| Christmas is over and the catalogs (a romp in hyperbole) are coming. There is a wealth of information in them. Try something you have never grown before. Last year, I tried a banana plant. It is hardy and easy to grow. It has beautiful red, green, and purple leaves that are a huge two feet. The plant itself grows to a height of six or seven feet. Put in with miscanthus sinenesis (an ornamental grass) they are beautiful.
Well, we still have snow cover, but underneath there is a lot of life going on. Worms and moles have burrowed down for the winter. Roots are still growing. This is a good time to cut old leaves from Hellebores and Epimediums so the new growth can come up. Galanthus (Snowdrops) will be making their appearance. They are the first to come up. As soon as their flowers fade, while they are still green, they can be divided. Put down old Christmas tree branches to keep the ground from thawing. Check to make sure there are no frost heaves. I keep some soil and peat moss in the cellar just in case. Tamp them down and add soil if needed. Mulch can be checked and more added if ground is frozen. Pull mulch away from tree trunks so mice and moles won’t chew the bark. Remember, mulch is to keep the surface frozen — not warm. While you are looking at your catalogs, look for Verbena Bonariensis. This is a see-through plant, four feet tall, with purple flowers. It self-sows, but is not a problem. Wherever it comes up, it seems perfect. Omphalodes. Quite a name. This is a woodland plant for partial shade. These do self-seed but in the right setting can be beautiful. Now, for another tongue twister – Arisaema Candidissimum (Jack in the Pulpit). Cultivation of these is iffy. They will grow in semi-shade, moist, well drained, acid soil. This is a most unus~1 flower. Plant at a shallow depth and they will adjust themselves. These too will colonize but not rampantly. They will grow in Zone 6 but try to stretch the zones. You may lose some but that is the way to learn. I certainly have killed my share of plants. . ‘. ‘ The last is Uvularia. This also is a woodland plant, semi to shaded. It has little yellow bells. It is well worth trying, but look at all the catalogs, try something new each year. It is worth it when you succeed. A good book is “The Explorer’s Garden” by Daniel J. Hinckley. Read, read, and try them. Go to your local library. They have a good selection of gardening books. A good garden encyclopedia is an absolute necessity. Taylor or Wise or Wyman’s are excellent. Learn the Latin names — they are not an affectation but a necessity. All Acers (Maples) are not alike. Read and dream -Spring will soon be here. |
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