Re: [SG] dry shade---Bergenia/ Cold Hardy

Hello Claire,
        One of the hardest concepts for me to get into my head was the
understanding of cold hardiness. If a plant came from the mountain tops or
Siberia it had to be cold hardy. Right? Wrong. They have continual snow
cover there and when spring comes, it comes and stays. Usually late, fast
meltoffs. When a plant is covered with feet and feet of snow it remains at
a constant temperature right at freezing. No up and down and no drying
winds on the plant to suck moisture from the top while the roots are frozen
and can not supply the moisture. Dead plant.
        Here in the mid-west we have little snow cover and constant up and down
temps freezing and then thawing. Plants adapted to that do the best
although others will survive. Perhaps not bloom consistently, but survive.
One more good reason to begin with what grows in the fields or woods in
one's own State. They have been there and done that... know how to handle
it. Then one can track down the species and hybrids related to the locals
and see how they will do in the garden.
        Then there is the heat factor which is another story. UV is different on
mountain tops than in the lowlands. Up there they can have plenty of light
and remain relatively cool. Hot and humid will literally melt many of the
alpines.
        Gardening can not only be fun but quite a learning experience with related
fields of knowledge as well.
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com

----------
> From: Claire Peplowski <ECPep@AOL.COM>
> Subject: Re: [SG] dry shade---Bergenia
> Date: Friday, February 26, 1999 1:32 PM
> snip.....
> If we grow plants from other parts of the world that will live under our
> conditions, it does not necessarily mean they will prosper.  I gave a
look in
> Rix & Phillips, vol I, Perennials which says our common bergenia is from
> Siberia.  In researching other genera I have been surprised to discover
that
> some Siberian plants are not hardy in my zone.
snip......
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