Re: perennials DIGEST V2 #396
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: perennials DIGEST V2 #396
- From: M* S* <s*@maplecity.com>
- Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 08:00:02 -0500
- References: <199805210401.XAA04614@lorien.mallorn.com>
perennials DIGEST wrote:
> perennials DIGEST Wednesday, May 20 1998 Volume 02 : Number 396
>
> In this issue:
>
> Melanthium virginicum
> Request for Book Suggestions -Reply
> Re: Peonies
> Re: Request for Book Suggestions
> Re: Peonies
> Re: Clematis--book review
> Re: Peonies
> Re: Request for Book Suggestions
> Re: Forget-Me-Nots
> [Fwd: Forget-Me-Nots]
> Re: My new water garden - reply
> Tree Peonies
> Re: My new water garden - reply
> Re: Tree Peonies
> Re: Stachys lanata/Lambs Ear
> Re: Stachys lanata/Lambs Ear
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 12:07:16 -0400
> From: Gail Lussier <lussier@fas.harvard.edu>
> Subject: Melanthium virginicum
>
> Germinating successfully after being sown in November and left in a cold
> frame, these plants seem to be just sitting there now. Four of them in a 4"
> pot. The common name is Broad Leaved Bunchflower, but what I see is
> grass-like leaves, very fine, about 3" tall. Last year's attempt at this
> plant yielded the same grass-like leaves which were promptly eated by some
> insect. I'm wondering what to do now and even if I have the plant listed on
> the package.
>
> Has anyone else grown this plant?
>
> Thanks,
> Gail, zone 6
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 09:16:51 -0800
> From: SUSAN SAXTON <SS@Schwabe.com>
> Subject: Request for Book Suggestions -Reply
>
> I have two suggestions for you:
>
> 1. The library is a great source until you find
> your "niche" in gardening (you will, like most of
> us, end up leaning toward something, roses,
> perennials, vegetables, you get my drift), and
> the library is free (more money for plants).
>
> 2. Put your name on every mail order catalogue
> you can, many have excellent pictures and tons
> of cultural information. Always keep in mind
> they are trying to sell you something, but that's
> easy to remember when you see the prices.
>
> Okay I lied, three suggestions.
>
> 3. Once you find your niche, or are on the
> path, join the Garden Book Club. Great
> sources, same price you'd pay anyway, and
> some less as you accrue "bonus points."
>
> But if you're too impatient to wait for these
> (which will change as you become a gardener, if
> nothing else it teaches patience and
> persistence!), the overall "Bible" for gardening is
> the Western Garden Book (assuming you're in
> the west -- guess there are ones for the other
> areas, as well.) Line-drawn pictures, pretty
> good information, but definitely handy to have,
> whatever stage of gardening you're in.
>
> And I commend you for signing up for a class.
> Fasten your seatbelt! Gardening is a blast!
>
> >>> "Bosco, Mimi"
> <mbosco@metropo.mccneb.edu> 05/19/98
> 02:52pm >>>
> We moved into a new house this winter, and
> when spring finally came,
> were delighted to find the remnants of a border
> garden. The garden has
> been neglected for at least one or two planting
> seasons, and what isn't
> bare ground is covered in moss or weeds. A few
> brave plants have stood
> their ground--mostly hostas and ladies mantles.
> I think there were
> probably big expanses of bulbs or annuals in
> the garden at one time.
> There's a 15 foot tall scraggly Japanese
> snowball (at least that's what
> I think it is) that is all tangled up in our electric
> wires. The poor
> thing is out of control.
>
> I'm eager to jump in and just start DOING, but
> I'd probably do more
> damage than good with the limited knowledge I
> have. I need to pick up
> some good reference materials that would help
> with plant identification,
> design basics, planting guidelines, pruning, care,
> and . . . everything.
> Can anyone suggest books or magazines
> currently on the market? Please
> keep in mind that I have almost no experience
> or background in
> gardening, so I will need something for the lay
> person. I've signed up
> for a introductory horticulture class at the
> community college, but
> classes won't start till fall.
>
> Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks!
>
> - --Mimi in Zone 5 (maybe?)
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 09:31:00 -0700
> From: Anelle Kloski <akloski@jps.net>
> Subject: Re: Peonies
>
> Can anyone tell me their experiences with tree peonies vs. the
> herbaceous ones? Are their summer foliage sizes and flowers comparable?
> Is it more a personal preference, or are the plants very different
> eventually?
>
> Anelle, Z7, N. Calif.
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 11:58:37 -0500
> From: "Susan LaCroix" <sue@infozoo.com>
> Subject: Re: Request for Book Suggestions
>
> >the overall "Bible" for gardening is
> >the Western Garden Book (assuming you're in
> >the west -- guess there are ones for the other
> >areas, as well.) And I commend you for signing up for a class.
> >Fasten your seatbelt! Gardening is a blast!
>
> Susan S. et al,
>
> Yes, the Sunset Garden people have finally come up with the Sunset National
> Garden Book. If you want to order it from somewhere it is ISBN
> 0-376-03860-8.
>
> Sue L.
>
> zone 4a MN
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 12:04:03 -0500 (CDT)
> From: Don and Marie Adams <mta@alpha3.csd.uwm.edu>
> Subject: Re: Peonies
>
> At 08:52 AM 5/20/98 -0700Diane wrote:
> >The best way to have non-flopping peonies is to go to a peony nursery at
> >bloomtime, preferably just after a heavy rain.
>
> I agree - only I go to the local botanical garden where there are hundred
> blooming - the day of and the day after a rain -- haven't bought any yet but
> will start a list when I've figured out where to put still another bunch of
> plants
>
> Marie
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 18:29:41 +0100
> From: Graham Leatherbarrow <graham@maigold.demon.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: Clematis--book review
>
> One fine day Dianne wrote:
>
> >Has anyone reviewed the book "Making the most of clematis" by Raymond J.
> >Evison or do you have other good readily available books on clematis?
>
> I have a well-thumbed copy, it is my source of quick reference for most
> Clematis, recommended. Another good book is "Clematis" by Christopher
> Lloyd, this being a more in depth study, has good descriptions of most
> cultivated Clematis, publisher is Penguin Books.
> - --
> Graham Leatherbarrow.
>
> Stockport
> Cheshire
> UK
> Zone 8
>
> http://www.maigold.co.uk
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 11:00:13 +0000
> From: firekeep@mcn.net
> Subject: Re: Peonies
>
> One thing that also helps peonies is to see that they get good feedings
> of fertilizer with lots of phosphate and potassium. It won't help with
> this years so much but put it on early in the season just as the buds
> are emerging from the ground. Nitrogen is good too but not too much. the
> ph and po will help with stem, root and flowers.
>
> Big bomb types may still need a little help. Semi-doubles, singles and
> japs seldom flop.
>
> Ann B.
> Montana Gardener
>
> Susan LaCroix wrote:
> >
> > >Does anyone have any suggestions on keeping them upright?
> >
> > I saw a solution to this on a TV show recently. Before the plant grew much,
> > she put several stakes around the plant. Then she interlaced twine between
> > the different stakes to create a spider-web effect. Do this a couple of
> > different levels, like 12 inches, 18 inches, etc., depending on the plant.
> >
> > Sue L.
> >
> > zone 4a MN.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bubblebe <Bubblebe@aol.com>
> > To: perennials@mallorn.com <perennials@mallorn.com>
> > Date: Tuesday, May 19, 1998 9:27 PM
> > Subject: Peonies
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 14:55:20 -0400
> From: lowery@teamzeon.com
> Subject: Re: Request for Book Suggestions
>
> Valerie Lowery@ZEON
> 05/20/98 02:55 PM
>
> I still stand behind my recommendation of the Better Homes & Gardens'
> Garden Book. It's a great resource! I've had mine for several years now
> and STILL refer to it. It has garden plans, suggestions for plant
> combinations, several charts listing plants according to color, bloom time,
> height, zone, etc., and gives a very good summary of each plant, listing
> cultural info, a color picture of each plant, suggested combinations, and
> other helpful hints (such as pruning, deadheading, staking, propagation,
> etc.). It features gardeners from a variety of zones and different
> gardening styles.
>
> It cost me about $20 when I got it on sale (if I remember correctly). Paid
> much more for other books with lots of pretty pictures, but with less
> information. Since I live in Zone 6, the Sunset book doesn't help me much.
>
> Val in KY
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 14:57:04 -0400
> From: Rika <missrika@earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: Forget-Me-Nots
>
> > > Here there are two types of plants with flowers that seem quite similar to
> > > me: myosotis, which most commonly has blue flowers but also comes in white
> > > or purplish-pink, and has long pointy-oval leaves which are almost hairy,
> > > and brunnera (?), which I've only seen with blue flowers, which has
> > > interesting heart-shaped leaves and grows in mounds, perhaps 15" high. The
> > > myosotis seem to want moist soil, partial shade, and self-seed happily,
> > > even growing in shredded pine bark mulch in one part of my garden. They
> > > don't seem to get taller than about 8". I haven't succeeded in keeping the
> > > other one going, but it turns up in local plant sales, so others must
> > > succeed with it.
> >
> > What I've seen in my garden is that Brunnera is much more perennial
> > than Myosotis. That is, Myosotis tends to die but self-seed, so you're
> > never really sure where to find it.
> >
> > My Brunnera seem to thrive in dry shade or partial sun with some moisture,
> > but the key for me has been keeping them away from sunlight.
> >
> > For anyone interested, I posted these pictures of Brunnera a while
> > back:
> >
> > http://www.mallorn.com/People/lindsey/horticulture/images/bruma00.jpg
> > http://www.mallorn.com/People/lindsey/horticulture/images/bruma40.jpg
> >
>
> There are two species of Myosotis readily available -- M. alpestris is the
> biennial,flowering in April-May, while M. scorpioides (palustris) is perennial
> and has multiples of blue yellow eyed flowers. It is extremely long flowering -
> it continues all season.
>
> - --
> Rika Willow Pond Nursery http://www.willowpondnursery.com
> Long Island, NY
> Zone 7a
> mail to: rika@willowpondnursery.com
>
> Editor: Northeast Gardening
> http://www.suite101.com/topics/page.cfm/848
> Gardening Topic Index for Suite101:
> http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/gardening.html
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 15:09:47 -0400
> From: Rika <missrika@earthlink.net>
> Subject: [Fwd: Forget-Me-Nots]
>
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
> - --------------55E07C772AB1C4B0E0C8EA77
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> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
> - --
> Rika Willow Pond Nursery
> http://www.willowpondnursery.com
> Long Island, NY Zone 7a
>
> Editor: Northeast Gardening
> http://www.suite101.com/topics/page.cfm/848
> Gardening Topic Index for Suite101:
> http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/gardening.html
>
> - --------------55E07C772AB1C4B0E0C8EA77
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> Content-Disposition: inline
>
> Message-ID: <35632780.573DAA4B@earthlink.net>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 14:57:04 -0400
> From: Rika <missrika@earthlink.net>
> Organization: Willow Pond Nursery
> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (Win95; I)
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> To: perennials@mallorn.com
> Subject: Re: Forget-Me-Nots
> References: <199805200446.XAA16911@lorien.mallorn.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
> > > Here there are two types of plants with flowers that seem quite similar to
> > > me: myosotis, which most commonly has blue flowers but also comes in white
> > > or purplish-pink, and has long pointy-oval leaves which are almost hairy,
> > > and brunnera (?), which I've only seen with blue flowers, which has
> > > interesting heart-shaped leaves and grows in mounds, perhaps 15" high. The
> > > myosotis seem to want moist soil, partial shade, and self-seed happily,
> > > even growing in shredded pine bark mulch in one part of my garden. They
> > > don't seem to get taller than about 8". I haven't succeeded in keeping the
> > > other one going, but it turns up in local plant sales, so others must
> > > succeed with it.
> >
> > What I've seen in my garden is that Brunnera is much more perennial
> > than Myosotis. That is, Myosotis tends to die but self-seed, so you're
> > never really sure where to find it.
> >
> > My Brunnera seem to thrive in dry shade or partial sun with some moisture,
> > but the key for me has been keeping them away from sunlight.
> >
> > For anyone interested, I posted these pictures of Brunnera a while
> > back:
> >
> > http://www.mallorn.com/People/lindsey/horticulture/images/bruma00.jpg
> > http://www.mallorn.com/People/lindsey/horticulture/images/bruma40.jpg
> >
>
> There are two species of Myosotis readily available -- M. alpestris is the
> biennial,flowering in April-May, while M. scorpioides (palustris) is perennial
> and has multiples of blue yellow eyed flowers. It is extremely long flowering -
> it continues all season.
>
> - --
> Rika Willow Pond Nursery http://www.willowpondnursery.com
> Long Island, NY
> Zone 7a
> mail to: rika@willowpondnursery.com
>
> Editor: Northeast Gardening
> http://www.suite101.com/topics/page.cfm/848
> Gardening Topic Index for Suite101:
> http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/gardening.html
>
> - --------------55E07C772AB1C4B0E0C8EA77--
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 15:33:53 -0500
> From: harbar@interlog.com (Babs)
> Subject: Re: My new water garden - reply
>
> I was given 2 (im)possible methods for
> >overwintering it since water lilies don't like having their roots
> >frozen:
> >1) Put it in a cool basement or garage and keep moist (but it may rot)
> >2) Dig it deep into the garden and mulch well <snip>
>
> \
> I have had good luck overwintering my pond plants by digging them into the
> garden and mulching them. Since my water garden is in part shade though, I
> don't grow water lilies so I don't know how much luck you will have with
> them. My flags have quadrupled in two years, bursting their pots when I
> dig them up each spring.
>
> I have had no luck keeping the floating plants over in a cool basement or
> under a light. I have to replace the floaters each spring.
>
> Good luck with your fish. Watch out for the raccoons!
>
> Barbara in Toronto
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 14:44:20 -0500
> From: Barb Pernacciaro <bpern@idcnet.com>
> Subject: Tree Peonies
>
> I've consulted my old (4th ed.) Taylor's Encyclopedia of Gardening about
> the tree peony, P. suffruticosa, and it says that they are hardy to
> zone 4, and favorable places to zone 3, but I see the zone map they use
> places me in zone 2. Question for the list: how far north have you
> grown these?
> - --
> Barb Perna
> Southeast WI, Zone 4
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 15:54:46 EDT
> From: Blee811 <Blee811@aol.com>
> Subject: Re: My new water garden - reply
>
> I forget where you are located, but I winter my waterlilies by submerging them
> in the deepest part of the pond--about 4 feet down--then raise them back up to
> about 2 feet in spring. They've flourished for 8 years. These are not
> Tropicals, though. If you have those, I'm not sure what to do with them. I
> am doubtful of indoor and inground storage.
>
> I am in SW Ohio, Zone 6a, but sometimes colder than -10F but not for sustained
> periods.
> Bill Lee
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 20:20:32 -0500
> From: pat-mitchell@juno.com (Lena Mitchell)
> Subject: Re: Tree Peonies
>
> Question for the list: how far north have you
> >grown these?
> >--
> >Barb Perna
> >Southeast WI, Zone 4
>
> Barb - check out Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, WI (In
> Whitnal Park). They have NUMEROUS tree peonies and some are blooming
> now. They are great and any of the gardeners will tell you which are
> more hardy than others in our winters.
>
> (Email me privately if you need directions to Boerner . . it's a great
> resource)
>
> Pat
> Pat-Mitchell@juno.com
> USDA Zone 5 -SE Wisconsin too
>
> _____________________________________________________________________
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 18:48:01 -0400
> From: Marilyn <marimuse@earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: Stachys lanata/Lambs Ear
>
> HI, all, am wondering about the lambs ears....I just love it, and had
> planted some in my garden last year, but it ended up getting all
> squishy and trodden down. I was told that it needed lots of sun and
> dry conditions, and I have lots of shade, but I am hearing people here
> say that they grow it successfully in shady areas....anyone have any
> suggestions for me? I would love to have some of this, since I truly
> love the silvery gray and soft velvety leaves. Thanks.
>
> Marilyn
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 20:35:59 -0700
> From: "Diana L. Politika" <diana@olympus.net>
> Subject: Re: Stachys lanata/Lambs Ear
>
> ginny wrote:
> >
> > There is also another Stachys byzantina 'Striped Phantom' which has pale
> > yellow streaking and is really cool looking! It is still quite expensive,
> > but watch for it to drop. Started out at $30, and this year was $15 at the
> > same nursery. Am growing 'Striped Phantom' and 'Primrose Heron'. Have a
> > feeling that it doesn't spread as quickly as the others. Both are pretty
> > exciting, I think.
> >
> > Ginny
>
> - --
> OK....I get to tell what WE grow....it's called Stacys 'Cotton Boll',
> and instead of flowers, it makes balls of fluff in the leaf axils. No
> color, just pure silver.
> If you can't find it locally, you could take a trip to the Olympic
> Peninsula, and stop in as you drive by.
>
> The Greenhouse Nursery
> 81 S. Bagley Creek Road & Hwy 101
> Port Angeles, WA 98362
> (360) 417-2664
> Zone 8
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> ------------------------------
>
> End of perennials DIGEST V2 #396
> ********************************
Response to Tree Peonies
I tried a tree peony four years ago. I purchased Hana-kisoi (large cherry pink
blossoms). I live in zone 5 - right in the middle. I babied this plant for the
first two winters creating a burlap tent stuffed with leaves. After paying the price
I wanted to keep this plant! However, the past two winters I never got around to
putting this covering on. This past spring I was rewarded with 14 huge, fragrant
blossoms. I find it to be very hardy. Over the four years our coldest winter
temperature was -26 degrees F and the plant came through fine. Since then I have
added High Noon (yellow) and it is doing well.
--
Martha A. Smith
smithsm@maplecity.com
"He who plants a garden, plants happiness"
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