a forum for any general garden topic or question
Amsonia is a favorite genus of mine, a small genus in the Apocynaceae, with 16 species in the USA, a few more in Mexico. There are a few so-called Amsonia outside of North America, but these are now accepted as the genus Rhazya.
I'm posting this question on behalf of a member who is too frightened to join the Forum. Yeah, I know. Don't ask.
She's having fancy flagstone and block tiered semicircular steps built up to the front door, about 4 steps, with spaces for planting between some of the stones, and she's wondering what kind of mix to use as fill inside the structure. For example, I'd probably recommend 9 parts rice-sized gravel and 1 part loam. Looking for suggestions. Zone 6B RI Thanks!
As with much of the eastern half of the U.S., my season is running 3-4 weeks ahead of normal, and we have had the warmest March on record. The first frost predictions in weeks came April 10 with a forecasted 29F(-2C). I am usually a degree colder. Well, my thermometer read 21F(-6C) that morning, and it was quite a surprise. I had brought a few potted materials into the garage, but not many. forecasts were modified for the next night, to be the same as what was just experienced, so I did bring in a few more things, just in case it got worse, which it did by a degree.
I got some seed from the 2010-2011 NARGS seedex for Trifolium trichocephalum and grew it. It is strange that I can't find any particular reference to it other than from species lists. The Plant List indicates that it is a valid species name and evidently the type location for it was "Taur.- Caucas." (Taurus Mountains-Caucasus region, I assume).
I'm cross posting this to several lists including the PBS, AlpineL, SRGC and NARGS groups. Feel free to pass it on.
Tomorrow, February 29, is the 23rd birthday of leapling Alpine Elf Harry Dewey.
He and his partner Tom Comstock are vacationing in Florida right now, and you can contact him by cell phone 301-654-7308 or snail mail:
5159 N Hwy A1A, Unit 511
Ft. Pierce, FL 34949
Well spring is coming up here
I rescued these "buzzy" frogs from the street before our house
moving them three meter to the street let them cold
they continued there job ;D
Also the first Salamander from this year walked in our house :o
Roland
I saw the following link mentioned in an Alpine-L post, and thought it should also be posted here. It's a beautifully produced film with amazing photography. I believe the video was part of a TED Talk (http://www.ted.com/talks). Enjoy
Here's a short (c. two minute) video I put together about a year ago which might help out those of you suffering from the winter blues. I've cross posted this to PBS, SRGC and AlpineL. Take a look here:
One finds the darnedest things on Facebook. Here's a "crevice garden" that just screams to be planted ;)
http://api.ning.com/files/7PPEBBfM*aXzCF9Hd3hTJzV8tD6-yHcN4heJCua0Nj4GUvIW9isG2McVim5OZMZEzxZ*B7Kk*gGMlFatYKSSxWGKtEL0HTrK/StoneArt.jpg
Many of us, not only in North America, will know of Tony and Michelle Avent of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Avents have been a team for a long time and had a most successful partnership, in life and work. Sadly Michelle has passed away after a battle with cancer.
Tony has written the most touching memoriam to her here in the News for February on their website:
http://www.plantdelights.com/February/products/879/
