Lynda Lowman

Growing Pansies Early

– Posted in: Garden chores, Plant info

re: The pansy question. I guess I got in the habit of seeding them in early while working at a local nursery. Like all commercial growers, they were looking for early color to stimulate sales. It was by accident I found I could harden them off and plant them out a month before our last [...]

Kathy, The Shumway catalog most

– Posted in: Catalog review

Kathy, The Shumway catalog most people get is the large newsprint folder. I'm talking about the catalog from the Horticultural Products and Services Div. It's almost a wholesale-type catalog. Large amounts of seed at a reasonable price. The toll free # is 1-800-322-7288. Check out Hollyhock 'Black Currant Whirl'! I have seeded in all their [...]

Kathy, First of all, if

– Posted in: Catalog review, Uncategorized

Kathy, First of all, if I listed ALL the companies I order from, it would be too embarrasing. But one of my favorites is Seeds of Change out of Santa Fe, NM. Commitment to offering the highest quality organically grown, open-pollinated seed is what initially drew me to this company. It's a bonus that all [...]

Helleborus niger and Helleborus orientalis

– Posted in: Plant info

One is H. niger and the other is H. orientalis. It's the niger that is blooming now. The O blooms closer to Easter. The 'Lady' series is H x hybridus Lady. To paraphrase an article in BBC Gardener's World, "Exciting colour options are now available to gardeners with the introduction of a new series of [...]

Hellebores in North Idaho

– Posted in: Plant info

Mine aren't in a sheltered spot and they are subject to wind almost every day that comes from the south. After a very mild late summer and early fall, the temps plunged without benefit of snow cover. The Hellebores fell over and looked quite forlorn and as soon as the weather moderated, they lifted their [...]

My hellebores bloom in the snow

– Posted in: Plant info

Finally, some snow to make the yard look pristine. 12/26 and the Hellebores by the back door are poking their dainty pink heads above the snow. It's always fun when someone pulls into the drive not familiar with 'Christmas' or 'Lenten' roses. It can be 30 degrees and a foot of snow on the ground [...]