Why Do I Keep Trying To Grow Things I Know Can't Survive In My Garden?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Hoy wrote:

Why do we ever strive to get a garden at all with plants not naturally belonging to the landscape ;D
For example, why should I want to grow Yuccas in my garden - creating a lot of work and trouble for myself! It is unbelievable - but very fun ;D ;D

Hope

I know the feeling. I am mulling over ordering seed of Eritrichiums and Kelseya yet again. The last time I did this none even germinated. That was before I knew how dry the seeds had to be kept to prevent rotting. Even though I failed miserably before, I still want to try again. This is the case even though I know the heat and humidity of summer would almost surely kill them.

Sometimes unexpected successes occur which compels us to roll the dice once again. For example, as a bonus I received Penstemon whippleanus in an order. I did not think it could survive in my climate since it hails from 10,860 feet. However, I now have six of them growing in pots. I had to move them into the shade when heat became an issue. This made them somewhat lanky. However, they are still alive. Maybe next year I will find them a better semi-shady spot where they can grow stronger and flower. Successes like this make me think, if I can get this species to survive then what else could I grow from the same cold windy habitat.

James

Comments

Submitted by Tim Ingram on Wed, 12/07/2011 - 01:47

James - I remember the excitement when I saw Eritrichium howardii germinating in my seed frame one year. I went on to grow it up to flowering size and exhibited it in our local Show. I think our other members liked seeing it but it was only me that felt really proud. Of course it proved difficult to keep over time! There is immense joy in seeing a plant grow well that one has grown from seed and a really good reason to become a nurseryman!!

Submitted by Schier on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 17:02

I think it's half the fun sometimes, trying something that is a "maybe, just maybe". As you said, James , once in awhile a person has success, and it's such a feeling of satisfaction. Makes up for the ones that don't even get big enough to curl up and die. Well, usually makes up for it.  And of course, I always try more than once with the hard if not impossible to grow plants, I make myself crazy, but I keep on doing it.

Submitted by Schier on Fri, 12/09/2011 - 11:03

James wrote:

I wonder if trying to grow things you know has almost no chance of survival is a guy thing?  Kind of like jumping off a cliff pretending to be a flying squirrel! 

http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=893.msg13033#msg13033

Most women tend to be smart enough to avoid taking risks that are not likely to be worth the effort.

James

Wellllll.... I'm one of those women who tries to grow things that have a tiny chance of survival...
hehe.  Mostly from seed though, I don't buy many/if any pricey plants that have little to no chance of making it, unless I grow it as an annual, nah, come to think of it, I'm always tempted, oh, so tempted, but can never afford it. You're right though, none of that jumping off a cliff for me!

Submitted by Sellars on Fri, 12/09/2011 - 16:46

The most challenging thing for me is continuing to fail, year after year,  to grow say, Aquilegia jonesii and then someone locally in the same climate claiming it is easy!  On closer inspection you realize they are actually growing  Aquilegia bertolonii that was mislabelled as A. jonesii in the seed exchange.  Then what do you say?

Submitted by Doreen on Sat, 12/10/2011 - 21:23

James wrote:

I wonder if trying to grow things you know has almost no chance of survival is a guy thing?  Kind of like jumping off a cliff pretending to be a flying squirrel!  

http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=893.msg13033#msg13033

Most women tend to be smart enough to avoid taking risks that are not likely to be worth the effort.

James

Hello James!
No, not a guy thing, I try and grow things all the time that I really haven't a hope with, hence I've been outside all afternoon watering some very sad wilted meconopsis and primulas. I should stick to Lewisia rediviva.

And re flying squirrels, for my last big birthday with a '0' on the end I asked my sisters to club together to pay for a tandem paraglide off the top of a cliff in Queenstown, which was fantastic, but maybe that means I'm not very smart!  ;D

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/11/2011 - 02:09

Doreen wrote:

And re flying squirrels, for my last big birthday with a '0' on the end I asked my sisters to club together to pay for a tandem paraglide off the top of a cliff in Queenstown, which was fantastic, but maybe that means I'm not very smart!  ;D

You must have done something right to jump off a cliff and make it back in one piece.  Proving you have superior genes that would increase the chance of survival of future offspring?  I know if I jumped off a cliff I would bounce all the way down.  My wife definitely would not be impressed.

James

Submitted by Doreen on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 01:24

James wrote:

You must have done something right to jump off a cliff and make it back in one piece.  Proving you have superior genes that would increase the chance of survival of future offspring?  I know if I jumped off a cliff I would bounce all the way down.  My wife definitely would not be impressed.

James

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Haven't produced any Junior Lemmings so the superior genes (if any) will die with me at the bottom of the cliff. (P.S. I was actually strapped to an instructor when I did this jump, it wasn't a solo effort!) Also, your wife might be more impressed if you increased your life insurance cover?  ;D