that emerge with a purple cast in spring, its lack of foliage on the lower 25 to 40 cm of stem, its broad rounded plant habit, and its vigorous growth habit.

Abstract: A new cultivar of interspecific Baptisia, ‘Midnight’, characterized by its upright, vase-shaped growth habit with long inflorescences of violet-blue flowers held well above the foliage, its secondary inflorescences that are produced after the primary inflorescences have past peak producing a long blooming period of at least 3 weeks, its lack of foliage on the lower 20 to 40 cm of stem for suitability for planting with other plants, and its adaptability to cultivation in alkaline clay soils.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Phlox, ‘Forever Pink’, characterized by its purplish pink flowers that are about 2.5 cm in diameter with the coloration uniform throughout the petals or with a very faint lighter eye, its heavy bloom with almost compete coverage of the plant for three weeks in June in northern Illinois and followed by repeat bloom that covers up of 15% of the plant until late October, its sterility, its strong stems that do not lodge, its compact plant habit, and its high level of resistance to powdery mildew.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Phlox plant, ‘Pink Profusion’, that is characterized by its dense low mounded plant habit with upright to lax flowering stems borne about 10 cm above the semi-evergreen basal foliage, its very large 2.8 cm wide flowers with that are deep purple-pink in color, its broad petals that consistently overlap for at least three-quarters of their length, and its pair of distinct, broad, red-purple colored striae on each petal that are bounded by a conspicuous off-white halo at the base of the petals.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Phlox plant, ‘Violet Pinwheels’, that is characterized by its low spreading mounded plant habit, its blooming period for four to six weeks from early to mid-April to mid-May, followed by a light repeat blooming period from August through October, in northern Illinois, its slightly cupped flowers with turned in petals that are obovate in shape with a strongly constricted base and a broad rounded tip with a slight terminal notch, its flowers that at anthesis are vivid purple in color with light violet eyes and basal pairs of violet striae and age to a vivid violet color, its soft, needle-like foliage that is dark green in color, and its resistance to powdery mildew.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Baptisia australis, ‘Blue Mound’, that is characterized by its dense, uniform, rounded, and low growing plant habit, its foliage that completely masks the bases of the main stems, its inflorescences that are held above the foliage, its 1.9 cm wide flowers that are deep violet in color and bloom from mid May to early June in northern Illinois, its high level of fertility; setting a good quantity of fruit with viable seed, its green stems that do not lodge after summer rainstorms, and its tolerance of both acidic and alkaline soil.

Abstract: A new hybrid cultivar of Tradescantia, ‘Tough Love’ that is characterized by its very compact plant habit reaching an average of 23 cm in height after two years of growth, its leaves that are held upright to horizontal and straight to arching in aspect, its foliage that is very strong, leathery in texture, and pubescent along the margins and on both surfaces, its pedicels, flower buds, and leaves that are densely pubescent, its flowers that are vivid red-purple in color, its drought tolerance remaining evergreen throughout the summer, and its resistance to rust.