Below are just a “couple” varieties destined for the new xeric garden.

• Agave parryii ‘Camp Verde’
• Agave havardiana (I know I killed one already, but I will succeed)
• Aster ericoides ‘Snow Flurry’
• Echinocereus reichenbachii v. baileyii
• Echinocereus viridiflorus
• Escobaria orcutti v. koenigii
• Gymnocalycium bruchii
• Hesperaloe parviflora
• Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’
• Origanum libanoticum
• Origanum ‘Amethyst Falls’
• Penstemon pinifolius
• Zauschneria garrettii

I have never had luck growing anything in my gardens that required minimal watering. Not for lack of neglect though! I, like most, subscribe to the kill it 5 times before realizing I can’t grow it club. This attempt is #4.

Much like orchids, the more you fuss over your xeric plants the more difficult they will be to keep alive. I have had a mad fascination the the wood lilies, i.e Agave and Hesperaloe for years. Varieties of both are hardy to zone 5- only not in my portion of zone 6. Apparently the black-thumbed horticulturist can’t keep them alive. However, my lack of experience with these plants might prove interesting fodder for this, my first year of blogging.

I fell for the Agaves when a friend gave me a pup from her Agave parryii, hardy to zone 4. It was a quick death, and wouldn’t be the first Agave slaying. The third and last was a container plant, but the cold, moist winter of ‘06 was to blame. Supposedly hardy, I believe I was sold A. havardiana- marginally hardy to zone 6. That’s my story at least.

I have determined after much research and catalog perusing that I simple must have a xeric garden here in clay-stricken Pennsylvania. I have found a raised area that I believe will be an exceptional location for growing the treats I was once forlorn to grow.

In order to overcome what is believed to be the first of many issues, the soil, I will ensure proper drainage by constructing a raised garden to provide ample drainage from our notably excessive rainfall. By raising the garden bed and filling with a mix of sharp sand, peralite, and mushroom soil or peat, I hope to mimic the naturally low nutrient, high leach soils of the southwest while providing some organic matter to lighten the mix. Once I have determined what I think are the appropriate ratios I will update the xeric project.

Unfortunately the downpours began this afternoon and are scheduled to continue through the weekend. I hope to be able to begin clearing the proposed bed and removing the soil that currently occupies the space next week. The farmer in us knows not to work with wet soil, or the molecular structure changes and viola- rock-hard clumps. So I will patiently wait…

The onset of global warming, although detrimental and a worldwide problem that is only getting worse due in part to the current “administrations” refusal to ratify the 1997 Kyoto Pact, is proving to be beneficial in one instance- my ability to grow less-hardy species without protection throughout the winter. The USDA was even nice enough to bump my region from a USDA zone 6 to USDA zone 7.

Throughout my primary school days, my classmates and I always waited for the news to come across the radio that school was canceled due to snow. Incidentally, the snow cancellations came two, three or sometimes four times a year, but eventually faded to once or less by the time I graduated secondary school. Flash forward to last week when the Mid-Atlantic experienced a few 70 degree days that allowed some time to work outside in a Hawaiian shirt. Pleasant.

Mother Nature has a cruel sense of humor. Today brought temperatures in the teens, and wind chill numbers that make my golf scores look (more) pathetic. Unfortunately, only a few hours- not days can have a lasting effect on the growth of many plants. Only time will tell if some of the borderline-zonal garden plants will survive, but I remain optimistic. While pondering the effects of the recent cold snap in a parka and boots, I can’t help but believe the USDA system could be flawed. By relying on the “average annual minimum temperatures” they lure both the gardening public and the horticultural industry into a false sense of security. It is amazing that a single cold front of temperatures in the single digits that will effectively kill most USDA zone 6 plants or severely damage their future growth prospects can do little to change the “average” established by the USDA.

Europe has an interesting way of determining zones- they give the consumer the minimum temperature the plant will withstand and nothing more. No convoluted web of inaccuracies. The American need to simplify even the most basic forms of information has allowed the American gardener to become complacent in being ignorant of their regions weather patterns- the most elementary of all gardening information. While appreciative of the USDA’s information and data pooling for a reference point, all should keep in mind that they are just that- reference points. Gardeners should know the minimum temperatures in their gardens, as they can vary a degree or two within even a square foot radius, let alone a square mile. Minor elevation changes, tree cover or even reflective heat from surrounding structures can change the minimum temperatures and how the garden and therefore how the gardener performs.

The bottom line is that regardless of what zone a region is classified as, the gardener should take the onus on themselves to determine if an item should be planted without protection, rather than relying on the horticultural machine that follows rather than leads, or any government entity, as they are typically over-funded and under-staffed. A hard, and expensive lesson learned.

The monsoon ended Friday night and allowed for a perfectly beautiful Saturday. Temps were in the 40’s, which at this point in the winter season seems similar to a 75 degree day. I had an opportunity to walk through the garden, although almost nothing was actually accomplished. I was encouraged to see the Hellebores as far along as they were. For those unfamiliar with Heronswood Hellebores, they are some of the most interesting varieties on the market, and this year is no different. Since I will not go into a sales spiel here, there will only be links towards the end to see some of the newest varieties that will knock your socks off.

Hellebores are some of the earliest blooming perennials for temperate climates. In PA, they typically push bud in Late February or early March. I have seen extensive growth topped by flower buds and a lone flower on Helleborus x hybridus ‘Snow Bunting’. I had to dig a little to find the forming buds, as I am experimenting with garden bed leaf retention to assist with overwintering issues of some species that are borderline here. It looks like the Agapanthus are taking to that treatment well. One persistent worry now that the glorified rat saw its shadow, is a late spring snow storm that could damage the buds. With any luck, there will be enough warning for the “Storm of the Century” that I can protect some of my more sensitive plants.

Hellebores are particularly interesting to me because they bloom when all else in the garden is desolate. I can remember walking to classes in Februaries past, temperatures in the teens, and weeks before the first Hamamelis bloom- the hellebore’s and their flowers were in full bloom, as if to say to Mom Nature- “That’s all you’ve got?”. The hellebore group has picked up a pretty poor reputation for a number of years, leading the class to never reach its full potential. The non-purists complain because the flowers are nodding. The conformists would have gardeners believe that all flowers should be upturned and happily smiling like a sunflower. I openly protest. No one is happily smiling when stuck outside in the doldrums of winter with minimal interested visitors stopping to admire. However, this is exactly what makes the hellebore a perfect plant (not in the botanical sense). Lets face it, how many times are we preoccupied with the weeds or pruning that we skip stopping to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Truth #1: Hellebores bloom at a time when nothing else is being done in the garden.

Truth #2: The nodding flowers provide enough of an enticement to travel into the garden to inspect closer.

Truth #3: When the flowers are finally tipped up by a gentle hand, their true beauty is exposed to only the viewer.

Truth #4: Nothing brings spring closer than the sight of the first flower- especially when it is months prior to the first robin sighting.

4 varieties of clonal hellebores were picked up last summer at a Heronswood Open in Doylestown. Using some semblance of common sense, they were not planted until September. Hellebore ‘Kingston Cardinal’, Hellebore ‘Snow Bunting’, Hellebore ‘Green Heron’, and Hellebore ‘Gold Finch’ are the four in the stable. I will post some non-borrowed photos when there is something to see.

Graham Rice, the Transatlantic Plantsman has a plethora of information on his blog, as he has written a few books on the topic for the RHS.

All photos used in this post are copyright Heronwood Nursery and were taken from their website, www.heronswood.com. A few great Hellebore varieties and their links are below.

Hellebore ‘Ivory Prince’ - A seed variety rather than a clone, but the apricot blooms are amazingly colored and almost radiate.

Hellebore ‘Starling’ -A “Slate” variety that is would look great with my ‘Snow Bunting’.

Hellebore ‘Phoenix’- I have never seen a Hellebore with such stunning colors. Guacamole green with a rich red margin.

Last year I had the pleasure of meeting Jay and Nellene Myer during a weekend at the Winterthur Garden Fair, and recently ran into them again at the MANTS trade show in Baltimore. What makes the Myer’s different from anyone else at any show I have visited is their dedication to their product line, and belief that they can make a difference. You see… the Myer’s are worm poo wranglers. Otherwise known as the hard-core recyclers at Soil Secret, LLC.

On their farm in Tioga County, PA the Myer’s raise cattle, deer, chickens, pigs and red worms. Farmers through and through, they prefer to live off the land and minimize their impact on the environment by recycling everything from manure to table scraps, and they preach that mantra daily. In a society that prefers disposable materials (my wife developed a nasty Solo cup habit after I cured her of “Styrofoam plate syndrome”) the Myer’s have gone back to what is naturally acceptable. Recycle and reuse.

On first inspection, the secret is obviously plastered on all of their literature, product and straight from Jay’s mouth, but what isn’t obvious is how well earthworm castings work. Worms can make short work the organic matter they take in, and with such a short digestion period the nutrients flow from their bum like the water down the mighty Mississippi. There are a plethora of technical reasons to use worm castings, the most important is the plant response shown in numerous university studies. Castings also reduces the compost period required for manures, and make the resulting fertilizer virtually burn proof.

If you get a chance to visit their site, it is well worth perusing. My only suggestion for the Myer’s is a DIY kit. I implore you to support local agriculture in whatever means possible, poo and all.

I admit the horticultural media, of which I am a card-carrying member, has finally left me perplexed. So in essence, I am confused by myself? Introspective, but I am sure my wife will agree with any snide comments you would care to make. I am referring to the periodical publications currently in the magazine racks at your local Barnes and Noble. The list of publications is extensive, and covers every possible topic from state specific gardening (because gardening in Iowa and Nebraska differ so greatly they require their own publications) to organic gardening, or my personal favorite, The Boxwood Bulletin- publication of the American Boxwood Society. One publication stands out above all the rest, and is the source of my confusion and fruitless search for knowledge. I am speaking of course of the enigmatic Garden and Gun Magazine.

Being a bit of a skeptic, I was a disbeliever until a co-worker took it upon himself to subscribe. Recently, the first of what will be six months of bewildering issues arrived. Much to my surprise, the magazine was not only real, but real interesting… if you didn’t want to read about gardens, or guns. More of a misguided Conde Nast travel guide, it presented well-detailed copy and stunning photography. Not bad for the first magazine publication from the otherwise savvy newspaper publisher, although sadly, they did miss the mark on their moniker.

I can remember an advertising slogan from my youth (but given my memory it was more than likely last week) that stated “two great tastes that taste great together”. Gardening and Guns, although historically synonymous with one another given the commonality of the garden “varmint”, have long been kept separate. Apparently everywhere but in the south this still holds true. They still like to combine their hobbies with firearms, and possibly anything that will explode. A thought that continues to resonate- my father, the fine southern gentlemen he is, has yet to fulfill his dream of “fishing” with grenades. Patience has its virtues, and lack of patience involves hurling a 14oz. incendiary device into 10′ of water and hoping your dinner is within the blast radius like you are.

Having been fooled by the ultimate bait-and-switch, my fruitless quest for a publication combining weapons and gardening will continue to trudge on.

Since before I can remember, I have had an indifference to roses. While, I don’t necessarily dislike their fragrance, habit, flowers or their over saturated market prominence; I could never find a reason to fall in love with the humble rose. To me, the overpriced cut flower marketplace was the only location for roses. A cool dozen, wrapped in tissue, and packed in a box.

Tea roses were the biggest joke, an unnatural combination of a hardy rootstock and a single unsightly bud graft. These roses required more care than tiptoeing through party politics in the primary season. Ensure the bud is protected over the winter, but not too deeply covered. Cut back to 2′ in early winter, and then back to 1′ in early spring. Monitor moisture in the monsoon season of early spring- too much water=death. Monitor insects and diseases since the rose family is afflicted with every disease in the plant kingdom, and some from the animal kingdom. This is the only genus I know of that has a solution to a disease that causes a different disease, but I digress.

In recent months, I have found myself being drawn to roses, and why not? They have a society dedicated to the “enjoyment and enhancement” of roses. Tens of thousands of people can’t be wrong, can they? However, it is not the mass marketed carefree “series” (note to the masses- “series” in horticultural terms means true breakthrough + seconds and thirds=lots of $$) or the more well know hybrid teas that draw my eye, but rather the non-conformist rose, the roses that the hard-core enthusiasts enjoy. The English roses are better known by their most famous breeding house, David Austin.

While browsing the selections, I can’t help but notice the differences between some varieties. The perfect rose is a taller (6-8′ tall), highly fragrant, standard variety that can be used for training on a fence. Heronswood has carried Rosa ‘Glorie de Dijon’, ‘Darlow’s Enigma’, and ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’. Although amazingly gorgeous, they are a little too tall for my shorter growing needs. Although not an Austin bred variety, ‘St. Swithun Climbing’ might be the rose that has the opportunity to alter perceptions, and change the opinions of one lone horticulturist.

Call me obsessed, but every evening I return home, parking closest to the planting bed(s) that require inspection the following morning. The morning “awakening” before getting back into the corporate mindset that draws ever more on my dwindling mental fortitude This works out well during the “warm” months when the daylight hours are longer and the swift fingers of justice nab those pesky Digitaria (that seem to keep popping up despite my best efforts and best pre-emergents) before ever walking in the front door.

While leaving for work this morning and couldn’t help but notice the ornamental grasses that dot the landscape. The sedges have over-wintered beautifully to this point, while the Panicum have seen better days. They resemble a poorly constructed Flock of Seagull’s haircut. No further comment should be necessary… Oddly enough, the Miscanthus has never thrived in the location it was planted. This is an intense plant that has been seen thriving in nothing more than a pile of rocks. Growing with reckless abandon along the interstate, but not in my garden. I like to believe that my soil is inhospitable to the non-native, potentially invasive species. I am certain this is not the case. What concerns me is there are seemingly more nutrients in a pile of rocks than in my garden. Impossible. Salvia and Solidago occupy the same bed. Watson, fetch my deerstalker and hand lens. I will need to investigate this further.

Thinking about my minimal grass collection on the tedious commute into the office actually made me melancholy. Remembering back to the grass collections at Heronswood Gardens, Fordhook Farm, Morris Arboretum, Chanticleer, and Tyler Arboretum, my first thoughts shifted to how stately the grasses appeared and how they provided an essential element to the design of the landscape. Their form and texture lent an unruly element to an otherwise formal planting. Upon my arrival at the office, I have concluded without a doubt, I require an unruly presence in my gardens, and not just myself. Both tall and short, ridged and undulating, my garden and I have neglected the great grasses, lost ourselves focusing on the Digitaria.