February 2000

Hosta & Ornamental Grass Enthusiasts Newsletter
AAA Ornamentals @ http://www.hostas.com
Vol. 3, No. 2, February, 2000

What's New on our Web-Site?

What's your USDA Hardiness Zone?? I have significantly upgraded my USDA Zone pages by having a separate picture for each state, for those wide states, multiple pictures of sections. MOST IMPORTANTLY, the maps are down to the county level so you can clearly identify your location on the map. In some areas this is crucial. Please review these new USDA pages.

My shopping cart is much more friendly, it does not empty your cart if you view other pages! Actually, it now uses cookies to keep track of your cart ID. Additionally, each plant description page throughout the website now has a "Add To Cart" button, shows the price, selected quantity so you do not have to find the item in the formal shopping cart.

Now have a clearer description of what you get when mail ordering form us at a new FAQ page concerning mail ordering plant.

What's Been Growing

Greenhouse production starts 02/19!! My suntan starts at this time instead of waiting until summer. With greenhouse temperatures of 90 degrees during the day to start the grasses, summer is clearly here!

Hostas

Vol. 30, Num. 2 of the 'Hosta Journal' published an article 'Environmental Influences on the Physiological Responses of Hosta'. Basically, they examined the effects and need of cold temperatures for hosta survival.

For you zone 9,10 gardeners, they found that H. plantaginea, 'Royal Standard', and 'Lancifolia' did not require cold temperatures (i.e. <= 41 degrees f.) for emergence. H. plantaginea they report is native to subtropical areas and not found surprising that cold temperatures were not required. I'd say, give them a whirl!

6 weeks of 41 degrees f. seems to be the key cold dormancy requirement for most hostas that they examined. Sporadic warmer days do not have much affect because the ground is a good cooler.

Grasses

Sedges, Round II. Now, the question is begged, "How can one tell the difference between a grass and a sedge?" By looking at some key differences in the stem and leafs one can distinguish between the two.

The stems of sedges are:

The leaves of sedges are similar having a leaf sheath (lower half of leaf which wraps itself around the stem or culm), and a leaf blade. However we can note several key differences:

Hosta Pick of the Month

Please click on the following link to review my web-site information!

This month's Hosta Pick: Hosta 'Allan P. McConnell' (Click for web-page info)

Ornamental Grass Pick of the Month

Please click on the following link to review my web-site information!

This month's Ornamental Grass Pick: Andropogon scoparius (Little Bluestem)
(Click for web-page info)

Wisdom from the Garden

Oat Bran, fiber, all that healthy stuff is available in grass!