I just got my High Country Gardens catalog http://www.highcountrygardens.com/ It's a wonderful catalog with gorgeous color photos and some unusual plants for the exeriscape or rock garden. I've never ordered from them been I'm debating ....
Great catalog
Yes they have nice catalogs but unfortunately I haven't ordered from them either' Their plant prices seem very reasonable as well' I too have installed some xeriscape around our home as we are now going into our 7th yr.drought,and water is even more precious now for our small community' Alpines for the most part live on little or no water and this year will concentrate on them more' One plant that qualifies for any conditions and is my favorite is the budlei(sp)butterfly bush' No matter where I've grown it,it thrives and I have heavy clay soil' The humidity,blistering constant prairie winds,all weather,great performer' Keep us posted Sue'''
That's interesting ... I've never been happy with butterfly bushes. They're borderline hardy here and most of the time they don't come back. I'll have to try one closer to the house and see how it does. Their penstemons are what get my attention. I'm just afraid they won't be happy in my clay.
You're the first to say the butterfly bushes don't perform well,have you done a soil check?? I divide mine every 4 yr. Oh now there is another beauty,penstemons love them' I only have one,can't remember the name have to check my records,it's a red one' Thanks for reminding me need to move it,lol' Here's a thought Sue,make a burm(berm)you know and plant them,in some rich humus/sandy loam' They do need good drainage and full sun too' Think the shade from the sycamore is slowing mine down a bit now'
poppysue. this is my first time at this site. I was just looking at that link you sent us to. I ordered their catalogue . nice things. thanks for the posting
midwestsnowbird
Apr 07, 2002
yea I have tried butterfly bushes with no luck. guess it's to cold here?
I think most of the butterfly bushes are zone 5 or warmer. Mine came back last year ... but I don't know if it will make it for a third year. I think I'm just about the limit as far as their hardiness goes.
midwestsnowbird
Apr 17, 2002
I have butterfly bush seeds if anyone wants them e-mail me.
I ordered last year from them, they had nice little plants, packed well, and grew very nicely and fast, I was well pleased with the order and service. I love their catalog. I did order the horhound silver edged one, it promptly died, on me, but I figured it was my fault. LOL the rest did fine
kathy
Hi there Kathy ~
Was High Country Gardens the nursery you were refering to?? I have gotten the catalog for 2 years running and have wanted to order, but have not yet.....They have the most amazing assortment of penstemon, I always want them all with the great descriptions and pics...LOL :) What have you had success with from them??
Have a great day!
~Jamie
ps. This pic made me smile when I saw it ....:)
Yes I was talking about highcountry gardens, I ordered penstemons and agastaches, their some of my fave plants. They weren't large, but very healthy and packed nicely, I was pleased, hope this helps
kathy
I ordered some things from them three years ago and was so disappointed that I never placed another order. Among other things (which either died shortly after they were planted or looked so unappealing that I eventually pulled them out to make room for better looking plants), I bought three caryopteris bushes. They survived, but they're still pretty much the same size they were three years ago. They were planted in three different parts of the garden, so I can't blame the mini-environment. I have caryopteris plants from other sources (even Home Depot) that look much better and actually grow the way they're supposed to.
My neighbor, on the other hand, has whole hedges of things she bought from High Country, and she loves them. I guess it depends on the plant. I think they're famous for their huge variety of agastache and salvia.
Boy your right on the agastach and salvia collection, they've got a huge penstemon collection, their designated to drought tollerant plants,
kathy