Re: [Russian Sage-Wendy

> Russian Sage has also been spreading into areas where it isn't wanted.
Wendy,
Mine is also getting carried away, but whenever I've tried digging it out in
spring, I seem to lose more than I save.  Can I dig it while in bloom?  It
seems to grow by runners, but does it also have a deeper root I may not be
getting?  I want it out of there, but don't want to destroy it in the
process.
Kittty

----- Original Message -----
From: <wendyswope@mindspring.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 1:12 PM
Subject: [CHAT] Fw: Emerging from Lurk--Wendy


> Hello from SW Ohio, Group!
>
> Since I see recent conversations about folks wanting lurkers to emerge,
> I'm here with a little news about my garden.
>
> But first, my reasons for lurking oh so very quietly:  Hard drive crash,
> with all-too-busy husband (household computer guru) insisting that he must
> be the one to handle returning the CPU to the mfr. and setting up the
> repaired/replaced machine.  The crash happened months ago, the old CPU
hasn't
> been shipped back, and I am  now using either a computer in the public
library
> or hubby's Linux-based home computer (only hooked to the Web a few days
> ago) to do an occasional mail check.  Can't really keep up with any of my
> chat groups or forums using current resources, which is driving me
batty!!!
>
> As my neighbor Bonnie has probably written, we've had a very wet summer
> compared to our usual, but since I can reach into my beds without walking
on
> them, the moist soil has been a blessing with all the weeds I've had to
> pull.  I grow perennials, normally well mulched perennials, but this
spring, I
> didn't replace my mulch, and have been playing catch-up ever since.  What
> a mess!  <wry grin> This has been the Summer of the Weed for me.  My
> Russian Sage has also been spreading into areas where it isn't wanted.  I
bought
> a Weedstick for selectively apply herbicide in tight spots, but have yet
to
> get organized and try it out.
>
> Every spring, I add several flats of plants to the landscape.  This year,
> I added Antennaria tomentosa (pussytoes) for a tough, mat-forming
> groundcover in dry soil and full sun.  Visitors arrived to enjoy it two
weeks ago:
> I found one or two American Painted Lady caterpillars on each plant,
> handsome little devils with black bands alternating with yellow and white
bands,
> two white eyes on each black band, and two soft black hairs sticking out
of
> red spots on the black bands.  I'm a nature nut, so I liked watching them
> eat and let them stay, even though I expected they'd munch my new plants
> down to nothing.  Surprise!  They didn't!  In a week to 10 days, every
> caterpillar had disappeared, and I still had healthy Antennaria.  I
imagine the
> birds ate my fuzzy little guests?  Does the Painted Lady ever overwinter
> this far north?
>
> Other plants I added this year, besides "caterpillar casserole",  include
> Heuchera "Mint Frost", Prunella "Pink Loveliness" (another tough
> groundcover), Veronicas "Goodness Grows" and "Sunny Border Blue", and two
own-root
> climbing roses, "Handel" (gorgeous all-season bicolor, double blooms of
white
> with strawberry pink edges) and "The Impressionist" (remontant, double
> blooms that are rich yellow through the summer and turn orange in the fall
> <drool!>).  So far, all seem to be doing well.  I start with small plants
from
> nursery catalogs to keep my costs down, so the success or failure of this
> year's additions will be easier to judge in the coming spring.
>
> I have two, two-year-old own-root shrub roses that are failing miserably
> this summer, "Scentimental". a fragrant, striped burgundy-and-cream rose,
> and "The Victorian Lady", a brown-mauve rose.  As I always give my roses
the
> same rich, well-drained soil and regular watering to start with, I can
> blame either the varieties or the weather.  Anybody had experience with
these
> roses that they'd care to share?   How about striped roses to compare to
> "Scentimental"?
>
> Well, you folks wouldn't believe what my husband's home office is like to
> try to work in, but let's just say it's a little messy.  I have the
> keyboard balanced on my lap because there's nowhere else to put it, and my
back
> and both hands are cramping <VBG>!  So I have to go now, but if anyone
wants
> to talk to me, please put my name in the subject line, and that will
> guarantee I'll read the post in full next time I'm online.
>
> Sorry for not holding up my end of the conversation.  I love this group
> and will certainly try to be a little more present.
>
> Greenly yours,
>
> Wendy
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
> message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index