Re[2]: info on Oenothera "siskyou"

From:          "rachel" <Rachel@haasjr.org>
Organization:  Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund
To:            paulb@morfi.com, meditplants@ucdavis.edu
Date:          Fri, 9 Jul 1999 10:57:28 PST
Subject:       RE: Re[2]: info on Oenothera "siskyou"
Priority:      normal

Paul, I hope you're right. My concern is that  the Gaura and Oenethera die back 
completely during the winter and early spring (they disappear) and, 
as you know, the grass starts growing with the winter rains in 
January and is 14 inches tall by April when the Gaura and Oenthera 
would begin to grow.  I wonder that they would get enough space and 
light.   

I'm familiar with the Zauschneria, and although I don't know that 
particular cultivar, I can say that I have been to the Mattole river 
valley in the Lost Coast, where it was probably collected.  A 
stunningly beautiful place! The Zauschneria would certainly compete 
with anything and it never goes completely dormant, but the colors 
wouldn't complement my garden. 

Doesn't the euphorbia dulcis "chameleon" require some supplemental 
water during the summer.  I tried it once in my yard, but they dried 
out fast.

I'll look for the scabiosas; they sound lovely.

Thanks,

Rachel Baker


> Rachel, the grass should have little or no effect on the
> Gaura or Oenothera, they will surely out compete it.  In my parking
> strip I've
> had great success (almost too successful) with ornamental
> oreganos 'Hopley's' and 'Herrenhausen' and also the rampant
> but beautiful scabiosa ochraleuca (ligh cream yellow flowers)
> others you might try are:Zauschneria 'Mattole select' and
> Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon'-Also Ceanothus 'Louis Edmonds'-
> go down to Berkeley Hort.- I'm positive that they will carry
> all of these plants.
> Paul
> Portland
> zn 8
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
> [o*@ucdavis.edu]On Behalf Of Amy
> Sent: Thursday, July 08, 1999 8:32 PM
> To: Rachel@haasjr.org; medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
> Subject: Re: Re[2]: info on Oenothera "siskyou"
> 
> 
> Hi, Rachel. Have you tried sheet mulching? It works on a lot of the grasses,
> although it won't on Bermuda. On another list they said you'd have to dig
> out about 6 inches down in order to get the Bermuda out. I've sheet mulched
> over St. Augustine grass and it worked great.
> I mowed and weed-whacked the border-to-be down to the nubs. Put about an
> inch layer of composted steer manure over all. Placed a layer of about 8
> sheets of newspaper (no colors). wet it well, over all that and then put
> down about 2-3 inches of mulch over that. I then cut an X into these layers
> and placed my transplants there. Instant borders. I only have an occasional
> rogue shoot of grass to pull out. If it gets light, it grows, perhaps where
> I've placed a plant and didn't pull enough of the newspaper and mulch around
> it.
> 
> Amy of Marvelous Gardens
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rachel <Rachel@haasjr.org>
> 
> 
> Allright, maybe you all can help me. I'd like to grow something tough
> and drought tolerant in the sidewalk strip around my house.  I've
> been considering Oenethera and Gaura, but I'm concerned that when
> they go dormant in the winter their regrowth the following spring
> will be inhibited by the earlier regrowth of the grass that currently
> occupies the sidewalk strip.  Will the Oenethera and Gaura be able to
> push up through the grass that begins to grow in late
> winter/early spring?  How can I handle this?  I hate the idea of
> using Roundup on the sidewalk strip before planting the
> Oenethera/Gaura.  And I know that the grass is extremely tough and
> resilient.  Do any of you have any suggestions?
> 
> By the way, I'm still struggling with this recurring grass problem in
> my yard.  I've been trying to transform my yard, which was a
> neglected lawn when I moved in, to a medit-type perennial bed and
> drought tolerant landscape.  The grass (crabgrass, siskyue, bermuda,
> and native species) just keeps coming back wherever it gets any
> sunlight every winter/spring when most of the perennials are either
> dormant or have been cut back.
> 
> Rachel Baker
> Berkeley, CA
> 
> 
>
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index