This Week

Things are beginning to happen in the hosta garden and in the plant room.  In 
the plant room I continue to water, trim flower stalks and sympathize with 
the poor seedlings over their crowded conditions and their need to be moved 
into gallon containers.  Since there is no heat in the growing houses, I 
continue to wait in case a cold front comes along. If it turns cold it would 
just be another few thousand plants to protect.  The plants too are waiting 
so when the time comes to move they should be rested and ready to undertake a 
new surge of growth. To me this first new growth is one of the most exciting 
periods in the life of a seedling.  It is often difficult to believe the 
changes that take place in the leaves' shapes and sizes.  It is also 
interesting that I now have worry about cold weather.  In early Jan I moved 
plants from the plant room into the houses hoping they would go dormant.  We 
never did get cold enough for them to die back.  They just sat there until 
the sun got warmer and begin to grow again.

In the garden as I encourage the hostas to slow their growth, I frown at the 
wild cherry seedlings and other things that are beginning to emerge.  Many of 
the hostas are getting far too large to cover and frost is forecast for Wed 
morning.  Each year I make a decision to develop only varieties that come up 
late but the resolution is always broken because of the desirability of some 
of the earlier plants.

We have just finished restoring another area of the garden.  By that I mean 
completely remaking the soil.  The clay is now so far below the imported 
materials that it should take the plants at least 3 years to reach into it.  
I will begin planting this area as soon as the weather permits.  If I 
continue adding to the beds the walk will become a valley.  Already we have 
added drains to carry out the water that flows down the walk as if it were a 
wet weather creek.

We have had some much needed rain this weekend.  Last night brought an inch 
and more is forecast for tomorrow. This will accelerate the hostas' growth.

I saw my first snake of 2000 on the last day of March.  I believe that is 
several weeks earlier than normal but then so is everything else.  The colors 
in new tree foliage is especially brilliant this year.  Japanese Maples are 
sparkling against the rich green grass and the white dogwood flowers.  I know 
they are really braces but I am just a child at heart and really enjoy 
thinking of them as flowers. 

I have a question.  I keep getting mail that is a reply to something that I 
never received the original letter.  Is this happening to others?  Sometimes 
it is difficult to understand what everyone is discussing.
Mary
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE HOSTA-OPEN
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index