RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
- To: "'perennials@mallorn.com'"
- Subject: RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
- From: S* S*
- Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 09:36:15 -0700
Hi Marilyn,
You wrote you only add mushroom compost every 2-3 years? Do you do
something else between those times (garden mulch)? Is there a reason for
only doing it every 2-3 years? I add it every year and hadn't heard
anything adverse about doing that.
Penstemons and Pineapple sage too? I wouldn't mention this to the our hardy
plant society, they may stone you on sight!!! ;-)
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!
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marilyn Dube [m*@teleport.com]
> Sent: Sunday, April 18, 1999 6:29 AM
> To: perennials@mallorn.com
> Subject: RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
>
>
> 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!
>
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