larry_gene wrote: It is hard to find the same volcanic soil, composted with forest debris, and the same seasonal (November to June) snow cover down here in the valleys. So it needs all those factors to be exactly right, huh? Thinleaf Huckleberry is the main variety found in the Cascade Mountains, and although widespread there, it only grows in niche environments and is restricted to certain elevations even in the mountains (3500-6000 feet). On top of that, fruiting is very inconsistent year-to-year. Few specialty retail nurseries offer it here. As a foliage plant, it might be as easy as an azalea to grow (given the exacting soil formula), but to get fruit down here is iffy. Well, I'll be happy if mine lives at least. I'll think about the fruiting later. :) Much better to use the evergreen huck; the fruit flavor is similar and the plant is commonly available. I'm glad that I have one of those too. It's doing better than the thinleaf and looks pretty decent in spite of the hot June.

Pippi, 2 things I am for sure going to plant on winter solstice!! I have been biting at the chomp to plant these seeds for at least a year and a half. They both need 3 months of a cold period, that is why also they are going down december 21st. Vaccinium Deliciosum (Cascade Huckleberry) Vaccinium myrtillus (European Blueberry Huckleberry) A few things I already have planted. A few more things I need to keep warm inside then plant, ughh I am behind. I am still deciding for sure what all I am going to plant but another good one would be Asimina triloba (pawpaw tree). That one also needs a long cold period. I am debating on trying to start my Euonymus americanus (strawberry bush) Some say it needs 3 to 4 months cold. Then some say it needs 3 months warm then 2 months cold. I tell ya what it is a shame the internet can not be consistent with advice given. Reading comes no where near the value of experience, ughh. I may just try it and see what happens. The fellow I got them from was extremely generous in our trade. I believe I can afford to try one each way. Trial and error right??

Apparently I'm in good company with my butterfly bed that's stuffed with all their favorites and my oversize collection of bird feeders in the crabapple tree. I designed the butterfly bed specifically to attract them and so far am happy with the end result. There's still lots of space to fill in but it's getting there gradually. My folks planted with wildlife in mind before me so there are dogwoods, mock orange, lilacs & others to attract birds. There's a 40 ft. x 30 ft. area of white hydrangea growing on the southern boundary the birds use as a sanctuary. They stop off in the lilac bush on their way to/from the birdfeeders & birdbath. I've counted as many as 25 junkos in the mock orange during snowstorms, all puffed out like little gray tennis balls. Every year wrens nest in each of the three birdhouses hanging in the crabapple tree. One morning this summer I noticed my motion sensor light had come on. When I peaked through the curtains out the front window, there was a red fox stretching as tall as he could trying to raise his chin over the edge to get a drink from the birdbath. I felt so guilty, I washed out a big bowl & set it on the ground beside the birdbath for him. I kept it filled the rest of the season. No rain fell here from June-October so the critters were thirsty along with all my plants. The foxes took over a former rabbit & woodchuck burrow, made it bigger & raised 3 pups down behind my 80 ft. row of blueberry bushes. Yes, they ate all the blueberries this year. Like I said, there was a really bad drought here in southern New England. I took a few pictures through the window screen when they came out to play in the early mornings: A few lucky shots of robins enjoying the ancient plastic birdbath under the crabapple tree: I think the Cooper's hawks that nest down in the woods at the back help keep the rodent & bunny populations under control but the chipmunks can be a problem. Esme the snake makes her rounds of the flowerbeds and takes care of whatever varmints use the hosta leaves to hide under from the hawks.

If these are the ones I have and they behave the same for you as me the fruit is quite inferior to that of highbush. If we lived on mountain ridges we could just step out the door and pick Vaccinium deliciosum. Heating bills would be murder, though.