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March 1998
Hosta & Ornamental Grass Enthusiasts Newsletter
AAA Ornamentals @ http://www.hostas.com
Vol. 1, No. 3, March, 1998
How many folks have hostas trying to emerge in February?? I have several
varieties located around the house foundation that have broken dormancy with maybe
1/2" long petioles, crazy! The drop in temperature again was a welcome condition. I
am going to be using seaweed this year, and one of the benefits is it helps to reduce the
pressures on the plant with sub-freezing temperatures (increased frost tolerance). With
the potential of plants being up earlier this year, I will try the seaweed therapy as some
hopeful insurance against early May frosts. One of my favorite sites with seaweed info: http://www.verinet.com/GoldenHarvest/page29.html. (Please refer to comment below on more information about seaweed therapy.)
Anyone interest in heritage vines? I have a beautiful variety called
Ornamental Hyacinth Bean. Ornamental Hyacinth Bean Vine is a charming addition to the
garden. This annual climbing bean vine is useful as a backdrop or living screen. Beautiful
dark green purple-veined foliage showcases large spiked clusters of 1 inch deep violet
& white pea-like blossoms followed by ruby-purple seed pods. Pictures and further information can be
found at http://www.hostas.com/annuals/gallery/dolichoslablab.html.
Special Seaweed Note
Some additional comments regarding seaweed and cold tolerance. Cold
tolerance is accomplished by displacing the water content in the emerging petioles with
minerals thus reducing the "pressure." The natural growth regulator effects of
seaweed specifically polyamino compounds also play a role in cold resistance. Seaweed as a
plant supplement treatment has consistently proved to be the BEST for doing this. Also the
abscissic acid in it has a hand in this too.
What's New on our Web-Site??
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'Shopping Cart' for mail-order plants and other items is now up
and running on our site. We are offering approximately 100 hostas and ornamental grass
varieties, ceramics, and future miscellaneous via mail-order. Come and check out our
on-line catalogue!
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'Other Gardens' accessible via our home page is a new area where
pictures submitted by other gardeners are displayed. During February about 120 new
pictures of hosta cultivars have been added. Check out these beautiful pictures at http://www.hostas.com/other-gardens/index-other-gardens.html.
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'Articles': Article: Sphagnum Disease Update (02/07/98), New Page
Section: 'Electronic Societies' (02/07/98), Article: Pests: Southern Blight & Spots
(02/07/98), Article: Naming Hostas (02/07/98), Article: Serial Hosta Collector Profile
Test (02/07/98). I have about 80 other articles to add, but not enough time at the moment
to devote to this endeavor.
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'Grass Info' pages now have info! Yes, no longer just pictures.
Each grass has a little check list of notable characteristics plus descriptions and other
information. You can find these new pages at http://www.hostas.com/grasses/index-grasses.html.
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Other Notes of Interest
For those gardeners who have ornamental grasses, don't forget to cut
down your last year grown before the new growth appears this year. For my area zone 5a, I
have them all cut back by the end of March. I have quite a little bond fire with all of
the cuttings!
What's a blue moon? Where there is a Hosta 'Blue Moon', and there is a
length of time called 'Blue Moon'. These are not to be confused! When someone says, 'that
will happen once in a blue moon' may think they are saying 'It will never happen'. But,
this is far from the case. A blue moon is when there is a full moon twice in one month.
This happens about once every 27 months. The next time you hear someone say 'once in a
blue moon', challenge him/her on it.
Hosta Pick of the Month
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Formal Name: Hosta 'Paul's Glory'
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Picture: http://www.hostas.com/images/hostas/paulglry.jpg
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Name Meaning: N/A
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Incorrect Names: N/A
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Description: Plant has leaves with center yellow, turning whitish.
Plant is 26" wide, 17-20" high. Leaf 6x4.5, blue-green margin, cordate (broadly
heart-shaped 6:5 ratio), rugose (distinctly predominant uneven leaf surface features).
Flower scape 24", foliated. Flower medium, bell-shaped, whitish, flowers during
June-July.
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Comments: Many visitors to my gardens when they see 'Paul's Glory'
say, what is that plant, not even realizing that it is a hosta. Why? Probably because most
people who are not familiar with the different varieties of hosta probably cannot believe
that hostas can be so variegated. The blue-green edge, yellow center, hints of center
white is glorious!
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Native: N/A
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Height: 20 inches
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Color of Flowers: Whitish
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Next month will be featuring Hosta 'So Sweet'.
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Ornamental Grass Pick of the Month
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Formal Name: Helictotrichon sempervirens
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Common Name: Blue Oat Grass, Blue Avena Grass
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Picture: http://www.hostas.com/images/grasses/blueoat.jpg
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Name Meaning: helic- = referring to a spiral, a coil, sempervirens
= evergreen
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Description: Clump forming, wiry, vivid blue-grey leaves radiates
out from the center to form a bristling round dome of foliage to 2 feet tall (like a form
of a large pincushion). Moderately drought tolerant. Plant in full sun to light shade in a
well drained soil. Use a stiff rake annually to remove old foliage. Interesting companion
plantings are Russian Sage and Sedum 'Ruby Glow' or 'Autumn Joy'. The panicles are white
to beige and are borne on tall stems. Plants growing in excessive shade make weak growth
and have an open habit.
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Comments: I love this grass! It's form is so strikingly different
than other grasses, it stands out in the crowd! The great big pincushion effect is
dramatic and well worth every effort to acquire it. It is definitely worthy of the title:
specimen.
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Native: Europe
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Zone: Tested officially to zone 4a in a six year study by
the department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota.
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Sun: Full sun. Will grow in shade but will be weak and more open.
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Size: 2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide, mounding habit.
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Plume: Yellow, and stands tall above the foliage.
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Next month will be featuring miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'.
Gardening Tidbit
If you buy a $20-30 hosta, what's another $2-3 in soil amendments for
your little treasure?
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