Newsletter 03/98

John 14:6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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??
bullet '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!
bullet '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.
bullet '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.
bullet '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.

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
bullet Formal Name: Hosta 'Paul's Glory'
bullet Picture: http://www.hostas.com/images/hostas/paulglry.jpg
bullet Name Meaning: N/A
bullet Incorrect Names: N/A
bullet 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.
bullet 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!
bullet Native: N/A
bullet Height: 20 inches
bullet Color of Flowers: Whitish
bullet Next month will be featuring Hosta 'So Sweet'.

Ornamental Grass Pick of the Month
bullet Formal Name: Helictotrichon sempervirens
bullet Common Name: Blue Oat Grass, Blue Avena Grass
bullet Picture: http://www.hostas.com/images/grasses/blueoat.jpg
bullet Name Meaning: helic- = referring to a spiral, a coil, sempervirens = evergreen
bullet 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.
bullet 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.
bullet Native: Europe
bullet Zone: Tested officially to zone 4a in a six year study by the department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota.
bullet Sun: Full sun. Will grow in shade but will be weak and more open.
bullet Size: 2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide, mounding habit.
bullet Plume: Yellow, and stands tall above the foliage.

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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