Re: [SG] Introduction & Dry Shade

Hello Jackie,
        For hardy Cyclamen try the following 3 species and selections for
beginning in your area. There are more to play with... but success should
come with these. Cyclamen coum, hederifolium and purpurascens
        Gardening books are references or beginning points. Personal experience,
in your own garden,  wins out every time. Many of the references are simply
wrong and gardeners change those books over time. For instance, one of my
most expensive references says Tricyrtis is a zone 7 or 8 plant and not
hardy here. Pah! & Poo! One of my favorite plants to collect for the fall
garden. Does very well, indeed, and I could not imagine a summer and fall
garden without them.
        Dancing Ladies? Can not bring to mind the genus for the common. An orchid
or orchid-relative?
        Good gardening,  Gene
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----------
> From: Jackie <shine@MEDIAONE.NET>
> Subject: Re: [SG] Introduction & Dry Shade
> Date: Monday, April 12, 1999 9:24 PM
>
> Hello Gene
> Thank you for your welcome and your advice.
>
> >         My suggestion for dry shade and root competition is to simply
begin with
> > plants that are adapted for those conditions. The native woodlanders
are
> > wonderful resource. Then their related species from around the world to
> > play with in the garden.
> >         Springs usually have adequate moisture and the hot and dry set
in around
> > July into first part of September around here. Most ephenmerals are
gone by
> > then and do not have to struggle. Of course, many do not go dormant and
> > last until frost. Just a matter of awareness and selection.
>
> I'll look into them.
>
> >         Being English I am sure you are a Cyclamen fancier. Prime
candidates in
> > your area for dry shade and root competition.
>
> Most definately, but I always had far more success with them indoors
> rather than outdoors in the UK. I'll try sowing some seeds this autumn
> and see what comes up.
>
> >Also Epimediums. Primula
> > sieboldii adapts well to these conditions.
>
> Well that's interesting, my book states that primula sieboldii likes
> moist, peaty soil.
> But this is the same book that tells me that hostas like moist,
> partial shade too, so how much should I trust it, eh? :)
> So is sieboldii tough in dry shade too? How would "Dancing ladies"
> manage?
>
> Jackie, Mass., zone 6a (Thank you Bobbi!)
>
>
> >         Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
> >           around the woods - around the world
> > genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
> >
> > ----------
> > > From: Jackie <shine@MEDIAONE.NET>
> > > Subject: [SG] Introduction
> > > Date: Sunday, April 11, 1999 5:22 PM
> > >
> > > Hello shadegardeners,
> > >
> > > I'm just joining the list and I'd like to introduce myself. I'm
Jackie
> > > Halliday and until 18 months ago I was a keen gardener in the UK. It
> > > seems that as soon as I have a garden looking good it's time to move
> > > again.
> > >
> > > I'm living just outside Boston, Mass. and after our second move here
> > > I'm just starting to get organized enough to start gardening again.
> > > Feels good! So I find myself with a garden that is just lawn and very
> > > tall trees. The landlord doesn't want the trees cut down to make more
> > > manageable shrub borders, and so I have a very dry shady
> > > under-the-trees border which is currently bare earth. I think I need
> > > some help here!
> > >
> > > I'm getting used to the New England seasons, although I still find it
> > > odd that the crocuses, daffodils and tulips all come up together :)
> > >
> > > As a starter question, I've always grown my hostas in part-shade with
> > > lots of moisture. But a neighbor of mine doesn't seem to know what
> > > hostas like and has planted a great row of them beside his driveway
in
> > > full sun all day. The strange thing is that the hostas are thriving
> > > and for the past two summers have looked wonderful. What's going on?
> > > Are hostas more "sun-hardy" than my books are letting on?
> > >
> > > Jackie
> > > Burlington, Mass. (sorry - don't know the zone - can someone advise?)
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