Re: saying hello, and freeze resistant winter color

Loretta,
Welcome back to the group!  Regarding the non scented
Nicotiana sylvestris, I find that if you purchase this
one in bloom you might have better luck with getting a
scented one.  Mine, raised from seed, have generally
been fragrant, but only in the evening...  The same
advice for Brugmansias, pick one out when in bloom.  I
have never seen a 'Charles Grimaldi' which wasn't
fragrant, but again only at dusk onwards, and more so
with warmth.  don't be too quick to get rid of the
plant if frozen back, as they are amazing about coming
back from the roots if a mature plant.

I can sympathize about cold microclimates, but you
need to take your cues from the neighborhood, and
plant what works.  Here in California, there are still
plenty of things that could be in full bloom right
now, just stay away from the more tender things.  I
would recommend some of the natives such as Ribes
sanguineum, Arctostaphylos and Ceanothus, just to name
a few that would be blooming now and unfazed by your
frosts.  The other thing to consider is to start your
winter annuals earlier in the fall to get them
established before it gets too cold.  Things like
pansies and violas, Dwarf snapdragons, cyclamen,
flowering kale and Iceland poppies are unfazed by our
winter frosts here in the San Francisco Bay Area, even
in Fairfax, if established early enough.  I try for
end of September/very early October myself.

For more perennial color, I'd suggest Euphorbia
characias 'Wulfenii', and the Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'
as particularly good choices, both will bloom more
reliably with some sun in winter.  Good luck, hope it
warms up for you soon!
--- loretta gerity jacobs <lorettagerity@home.com>
wrote:
> Thank you Tony!
> As it says in the sig file, while most of the Bay
> Area
> seems to be in a growth splurge right now, my 
> plants
> are struggling and clinging to life over here, with
> great difficulty. Before the last big rain (and
> snow!)
> storm, we had nearly a 2 week freeze every single
> night.
> In the 20's, frost on the cars in the morning. the
> whole
> thing. I believe my angel trumpet is dead, even
> though I
> moved it to a more protected place. Lots of little
> transplants that I put out died, and even some tough
> plants, like foxglove, have struggled. Lot's of
> stuff,
> seedlings, gave up long ago, probably just too
> early,
> now I'm starting things in the house. What drives me
> crazy is to go just a few miles , usually towards
> the
> bay or across a bridge, and see the same stuff just
> thriving, blooming like crazy. The micro-climate
> thing
> here is nothing to be taken lightly. Moving 12 miles
> north, and inland, from MIll Valley to Fairfax has
> changed the whole way I garden. It's much harder to
> grow
> things here.
> Oh well, I guess this is just a whine....
> I was quite ill this winter, and am recovering
> slowly,
> but doing much better. Thanks to all who emailed me.
> It
> meant a lot. I lost track of this group for a while,
> and
> now I'm back , and it's great.
> Recent threads regarding fragrant plants was
> interesting. I too had NO fragrance from the giant
> nicotiana (sylvestrie), and as far as that goes,
> neither
> did the Angels Trumpet, when it was in bloom. This
> summer I'm doing a lot more salvias and agastache's.
> Go
> for the butterfiles and hummers.
> 
> --
> loretta in fairfax
> 20 miles (as the crow flies)
> from the Golden Gate
> ...where the winters are colder
> ...and the summers are hot,hot,hot!
> 
> 


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