13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

It looks almost like what I have, labeled as 'Eva Cullum', but even Google images of this cultivar vary so greatly, it is almost unbelievable. Which leads me to think, many may just be seedlings of it...But, it could be as suggested above, the cv. 'Franz Schubert' which I do seem to recall, had a certain beautiful glow to it, later on in the day.
Many of my self seeded plants are either pure white, or appear similar to a named variety of the color of mutation of 'David'.
If you can locate a proper 'Blue Paradise' you might really like that one too.

Thanks everyone! It really does look more like a Franz Schubert. It really is hard to tell by the pictures online.

Thanks for that, David! Seems to have sold out before I could get it but I'm patient. :~)

I am having a massive infatuation with the pale and silvery d.argyreum, the gorgeously deep red of d.reynoldsii and also d.dracomontanum (smaller coral red bells at around 2feet). Out of the puklcherrimum varieties, Merlin and Blackbird are richly coloured and there is a very vigorous clone, Blue Bell.

I love these - easy (if a little slow) from seed.

We have used Milorganite extensively on our garden beds this year to try and deter the deer and rabbits.

This week we put out mouse traps to see what we could catch....voles have been in the traps.
So sorry to say it doesnt chase away the voles.

Be aware that Kaput is a very dangerous product if you have pets.

The voles and mice are very tricky to catch setting off the traps without being caught. May try the Tootsie Roll on the trap, there is a video on You Tube for this.

We may also try the bucket method, also on You Tube.

After loosing so many plants to voles over the past two years we are on a vole mission!

Thanks for adding your experience with Milorganite and voles, Trudy. At least I know now that it isn't worth trying. I'll invest in some additional castor oil and ShakeAway instead of Milorganite, and probably add some traps in the worst areas.

Thanks also to everyone who made suggestions on what has worked for them.

Thanks for the extra info leslie and Brenda. Certainly glad I spent only a buck on it instead of earlier this summer when I saw it at lowes for $12. Oh well, at least I may get to enjoy it for a couple years...maybe. ;-)
Thanks much
CMK

I know this is a old thread but just purchased 2 Lobelia's for my water garden. They are doing great.

Anything I can do help them survive the Chicago winter?

Well I guess I'll finish out this thread with its 100th post.

"Blood" dripping down the poles would be humerous, if a bit macabre. heh. Perhaps for Halloween you could let hubby put some drippings back on the poles.

Some clever work there, Tin. And good job on rescuing that tortoise! (Lucky for him that you saw him bobbing in the water.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Fripperies continued?

tin, just curious, but why not leave the mud there? is it really worse than what was there before? wouldn't it be river-nutrient rich?
mindy

ironic that this is what got me to write you because I have been enamored of your writing in this thread. Wish you would try your hand at a short story; might surprise yourself.

Eric: LOL! She's a beauty, though. It is so hard to stay mad at a Lab -- easy to GET mad at them but they're so loving and adorable and when she gives me that face I can't help but give her a pat on the head and all is forgiven :0)

My other dog is a mutt but I was told she has some lab in her (but she's definitely some sort of shepherd dominantly) -- TOTALLY different personality.

ahhh..yea..the dogs. gotta love 'em, gotta hate 'em right?

I guess I'll just wait until next spring and see what happens..sucks. haha. my luck is that it will be a goner and of course it's right in front of my house in the one spot most noticed by passerbys..and now half of it is leveled. haha.

Woody, thank you I will look for these. Anything that was developed northwest of Thunder Bay has to be hardy, Lol

"Jefferies" or "Morden" are both rated extra hardy at zone 3 (= zone 2 USA?).

So Victoria either choice would be just fine in terms of survival in any part of NY State.

This post was edited by rouge21 on Mon, Sep 22, 14 at 10:51

Geranium "Rozanne", Echinacea "Green Jewel", Carex "Oehme", Micanthus "Gracillimus"

Great texture going on, Vic! Thanks!

Very helpful information everyone, thank you!

We cut the edges once a year, then maintain them by weed whacking every other mow with the weed whacker held side ways so the strings are cutting vertically giving the edge a nice clean cut. This works well especially if you have a lot of edges.

Thank you for your input, Campanula! It seems these columbines might not be as fragrant as advertised. Sigh. But I will still enjoy all the new colors and blossom forms that will result from this experiment.

The giberellic acid has been very easy to use. As I know it, it comes in little packets of powder that you mix with a small amount of water to achieve a concentration of 500ppm or 1000ppm (parts per million). Place seeds in a vial or small container, use a dropper to add a bit of the giberellic acid, leave overnight, drain, sow, done. LOL.

It works wonders on things like aquilegia and thalictrum, and germination becomes very rapid and uniform. But it has no effect whatsoever on many other things. I suspect that wonderful seeds like Lathyrus rotundifolius and Angelica gigas fall into the "not affected by GA" category.

How did all your columbines turn out? I am just starting some and I do have gibberellic acid. Do I soak the seeds full strength? Overnight? I did manage to germinate two chocolate soldiers. I'm about to start Yabeana and many more. Does anyone have advice? I once came across a site that gave the exact germination needs of each different columbine, including the different procedures for fresh or stored seed, for each individual kind. Does anyone know where that is? It would sure help. I have about 40 different kinds. Thanks, Elizabeth

the site is not allowing me to post or reply to post on that forum. when I click on post a new message it loops me down to the seed exchange instruction page, it will not allow me to even click on the reply button.

same im having the same problem

google says this is a z5 plant.. you think you are in z6 ...

remove from pot .... plant it ... repot in spring if you insist ...

its called 'healing it in for winter' ...

the only issue.. IMHO ... is if you have bad clay soil that does not drain.. if so.. advise ...

if you want to learn about pots.. and overwintering .. etc ... try some plant you have many of ... but learning how to mess with pots... with treasured plants ... can be very stressful ...

or better yet.. divide yours.. put half in the ground.. pot half.. and see what happens ...

if you insist on storing in a pot.. you need to perfect:

potting media
winter water
consistency of dormancy in your area
early sprouting, etc ...

good luck

ken

ps: understand that ..... this has little to do with your specific plant.. other than its winter temp tolerances ... the rules really dont vary ... plant by plant for outdoor plants .. i would have told you the same for trees.. hosta.. conifers.. perennial.. annuals ... etc ....

Yes I do have clay soil and have lost plants over the winter that require good drainage. I lost a euphorbia, other plants that I can't remember and my globe master alliums do not multiply and only dwindle each year. I love globe master but will not spend the money anymore.

So I may leave one pot on the north side of the house and the other pot in the garage. This way I have an experiment-Thanks for the idea!

I have ferns on the north side that have already been through 2 winters and survived in pots. I just don't know where to plant them. What a lame excuse!!

I appreciate your responses!