Re: Pergola plants/murder. vitis vinifera
----- Original Message -----
From: "michael larmer" <mlarm@hotmail.com>
To: <ban@mx3.redestb.es>
Cc: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 12:22 AM
Subject: Pergola plants/murder
> One obvious choice I haven't seen mentioned in reply to your query is good
> ol' Vitis vinifera. Grapes do very well in heavy clay soils and, once
> established, require little or no summer irrigation. They have, in fact,
> been used in your neighborhood for a very long time for just the
situation
> you describe. I've grown them here in Sacramento at about sea level on
> the floor of the central valley, and at 2500 feet up in the foothills,
with
> very little attention other than annual pruning. The shade cover they
> provide is comparable to hops.
>
> One other plant that I personally might try in this
> situation is Banks rose. (Comes in several variations, I personally favor
> the double yellow). I think you might be borderline for hardiness on
Banks
> rose in your location, but if you can find a plant, you might give it a
try
> on one post of your pergola. If they can get the stuff to grow in England,
> you ought to be able to in Spain.
>
>
> I've been following the wild pig postings with some amusement (no doubt
due
> to the fact that the vegetable garden in question is not mine). Like
every
> gardener, I've seen my efforts at times subject to predation by a variety
of
> creatures large and small. I am curious if you are certain these are wild
> as opposed to feral pigs? I bring this up only in that it might make a
> difference in how you view their eventual demise.
>
>
> As someone who has, in the past year had to deal with thirty feral cats ,a
> couple of geese with a taste for expensive bulbs, and the usual deer
> browsing we get in this area, I appreciate your dilemma.
>
>
> This last from E.B.White, a favorite of mine:
> "I shot a fox last fall, a long lucky shot with a .22 as he drank at the
> pond. It was cold murder. All he wanted at the moment was a drink of
water,
> but the list of his crimes against me was a long one, so I shot him dead,
> and he fell backward and sank slowly into the mud.
> "The war between me and the fox is as senseless as all wars. There is no
way
> to rationalize it. The fox is not even the biggest and meanest killer
here-
> I hold that distinction myself. I think nothing of sending half a dozen
> broilers to the guillotine ... I have plenty of convictions but no real
> courage, and I find it hard to live in the country without slipping into
the
> role of murderer."
>
>
> Michael Larmer
> Sacramento , California
> ______________________________________________________
michael
the last part of your message has certainly given me food for thought.
as to good old vitis vinifera I have already one " moscatel" grafted stump
ready to be planted as soon as the workers have finished, a matter of days
now.
banksia roses are grown here very succesfully and I certainly like them.
my southeast facing façade is 30 m long and is flanked by a clay tiled
path.
I plan to plant a row of orange trees along it ending at the pergola.
the pergola itself is to be edged in a low hedge of clipped quercus ilex, .
I shall enjoy my morning coffee in the sun thinking of all of you and your
suggestions.
francisco.
ps: these are real wild boars, and very impressive when you see them
