Introduction from new member Laury Epstein

I'm not just a new list member, I'm a new gardener, having begun the task of
overhauling a large, unkempt garden in the second home we bought in southwest
Massachusetts.  The beds were nicely laid out, but the previous owner was not
big on upkeep.  Moreover, she had allowed the rampant proliferation of what
is called "native bamboo," or knotweed, which is a relentless invader.
Trying to eradicate it has taken over my life.

We have both sun and shade gardens, and I've come to realize that I prefer
the shade to the sun--something I suspect will deepen as the summer gets
hotter.  So I'm trying to learn about shade plants.  Thus far I've planted
epimedium, pulmonaria, aruncus, cimicifuga, ligularia, lamium, and replanted
many many hostas that had been in the sun (I don't know why).  We have a good
number of ferns, but I'd like more.  In fact, learning how to transplant them
correctly is something I hope to learn from this list.  So I'll check the
archives.

I'm also trying some shade grasses, because they're supposed to be so easy to
keep up.

Last week we visited Hillside Gardens in Norwich, CT (northwest corner of the
state), which is a most impressive display garden and nursery.  Fred
MacGourder (sp?), the owner, has done amazing things with shade plants, so if
you're in the area, it's definitely worth a visit.

I look forward to learning more about this list in the near future.

Thank you, Laury Epstein
Zone 5
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index