[Artemisia] Garden ideas

[S CLEMENGER]

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kelli Kennison<mailto:kellikennison at yahoo.com> 
  To: artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org<mailto:artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org> 
  Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:15 AM
  Subject: Re: [Artemisia] Artemisia Digest, Vol 52, Issue 58


  Garden Ideas...
     
         I don't know if this is available to folks in different areas of Artemisia, but in Boise "United Water" is giving free classes on drought resistant gardens.  They have an example garden set up in front of their main offices here.  I know that they are happy to supply anyone who asks a list of the plants that they suggest using for water conservation and landscaping.  It may be of use for you folks that are planning on working on this project.  
     
         I am not a gardener - I am a plant killer :(.  But even "I" can make these plants thrive (or so I've been assured by the nice lady at United Water). 
     
    Good luck and what a wonderful project!
     
    Pasha 
     
   Hey, Pasha....Beat me to it! I kept thinking "I outta get on there and promote a water-sparing garden...." lol!
  I don't know that the water co in Missoula promotes it, specifically, but there definitely are groups here that do, and at least one of the city parks (near my house) has xeroscaping (think that's spelled correctly....)  Neighbors a couple of blocks away have done the "outer" portions of their yard (corner lot) with it, too...minimal fuss, minimal water, still attractive.
  Someone (several someones) suggested herbs...Constance, I think? is the main culprit I recall.  Some of my herbs do well over the winter--thymes, different culinary sages, climate-specific varieties of lavender, and IIRC the marjoram is still green this year.  My marigolds (tagetes and calendula) reseed themselves (although the tagetes probably wouldn't be a good idea for permanent residents in a memorial garden in an agricultural sense, because they're not good to eat), as do various types of poppies (especially the California poppies).  Columbine might be a good flower to plant--dunno if it like volcanic soils, but it is native to both Europe and the US, and my two-year-old bushes were a good three feet high this year, and loaded with gorgeous showy blooms in early summer....
  --Maire