RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
- From: D* K*
- Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 14:06:46 -0400 (EDT)
Susan, where can you get mushroom compost?
Doreen
Zone 6
>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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