RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
- To:
- Subject: RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
- From: M* D*
- Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 06:28:47 -0700
- Importance: Normal
Hi Susan, I have never used gravel or grit in my soil, but I think it's a
good idea. I make my beds the easy way with the layering and composting
that has already been discussed. This creates a pretty tall fluffy bed to
plant into. Mushroom compost is added every 2 or 3 years to keep the soil
well conditioned (this is the year). My Penstemon beds are in the drier
part of the garden that seems to be naturally well drained (as opposed to
the parts where I actually had standing water after the 8.5" rainfall in
February!) I know many people in our area lost their Penstemons this
winter, it just doesn't seem to be a problem for me (this is where the dumb
luck comes in). Now Salvia, that's another matter..... except for Pineapple
Sage (Salvia elegans) a tender perennial that has come back every year for
me. Go figure.
Marilyn Dube'
Natural Design Plants
Hardy Perennials, Choice Tropicals
Portland, OR Zone 8b
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-perennials@mallorn.com [owner-perennials@mallorn.com] On
Behalf Of Saxton, Susan
Sent: Friday, April 16, 1999 4:01 PM
To: 'perennials@mallorn.com'
Subject: RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
Hi Marilyn,
You wrote:
> I find it interesting that you consider Penstemons as half
> hardy because
> they don't survive your wet climate. Since you live 5-10
> miles due east of
> me, I think I get equal rainfall but not as cold as your
> location.
Here are a couple of things I do that may make the
> difference. My beds are
> in part shade and well drained.
Okay, stop there. In Oregon, how do you make them well drained? Just
compost? Or do you add gravel to the planting holes as well?
I lay Fir boughs that blow
> off my trees in
> windy weather over the crowns for the winter.
This I could do!
The boughs
> create an air
> pocket of warmer air and also deflect some of the rain water
> away from the
> crowns.......or it could be dumb luck!
I doubt it. I like your advice and love penstemons, so I'd love to try your
"technique" if you can clear up for me the "well drained" part. My mom
lives about 2 miles east of me and loses most of her's too.
Susan Saxton, zone 6b
For mine is just a little old fashioned garden where the
flowers come together to praise the Lord and teach all
who look upon them to do likewise.
Celia Thaxter
I AM in shape. ROUND is a shape!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
