nerium and drainage

I remember on my first trip to Scottsdale, Arizona (a suburb of Phoenix)
being surprised at what beautifully colorful, enormously tall privacy
hedges they made for many of the large, expensive properties there.  For
those outside the country, the temps there are always above 38C for
months. At the time, I was used to them being the rather mundane median
strips I had always seen growing up, and here they were looking rather
sophisticated in the desert setting, especially with a mansion somewhere
behind them!  

I also suspect that because of childhood memories (mostly fond) I rather
like the smell of the flowers hanging on the summer air with the fresh
mown lawn smell mixed in...

K

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony and Moira [t*@xtra.co.nz] 
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 1:14 AM
To: pkssreid@comcast.net
Subject: Re: nerium and drainage


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Reid Family" <pkssreid@comcast.net>


>I would dispute somewhat the need for good drainage in winter with
> oleanders.  We have some pretty thick, mucky soils in the central
> valleys of California and anyone driving down Interstate 5 can testify
> to the amazing floriferousness and vigor of these neglected,
> pollutant-soaked plants which are often grown in the drainage basin in
> the middle of the freeway.  I have seen pictures in Spain of masses of
> them growing in seasonal streambeds.  I think the combination
necessary
> seems to be dry heat in summer and plenty of water in winter.  I know
> that many here are in irrigated areas, so they seem to be tolerant of
> summer water in thick soils.  Of course, they don't want to be
standing
> in it, but that is rarely the case.  Generally speaking, if the
weather
> is hot and dry in summer, they will thrive.
>
 Karrie They survive well in this valley, even on the heavier soils,
with 
our typical rather mild very wet winters, but rarely put on a good show
of 
flowers around here as our summers are simply not that hot. In the
district 
where our eldest son lives about 100 miles north the winters are 
considerably colder but the summers mostly much hotter and oleanders
both 
survive and flower copiously.

In Kenya where I once lived they were the sort of bushes which were so
easy 
to grow one saw them often in the gardens of people who did not really 
garden seriously. It was mostly the ancient double sort and the bushes
grew 
huge and flowered reliably every year.

Moira
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