We've come from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1382988/
Yourr Neck of the Woods 2015 Part1
Valentines Day is coming soon, hence the theme, we were getting long on the old thread.
thanks
I was disappointed that all my snow has about gone from my yard already. In my zone, snow is mostly a nice change of scenery.
Snow was nearly a non-event here, too, maybe 3"... but enough for a snow day! played, made jeweled tiaras, baked gingersnaps... :-)
Hey VV, is that a cone from your Larch? Which Larch is it?
So I left yesterday morning for a "sleep over" with friend J. She invited me to a dinner and program about the Perry County Box Huckleberry. This is something that I had never heard of but it has been studied and written about by some of the top Horticulturalist. Gaylussacia brachycera is a low growing evergreen. I know that most of you have probably heard of Huckleberry's but this one is different. The lack of glands on the underside of the leaves separate these from other Huckleberry. The largest colony or (station) is in Perry Co. It is one plant yes just one plant that covers 8 acres of land and is estimated to be 1,300 years old. This type of Huckleberry will not self pollinate. In multiple studies they found flowers but no seeds or seedlings. It spreads from rhizomes so the entire 8 acres are just one plant. There are approx 100 stations in 8 different states. Pretty much the Mid-Atlantic region.
Years ago before they were protected plants the construction of a highway thru Perry Co. destroyed a station that was 100 acres and a mile long, it was estimated to be older than the California Red Woods. 13,000 years old. There was some question due to the fact that the Glaciers at that time were about 75 miles north of the area and questions about how cold this area would have been at the time. Possibly too cold for the Box Huckleberry but that is still the estimate they are using. Either way it was also just 1 very huge and ancient plant.
It is a National Natural Landmark. Not sure I had ever really known about the NNL but there are 597 areas in the USA , 10 of them are in Pa. and 4 of those are in Perry County.
BTW I do not live in Perry Co. it is just a 45 min or so drive.
How very cool! I've heard of those colonies but haven't ever sought one out. I think it was "plant of the day" for one of the lectures in the intro botany course I took at Penn State (long ago summer session).
Wow, that is amazing Holly. How cool to have seen it!
Very interesting!
I haven't seen it yet, but sometime this summer Ric and I will go hunt it up. They told us right where it is. They asked how many people knew about it and most of the people at the dinner knew about it but when asked how many had visited the site only about 10 put up their hands. My friend was one of them. So this summer she will take us there.
Jan they think there should be a station of them in a particular part of NJ but haven't found it yet. Just that the growing conditions in that area are perfect for them.
Guess which young whipper snapper's birthday is today?
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1385619/
It's Sequoia's big day, yay!
Holly, so these Huckleberries don't produce any berries?
I am not clear on that. They do flower but they said that the flowers don't pollinate, but I thought they did mention berries but not ones that you would eat. So the part I am not clear about is would un-pollinated flowers make berries? I wouldn't think so.
Oh I think I get it...they produce berries, but the berry seeds don't produce new plants.
You've really turned me on to that plant! The only source I could find for it on the web was Garden Delights (onlineplantnursery.com). The Garden Watchdog only had one feedback though and it was negative.
Sequoia, Happy Birthday! I think Holly mentioned something about that plant being protected, so be wary of any commercial offerings.
Thanks Critter :)
Sequoia, It is a difficult plant to grow it grows in the leaf litter, under the trees. I would think there are other commercially grown varieties of Box Huckleberry but I would think that they grow in similar conditions.
That's ok, I have similar conditions (or I can create them) where it could grow. I'll have to do some looking around.
Oh, Also before it was protected, landscapers were hauling it away and selling it so there could be some of this variety out there leftover from that time, or propagated from that time. Don't remember when that was but quite sometime ago.
Some of the native plant nurseries sell from propagated lines with other things (trilliums, etc.). If it has protected status in PA, though, hang onto your receipt -- just in case! It would be fun to try to start your own small "stand."
Yeah for real...if I run across some I'll buy it for sure.
Take a look at Gaylussacia baccata: http://www.nativeplantcenter.net/?q=plants/1277
DG plant files listed 1 vendor who sold it, but I didn't check on its reviews.
I don't know if that will work. I'm looking for something low growing. Mitchella repans is something I'll be getting but I could have gone for the Gaylussacia also.
I have a tiny bit of Mitchella repens. Mine is not just low-growing, it is ground-hugging, and it hasn't spread since I planted it several years ago. I just moved it to what I hope is a better location.
^This is totally off topic--i just don't know where else to post it....
This is about a new channel in TV and a new, hilarious show.
Almost every night-(around 7PM-11PM) there is this show that
will have you laughing out loud (like ME--sitting by myself). Tears runing down my face.
It is on TRU-TV--Ch, #841---and it is about 4 long time buddies trying to embarrass
each other publicly. What he says and does is prompted (by earphones) what
the "chosen one" has to do. It is beyond funny! Very embarrassing--so much fun to watch.
Not for young kids--as some of it can be quite raunchy.
It is on right now--and has been on since 7PM. I will stay up to see the "Grand Opening".
They have been on for about a month now--but tonight, at 10PM, is their "official"
opening of this show.
PLEASE take a look at it. It is funnier than anything I have ever seen on TV.
On this same channel is another show that shares the the "Impractical Jokers" one.
It is called "The "Carbanaro Effect"--and it stars a young magician who does things
to totally confuse and entertain people. Worth watching too....
OK_ I am off to watch The "Jokers".....Gita
Gita, I believe that show is called Impractical Jokesters or something like that.
Muddy, what sort of location did you have your Mitchella? I'd really like to get it as a ground cover because it has berries and is evergreen but I've heard that it's slow to establish. Perhaps you have a good substitute?
Thanks, Jeff---you are correct,
I am totally addicted to it....watch it almost every night.
A good laugh is healthy. many good laughs--
and i sit there laughing out loud--tears running down my face..
AHHHHHHHH.... G.
Seq, it was in a dappled shade area that got direct afternoon sun starting at 1-2 o'clock. The soil tends to stay on the dry side even though the area is inundated when there are heavy rains.
Seq, just for you, I went out in the dark to find some possible substitutes, all still green in my yard:
Ground-huggers: Antennaria plantaginifolia (Plantain-leaf Pussytoes), Sedum ternatum (Wild Stonecrop)
6-8" tall: Chrysogonum virginianum (Green and gold), Euphorbia myrsinites (Myrtle Euphorbia), Greenthumb's Penstemon 'Lucketts', Penstemon 'Fireworks'.
12-14" tall: Hypericum calycinum (St. Johns Wort), Christmas Fern
There might be more; I'll take a look tomorrow.
This message was edited Jan 31, 2015 6:55 PM
My Chrysogonum is also evergreen so far, Iv've been watching it happily.
It's proving to be a great groundcover for my rock garden area, where erosion could be a big problem because it's on a steep slope.
Muddy, I wonder if your Mitchella failed in its original location because it got too much sun? You say that it got full sun from early afternoon on and that is the most harsh sun to have. I like the Chyrsogonum too and have some of that. I believe I got some from you in the fall. I really like the idea of getting berries from the ground cover and that's why I like the Mitchella so much. I think I'm going to get a single plant this summer and plant it under our Pyracanthas to see how it does there.
My experience with Mitchella is that it is a slow grower/spreader.
The problem could have been too much sun, not enough water, or both. It did have some protection from the afternoon sun because it was at the base of Bleeding Hearts that are under a Japanese Maple.
Maybe my expectations were too high; I thought it would spread more quickly.
Greenthumb, have you tried growing cuttings from it? I haven't, but I read that it's easy.
Cuttings work, so you have a bunch of small, slow-growing plants. We both really like the plant though.
True. Mine are too tiny for cuttings anyway.
Sequoia, Monarda bradburiana is also evergreen in my yard. I think I gave you some of those as well. You're in a colder zone, so yours might not stay as green.
Do you have Gaultheria procumbens? I think they're beautiful, but I didn't find them easy to grow. I'm actually really embarrassed to say that every one I bought died, one by one. They might have received too much sun. By the time I decided to transplant them, it was too late.
Monarda brad. is not evergreen for me.
Muddy, my M. Brad have their basal leaves and they are a purple color. I planted all the ones you gave me so I should have some blooms this summer. Hopefully they spread a little over the winter. I think most monardas are evergreen though. At least in the basal foliage. I have a Raspberry Wine in the front yard and you can see a bunch of the basal leaves as green to slightly purple.
I've been thinking that perhaps we should start a new thread for photos of evergreen groundcovers and other perennials just so others can see what they look like in winter in various zones.
I'm often skeptical of retailers' claims that plants are evergreen because it depends on so many factors, including the eye of the beholder: What qualifies as evergreen for one person might not count for another.
What do you think?