Several of the most mature looking ones in my garden are on the "beware- slow grower!" list but I haven't found them so...I have others than I think are much slower and are of similar ages but much less mature looking. Ones I'm getting annoyed with their slowness are Brother Stephan(sp?) and Blue Ivory, Barbara Ann, and Big Daddy. None of those grow for me. These have all improved noticeably year after year. These were all moved at least once early in their years in my garden. Tokudama Flavocircinalis now Manhattan, which is described as having glacial growth rate on the hosta library page, I think, has been a good grower. Then: now: Thunderbolt then: now: I guess Remember Me has been slow, considering it is a small hosta. But it's still worth it. This may be the only hosta that actually got planted and not moved. now:

I suppose I could move one out of each, and keep an eye on that long-range forecast. Since I'm growing in tubs, protecting them is probably not possible -- too many gaps and cracks to seal up tightly. You can wrap the cages in row cover if need be, and leave some extra at the top so you can seal it all up. Just be sure to do it at least a couple of hours before the sun sets to trap some heat, and use at least the mid weight thickness (not summer weight). Some even use clear plastic, but you'd have to be careful with it, and be sure not to leave it sealed up the next day or you could cook your plants. Milk jugs, soda bottles, buckets, etc. filled with warm or hot water and set close to the plants can also help. Or - if you get really desperate and find you don't have anything to cover your plants with last minute and the night temp forecast looks bad, you can get up really early (4:00am to sunrise is generally going to be the coldest) and periodically mist your plants to prevent frost from forming. These are all things I have found will work down to 29-30F or so, the plastic may even work a little below that for all I know, especially if you seal it up a few hours before the sun sets. Also keep in mind that frost can sometimes form at temps above 32F. Anything below 38 or so, and I start to get antsy, especially considering the forecast could end up being different than actual. It also doesn't hurt to stagger your plantings a bit - most years I end up with a delta of at least three weeks between first and last plant in. Staggering can also serve to extend your window of harvest. Well, hopefully any late frosts or freezes won't be a concern for you this year - good luck with your garden.

Thanks so much for your reply. It seems as though you have "the right kind of pond" I would love to do that! Just want to make sure it is not super labor intensive. So, if my stream is not very deep, what plants would you suggest I plant and how many plants would be needed? We live in Tucson and the pond portion does get a lot of sun, would you suggest shade cloth? I estimate that the pond is only about 210 - 250 gal. Regarding the pump, do you think it is wise to continue with bio balls in a pump box and to put a filter in there that I continually clean. As long as I know it is there, I have no problem doing that. Are the two PVC pipes that bring water up to the stream OK with nothing on them? Seem like crud would get in there too and possibly stop things up. Maybe I should put some filtering material in the top or a "screen" over the opening? Thanks again for your reply. I will look up your other post in a minute :)

Hi Nick, So that is the thing about water filters... they aren't something you want to set and forget. I've talked to people on here who are obsessed with water softener / carbon filter / iron filter / RO... and they forget that there aren't elves that come with each system. With virtually every system, not maintaining it is worse than not having it. The contaminants build up and then can be released in greater concentrations than what's going into the system. In general, carbon cartridge filters should be replaced after no more than a year. That's a general rule and there are exceptions. The reason is that they remove the residual disinfectant in the water and bacteria can build up in them. So I did a quick google search on Everpure H-100 and immediately came up with filters for $40 each. Honestly though, I'd look at paying someone to do something different there. You could do 1 filter to service both and a cheaper filter system (10" big blue). The big blue filter housing allows you to put in standard filters (or no filter at all). A carbon block filter that could service both (and probably then some) would cost you $30 a year. Just an FYI for others reading this: there's also a 20" big blue housing along with multiple stage housings. There are standard size filters that fit these larger housings. I have no connection to the website. I have just been a satisfied customer.