Re: Yucca & 2 zone gardening

At 08:37 PM 1/21/2004 -0800, Dee wrote:

>Hello HarleyLady
>Yeah that's the plant.....some folks say you need to soak the seeds in
>gasoline....some say tip cuttings.....some say root division....tried them
>all....Where I used to work as New Projects Manager at Johnson Bros
>Greenhouses...they had one 12 ft tall and 12 ft around......tried and
>tried....but no avail....Although some folks brought them in in gallons and
>got great money for them.

I know, it's funny...some people complain about them being invasive, but 
then it's so hard to get them started.  I don't have experience propagating 
R. coulteri but it's my understanding that root cuttings are the way to go 
and they should be given heat from the top and bottom.  Also that it's 
better to take them when the plant is dormant.

>So what's it like living binationally?
>Is it fun?   I would think the exchange rate would be fun.....I've wanted to
>go to Australia.  Actually I have started liking the rain...at least until
>this winter....snow!!!  I hate snow... (MG we have had way too much of that
>this year) except when its falling of course....a few hours later....yuck!

I like Mexico a lot, and like being able to get out of the PNWet  for a few 
months in winter. My DH would like to live here year-round, but then he's 
not a gardener!  Even 6 months is too much for me.  In the fall when we get 
here, I'm worrying about putting the garden to bed up north.  In the 
spring, I'm worried about getting home to Eugene  before the weeds take 
over and the slugs get everything.  I need to be able to do fall planting 
and clean up the garden before we come down and get back early enough to 
start planting.  In the past, I always had a greenhouse and did a lot of 
seed starting and propagation in the winter, as well as wintering over my 
tender babies. Now, I have to plan my garden around being gone all winter.

>Where are you staying in Mexico?  Not specifically of course just sort

We built a house on the Baja, on the Sea of Cortez side, only about 120 
miles south of the border.  San Felipe used to a be a sleepy little fishing 
village but now it's a booming snowbird town.

>What's the weather like?   Do you garden there?  OK enough

It's desert here.  Summers are unbearably hot, as much as 130 during the 
day, and cooling off to about 90 at night.  Fall, winter and spring are 
very nice. We only get about 2-3  inches of rain a year.  I try to garden 
here but it's really a challenge. I don't have soil--only sand. I bring a 
lot of soil amendments with me and, of course, grow drought-tolerant 
plants.  Water is plentiful but is very expensive as we buy it by the 
truckload since  we're too far north of town to have piped water.

Does anybody else garden in two zones?



>----- Original Message -----
>From: "HarleyLady" <HarleyLady@3-187-rakkasans.us>
>To: <perennials@hort.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 10:50 AM
>Subject: Re: Yucca
>
>
> > At 10:34 PM 1/19/2004 -0800, you wrote:
> > >Whoa ....seen some 'over the top' Yucca's in Ca.....You guys are in the
> > >perfect climate for them.....Have you ever grown 'Mexican Fried Egg
> > >Plant'....can't remember the real name....tried to get cuttings once but
> > >couldn't get them to take.....the blossoms look just like a fried egg!
> > >Dee
> > >Eugene, OR. USA
> > >Zone 8
> >
> > Hi Neighbor,
> >
> > I've been subscribed for a long time but haven't been following the list
> > til recently and your post caught my eye.  We're part-time neighbors as I
> > spend the summer in Eugene and the winters in Mexico.  Before that lived
> > and worked and gardened on the SW WA coast and prior to that lived and
> > gardened in Marcola.
> >
> > Is the plant you're referring to Romneya coulteri  (Matilija poppy)?  It's
> > a SW native and spreads invasively by roots but for some reason is very
> > difficult to start.  Needs very sharp drainage and little water.  I know
> > those who curse it and those who crave it!
> >
> > HarleyLady
> >
> > Eugene, OR  Zone 8
> > San Felipe, BC, Mexico Zone
> >   (USDA 10, Sunset 13, I think)
> >
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