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Re: Geranium renardii was:Hardy geraniums

Hi Alison,

Thanks for the reply.

> Hi - took me a while to get back on this one too - keeping up with this
> group _and_ the garden takes a lot of time!

It sure does!  I don't seem to get much sleep during the gardening season
:-)
> 
> My G. renardii grows well in full sun, my soil is dry and sandy, very
well
> drained. However the climate here is fairly wet at times, so there is
always
> some moisture down at the roots of plants.

This is what David was telling me.   That they want moisture at the roots. 
This makes sense to me.  He also suggested (you probably saw this) growing
them between a couple of rocks.  I was just re-reading Beth Chatto's 'Dry
Garden' last night and she says they come from the Caucasus, which makes me
think they might be sort of alpine and that makes the need for really good
drainage but continual moisture for the roots make some sense, too.

> I grew the plant from seed which I received from the cottage garden seed
> exchange several years ago - it is always a great thrill to watch
something
> grow from tiny seedlings.

Kudos to you!  I haven't had the courage to try it from seed, since I have
not been able to keep decent sized plants alive for more than one season! 
It is a thrill, isn't it?  I really enjoy growing things from seed, but it
tends to make me a fairly nervous wreck when I am trying something I don't
know the first thing about :-)

> I have another one growing in partial shade but it  doesn't do as well as
> the one in sun. My soil is also slightly limey and can be a bit lacking
in
> nutrients due to the good drainage.

Hmmm....do you think it actually prefers lime?  David also said that it
wouldn't bloom at all well unless grown pretty lean, and you're confirming
this.

> Hope this helps!

It sure does!  And I appreciate your taking the time to reply!!  I am going
to try this plant again next spring, now that I have a notion of what
conditions it needs.  Thankyou again.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
http://www.suite101.com


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