Hi! I'm interested in your eggplants and loofah seeds. I have several kinds of tomatos, yellow and black. Will send email tommorrow with specific kinds. Thanks, Paradisa

Hello. I just sent you an email. I am interested in the boltonia, agastache, pink lupine, and the black nora barlow. thanks, Jenny

It sounds like you have a major bamboo collector right in your neighborhood in Boonville NC. I gave you the link to his farm which has his contact information in case you want to get in touch. He has many mature groves of bamboo on his farm. Bamboo is pretty easy to eradicate, especially in open spaces. One thing about bamboo is that it has an energy cycle where most of the energy is in the culms right after a strong shooting season, and if all of them are cut down, the rhizomes have very little energy to re-sprout. Once there is not enough energy to produce shoots, the rhizomes will rot away. You can harvest culms with a commercial 3 inch lopper or reciprocating saw. The shoots are also supposed to be harvested when they are barely out of the ground in the spring. You might also find more help on the other bamboo forum http://www.bambooweb.info/bb/ As far as choosing a species, it might be best to look at the groves yourself and see what type you want. You definitely have a lot of choices in your climate. Here is a link that might be useful: Link to bamboo grower in Boonville

I'd suggest growing them in pots instead....but certainly doesn't hurt to give it a go. Celeste, Brown Turkey, and Hardy Chicago are the traditional varieties considered to be a bit hardier than most. If you search through the archives here, you'll also find where people have found local, unknown fig varieties that seem hardy. You'll have to barter to get some cuttings, as they won't be available commercially. Avoid the varieties that are valued for producing brebas, like King. You'll need to be able to do heavy trimming and doing so would eliminate the fruit production in these varieties. Avoid fertilizing, and even consider placing the tree in areas of poor, dry-ish soil. This will slow down growth considerably, but will also make the tree more winter hardy. For best micro-climate, plant close to the house with south or south-west exposure and out of the wind.