I want to get some callas, but I need to know if I can overwinter them in a greenhouse. I know they'll freeze outside.
Callas in 8a?
I looked in the plant files and several of them show hardiness to 8a. Are you going to plant them in the ground or in pots?
Sharon
As Sharon mentioned, it depends on the variety -- some are more hardy than others. Most of the ones I had overwintered just fine for me inground year after year when I lived in the metroplex (z8a). Unfortunately I do not know the variety that dependably returned, it's the ones you could pick up as bulbs in bags at a box store. ;o)
I've noticed that some of the fancier/larger/more ornate ones can be a bit less hardy, and have had a couple of those not return for me.
Well, I thought I would have to plant them in pots and put them in the greenhouse for the winter. But maybe not. All the ones I looked at in the plant files were not hardy in 8a. I assumed that none of them would be hardy here. I saw some at Walmart today, but they don't tell you what kind they are. All it says is multi-colored on the box. Well, duh. I could look at the picture and figure that much out. There were some in the plants files that had really neat leaves. They were black on the top and maroon on the bottom. I kind of like those. But really anything to brighten up my shady spots. They are kind of bare and dull.
I have planted Callas here and they have come back every year so far. I guess I have had them at least 8 years. THis may be the time they don't come back after the cold that we have had. I will look later and see if I see any sign of them.
Bloomlover, which callas did you buy? And what kind of dirt do you have? I am trying to figure out where I,Tx is.
I did an edit and left the I in. Didn't mean to leave it but I was having a moment. We are north of Waco about 40 miles. Not to far from the south split of I35. Sometime when you see a map of the TTC we are right in the line of fire. And they say that the income lost from the farm and ranch land won't amount to much I have to laugh. It will wipe us out! We are on the edge of the Barnett Shale gas formation so maybe Exxon will come here and drill and we can stay since there is so much gas to drill for.
We have pure dee black dirt. No sand or clay until you get about 4 feet down. And as far as which lillies I bought I don't remember even where I got them Some of them came when my Mom died in '98. They are my daughter's favorite flower and her high school class sent them to Mom's funeral. I did go out and see if they were coming up and one bunch is. Just hope this weather won't hurt them.
My yard looks worse than it ever has. In 30 years I have never had a yard that looks this sloppy and yucky. Between freezing weather, a new septic system and all the rain I am embarressed for the Schwan man to get out!
I know that it will be better in the spring, but now it is about to get me.
You all have a good afternoon and stay warm.
Kim
Oh, OK lol. I thought I, Tx was just another small town I'd not heard of yet.
I'm really sorry you're caught up in that new highway mess. We've driven through that area, and I really don't think you need another highway to deal with, but I guess it's gonna happen anyway.:( I know someone here in Fredericksburg whose house is less than a hundred yards from where that highway is supposed to be built. It's a ranch and it's been in their family for generations. It's really sad and the repercussions of this thing are going to spread far and wide. Are you by any chance in Leon county?
Our dirt here is what DH calls sandy clay. We live near a shallow creek and near the bottom of a slight hill. Our dirt is very deep and alkaline. I would think yours would be more acid.
That was nice of your DD's class to send flowers. Flowers are special anyway, but when there's special significance attached to them, they're awsome!
I can identify with being embarrassed about the yard. There was a time when we just had no interest in what the yard looked like and had no time to do anything with it anyway. Our neighbors across the street had a lawn guy come and manicure their lawn for them. He asked me one day if I would " mind if he cut my grass". Oh brother!
Then many years later after I started taking an interest in my yard we had to put a sewer line and water line in the back yard for a garage apartment we were fixing up. It had to go under the driveway. So the plumber came and dug up the area for the pipes. He went home at the end of the day and we didn't see him for 2 weeks. When he did show up, all he did was get in his front end loader than he kindly left in my back yard and drive off in it. For the next 6 months he left me with this trench going from the back of our house across the yard to the apartment and ignored my calls. Finally I gave up and found another plumber. If anybody walking across the yard for any reason had fallen in that trench, we would have been sued.
Our yard is finally back to normal and I hope yours is too soon.
Mary Lee
Mary Lee,
We live in Hill county. We aren't but about 15 miles from Hillsboro. We hope the road goes by the wayside but who knows! Part of our land has been in our family since Texas became a state. I sure hate to lose our family heritage just so some one can get down a road that didn't have to be built. When we go up or down I35 I wonder why don't some of these folks just find another way or stay at home instead of threatin ing our way of life. But then again maybe they don't realize what is going on. It is sort of like asking a hunter one time to take his trash and get out of our pasture, that by the way had no tresspassing signs all around it. He said that it was as much his as mine. I asked him where he lived and that I would bring my picnic and enjoy his yard and leave my trash for him to pick up. I still wonder if he know what I was telling him?
Sorry this got off track but I love our land.
Our soil is not acid for sure. I would love to be able to grow gardenias and all of the acid loving plants but that is a no go here.
The spetic system is ok. Where they put the tank is right in the back yard and the ground has settled so badly that I am going to have some dirt hauled in. I do dread the nut grass that we will get but it can't be helped. I still hold out hope to get some from where we had the ponds cleaned out. We shall see.
Kim
I understand your love of your land. We have less than 1 acre in town, but I wouldn't take anything for it. We have put our heart and soul, blood sweat and tears into this place. And I mean that literally, and I'm sure you have done the same. I think this highway is going to be a problem for law inforcement. It'll be a fast track to Mexico for drug trafficers and kidnappers.
BTW the stuff they dug out of your ponds should be fantastic fertilizer for everything!
Mary Lee