Canna

What’s a surefire way to distinguish the top end of a bulb from the bottom? I especially have trouble when planting elephant’s ears.

Caladium bicolor, Caladium x hortulanum

It's the first time I have cannas in my garden, so this is new to me. Don't know if it's a problem - some of their leaves turn a rust color then fall off.  Can I stop it or is it natural?

Is it OK to leave canna lilies in the ground over winter?  And when they are done blooming what are the funky looking little balls where the flowers used to be?  They are filled with very hard black balls. Are these, or any part of the plant poisonous?  

We saw a Hibiscus acetosella growing at a local botanic garden and just loved it.  Can you tell us more about it?

I have two beautiful hibiscus plants that boast gorgeous blossoms every year. Every year, however, something eats the leaves, leaving them with a lacey appearance. Is there anything I can do?

Amaranthus tricolor

Euphorbia pulcherrima

Iris sibirica

One year I left my water hyacinths in our pond over winter and they froze. What should I do to keep them alive? I’m also trying to over-winter water lettuce and duckweed.