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 11:34:30 -0700
Well, here in the PNW, I just get it from a local company that carrys
firewood, barkchips, compost, etc. They get it from the mushroom growing
company locally, Pictsweet.
You can also get it in bags at most garden centers/variety stores.
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: Doreen Knihnicky [k*@mail.med.upenn.edu]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 1999 11:07 AM
> To: perennials@mallorn.com
> Subject: RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
>
>
> 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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