RE: One Book on Grasses
- To:
- Subject: RE: One Book on Grasses
- From: M* D*
- Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 11:10:11 -0700
- Importance: Normal
Hi Gene,
I think you would find Rick Darke's new(ish) book - "The Color Encyclopedia
of Ornamental Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, Restios, Cattails, & Selected
Bamboos" 1999 Timber Press, $49.95 - meets your criteria. He was the curator
of plants at Longwood Gardens for 20 years and now works as a landscape
designer, consultant, author & photographer. If there IS a "guru of
grasses", I think he would be it. I heard the author speak here last winter
and was very impressed with his knowledge (and his slides) so purchased the
book. I think it is a good investment. You'll have fun exploring all the
possibilities during the winter I'm sure.
I was lucky to find it at www.powellsbooks.com for 50% off. I don't know
if it is still on sale now, but it's worth checking out. Powells always has
a book sale section on their website and there are always gardening books
included. Recently I bought Peter Beales "Classic Garden Roses" (cover
price $69.95) for $19.95. Another gorgeous book I am delighted to have for
my library since I am currently in the throes of an old rose addiction!
I have discovered through trial and error that there are quite a number of
grasses & sedges that do well in part shade (dry shade under trees) in spite
of the usual catalog instructions for "full sun". I don't think I would
include any of the tall grasses such as Miscanthus or Calamagrostis in that
category, but there are many medium and short grasses/sedges that perform
very well there. My current favorite is Stipa tenuissima -"Mexican Hair
Grass". I love its tousled "I'm having a bad hair day" appearance :). Its
not for the French parterre, but looks great in a country or cottage garden
setting.
Beware of the so-called ribbon grasses (Phalaris I think). They are
variegated and very pretty but spread like wildfire. I know Imperata 'Red
Baron' is on the noxious weed list in some parts of the country although
here it is very well behaved - in fact I wish my clump would spread doggone
it!
The current star of my late summer garden is Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
(purple fountain grass). A great size for large containers, it has deep
burgundy leaves with long pink foxtails waving in the breeze. I can't keep
it in stock as it is absolutely irresistible.
Marilyn Dube'
Natural Designs Nursery
Portland, Oregon
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-perennials@mallorn.com [owner-perennials@mallorn.com] On
Behalf Of GeneBush
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2000 5:32 AM
To: perennials@mallorn.com
Subject: One Book on Grasses
I have finally gotten around to becoming interested in grasses.....with
a bit
of nudging from my partner. Want to include some in landscaping here, but
know
absolutely zilch on the best choices for my soil, exposure, their behavior
long
term. Do not want something I have to continually have to fight to keep
contained
on my property or seeding into the surrounding fields of my neighbor.
I know there are plenty of good books out there on the subject. Any
recommendations of "the" one book on this subject? With lots of good full
color
illustrations?
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
