Re: Re: [Russian Sage-Wendy

Wendy - good to hear from you! Sunny Border Blue veronica is great. Even
survives our droughts and my amended clay. Never had problems w/ Russian
sage spreading, but mine (3 plants)is in xeriscape beds that only get
watered once a month. No supplemental rain here for months in the
summer.

Maybe that's the difference.

Pam  


---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Kitty" <kmrsy@comcast.net>
Reply-To: gardenchat@hort.net
Date:  Wed, 6 Aug 2003 21:15:10 -0500

>> 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
>>
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--
Pam Evans
Kemp TX/zone 8A



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