Re: OT: companion plants/seed savers
From: "Patrick Orr" <PatrickJOrr@hotmail.com>
Ganzanias!
Here they grow as a perennial, but in WA they are probably annual. They do
go to seed here, but I have yet to see one grow from seed naturally. This
isn't exactly what you were looking for I am sure, but let me explain...
Ganzanias can be divided easily. Ganzanias can be moved easily. Ganzanias
can be cut back to nubs and grow back. Ganzanias can be abused like mad, and
still flower and grow.
Ganzanias were planted in my garden a year and a half ago, and all the
things I mentioned that you can do to them I have done in the last year and
a half. Matter of fact...when I replanted one of my flower beds last
October (that contains irises, roses, snap dragons, petunias, crystal blue
palace lobelia, pansies, and of course Ganzanias), I had ripped out the
ganzanias and laid them on news paper, wet them, covered them with newspaper
and wet them again, then I retilled the soil, pulled out two rose bushes,
planted a couple tomato plants and THEN replanted the Ganzanias. They seem
to be hardy little plants. Then a week later, I had to move a few of them
again without a problem.
I also like that not two flowers come out looking exactly the same and they
come in several different colors, orange being one of them.
I have moved them when they have gotten too big. I have shoved a spade down
the center of them to remove the part that began to invade and iris's space,
and replanted the removed part somewhere else and it did great.
The only problem I can foresee is where you can overwinter them...for they
can be pulled out, planted in pots, and stored somewhere.
My other suggestion for you would be the African daisies. They reseed
themselves very easily, and they come in bold orange and yellow colors.
They bloom twice a year here in Phoenix, once in spring and again in fall.
Good luck,
Patrick
Zone 9
Phoenix, AZ USA
----- Original Message -----
From: J.F. Hensler <christyh@povn.com>
To: <iris-talk@onelist.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 2:55 PM
Subject: [iris-talk] OT: companion plants/seed savers
> From: "J.F. Hensler" <christyh@povn.com>
>
> Have been staying busy (and out of trouble) starting bedding plants in
> hopes that the snow will someday leave and I can try more of a "garden
> look" with the iris beds this year.
>
> I'm planning to try more annuals this season in the hope that once
planted,
> they'll reseed themselves every year and digging and shuffling irises will
> make no difference to them. The pink and ivory California poppies, rhoeas
> poppies, violas, portulaca, and salpiglossis have already become
> naturalized in some areas of the garden.
>
> Nearly all of the seeds from backyard seed savers are germinating happily
> in the sunroom while the commercial things are for the most part, just
> sitting there. (If you're a seed saver raise your hand!) The difference is
> amazing.
>
> I'm hoping to try something in hot orange (an annual hopefully) to set off
> the blues of the Siberians this year. Anyone have any suggestions besides
> California poppies?
>
> Christy Hensler
> Newport WA z4b (24 degrees this morning and a foot of snow still on the
> ground!)
>
>
>
>
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