Re: [SG] acanthus + sand bed

Marge: Wow. I'm impressed. I couldn't even find some of these plants in my
reference books.
As long as I'm engaging in fantasy gardens, I would like the URL on the
sandbeds.
Nancy

>Hmmm, Nancy...if that old, it is unlikely to bloom, I think.  But, it could
>surprise you - plants have minds of their own.
>
>Re: 'Med' garden or sandbed - not actually strictly shade gardening, but it
>does not get "full" sun; about maybe 4 hours of direct sun, but is open to
>the sky with nothing overhanging it directly.
>
>Well, my chief desire (and why I tried this sand bed) has been to grow
>Dorycnium hirsutum, at which I have been failing for around 6 years.
>Usually kept taking cuttings "just in case".  Thought I'd nailed it with
>the sand bed and did not take a cutting.  Guess who did not survive the
>winter?  Sigh....not easy to find, either; had grown it from seed.
>
>Other occupants are:
>
>-Lavender - quite happy, virtually no winter die back
>-Rosemary Arp - ditto
>-Salvia o. purpurea - ditto
>-Salvia o. 'Berggarten' - happy and not dying out from some sort of rot as
>it did in the ground
>-Thymus x citriodorus 'Silver Queen' - happy
>-T. vulgaris -  actually blooming for me - a first, as thyme in the garden
>never does, if it lives.
>-Woolly thyme -  being tried yet again this year, as it usually rots out -
>we shall see how it does
>-Genista sagittalis - returned from practically dead.  Had for years and it
>kept receding until it was a minute scrawny bit...it is really happy
>-Calluna 'Silver Queen' - also returning from a near death experience
>-Euphorbia cyparissias -  grown from seed; supposed to spread viciously but
>so far has not
>-Euphorbia characias - almost too happy
>-Euphorbia myrsinites - very happy; only grows here and in the gravel drive
>for more than a season.
>-Artemisia 'Powis Castle' - grows well elsewhere, but I wanted the foliage;
>needs continual haircuts to keep in bounds - quite happy and without some
>of the winter dieback the ones in other parts of the garden have.
>-Teucrium polium 'Aureum' -new; had one years ago and lost it; marvelous
>white fuzzy foliage
>-Teucrium chamaedrys - good dark green foliage for contrast with all the
>greys; doesn't bloom as I keep giving it haircuts
>-Santolina virens - lost my old ones; these are newly planted.  Thought it
>would manage to survive in sandbed, but could be they were too old to start
>with.
>-Lychnis coronaria 'Alba'- quite happy
>-Llychnis viscaria 'Splendens'- quite happy
>-Armeria maritima - new, but seems happy
>-Allium roseum - happy
>-Chrysanthemum pacificum 'Gold and Silver' - not particularly happy, but
>just stuck the remnants of my plants in as I got disgusted with them anyway
>- leggy and slug infested - they can live or die as they choose
>-some cute little mat plant that I either grew from seed or cannot remember
>where I got or what it is...
>-Nectaroscordum siculum - not happy.  Will be moved after bloom as I
>discovered they much prefer woodland type conditions with a bit of sun.
>Others in those conditions quite happy.  Lovely bulb, highly recommend for
>those who like subtle and intricately marked flowers.  Also known as Allium
>bulgaricum.
>-Stachys byzantina 'Helen von Stein' - not happy.  Did beautifully last
>year and is a mere shadow of her former self at present for some reason I
>cannot fathom.
>
>Think that's it...fairly crowded...not all 'Med' plants, but mostly those
>I've had problems with in the regular garden beds.  Things with grey leaves
>do not generally like hot, humid climates, esp. winter wet and I love grey
>leaves!  Wish bed were four times the size it is as there are a lot more
>children I'd like to try in there.  Am fairly hooked on sandbeds:-)
>
>On a more shady note, but still on sand beds, discovered from Primrose Path
>that wet sandbeds are how they grow their Primulas....mean to try this one
>day.  Have article from them on building same up on the Suite if anyone is
>interested, let me know and I'll dig up URL.
>
>Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
>mtalt@clark.net
>Editor:  Gardening in Shade
>current article: Building A Raised Bed Garden
>http://suite101.com/welcome.cfm/222
>All garden topics welcome page:
>http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/3425#top5
>
>----------
>> From: Nancy Stedman <stedman@INTERPORT.NET>
>> Date: Thursday, June 03, 1999 7:19 PM
>>
>> Marge: My acanthus is three, maybe four years old. I would love to have
>> blooms but I've gotten more realistic in my expectations as I spend more
>> time in the shade.
>> Would love to know what you're going to put in your "Med" garden.
>> Nancy
>
>
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