Re: dahlia imperialis

on 11/5/00 11:06 AM, loretta gerity jacobs at lorettagerity@home.com wrote:

> 
> 
>>> 
>> 
>> , knowing that come November, the arching panicles of 5 inch pale lavender
>> dahlia blooms would be ready to open, dangling
>> right in front of the window.  Now that they are here, (a little early this
>> year) one prays that the winter will be a mild one, so the flowers don't get
>> all
>> blown to hell in one of those violent rainstorms we often have.  With luck
>> they should last for two months.  Last year, a shaded Berkeley dahlia was
>> still
>> blooming in April.
> 
> I had completely forgotten about these wonderful plants. I had one in my yard
> in SF a long time ago, and thought it was some kind of miracle thing that
> happened
> every year. Had no clue what it was, was not even into gardening at that time.
> But i wonder if it tolerates frost? Would it grow over in West Marin where the
> temps are more extreme?
> And where would one purchase this plant?
> Another question, I'd like to start a Cecil Brunner Rose on my fence, and
> wonder what is the best source for roses? Anyone have a favorite rose place?
> One last question, is there a list somewhere of plants that hummingbirds like?
> As usual, thanks for all the help.
> 
> loretta in fairfax
> 
> 
Hi Loretta,

I'm just going to respond to the hummingbird part----as you can probably get
better rose advice from someone closer to your area. My advice for a
hummingbird paradise is to put as many varieties of Salvia as possible in
your garden. The hummingbirds don't mind which color (despite what people
say about red) they just love salvia. So many are blooming right now in my
garden that you almost bump into the hummingbirds (only a slight
exaggeration!) Salvia guarinitica, Salvia 'Purple Majesty', Salvia
Chiapensis, Salvia 'Waverley', Salvia Madrensis, Salvia 'Maraschino Cherry',
an unnamed Huntingto cultivar with great fuzzy deep blue flowers (Ithink a
cross between guaranitica and gesnaflora) Salvia Coccinea, Salvia elegans,
Salvia regla, etc etc.

Betsy Clebsch's  "A Book of Salvias; Sages for Every Garden" is an
indispensable resource.

Another plant they love is Iochroma---but it might get too cold for that
where you are.  Basically it seems that anything with long tube shaped
flowers is a draw for them.

Have you ever seen their mating dance? It is dizzying; the male sort of
dive-bombs the female hummingbird and then "hypnotizes" her (and me if I'm
watching) with a perfect pendulum swing back and forth in front of her. A
lovely dance.

Best wishes for your garden,
Laura
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