When I put in our asparagus 5 years ago I planted half of the space to"Jersey Knight", and the other half to "Jersey Giant". I was under the impression that they were both "all male" varieties and wanted to do a side by comparison for my area. Of the two, Giant has done better and has a better winter survival rate. That said, they are both absolutely NOT "all male". There are lots of berries produced each year, probably 50%. When I called the supplier a few years ago they confessed that neither varieties are "all male" anymore, as they've apparently reverted. There are a few varieties coming out lately that are supposed to truly be "all male". I put in another bed this year to see if it's real or just BS. The variety I bought is called "Vilmorin" and I got it from Daisy farms. No real results to offer yet on the variety, just some info I thought you might appreciate. -Mark

Hmm, so a good totem substrate mostly means having a rough surface to grab onto? At least that's what I'm hoping. I started to make a PVC pipe-based totem that I was going to wrap with coco liner sheeting, but our local source dried up and the internet has the usual problems (large quantities/expensive shipping). I too am particularly fond of recycled tactics, though my wife may be drawing the line at old drip irrigation hoses! How wet/moist do you keep your totems themselves? Anything beyond misting the plant leaves themselves? Alan

cedrus deodora Karl Fuchs. --->>> deodora are extremely questionable in z5 ... but this one is said to be tolerant.. the problem that i found is that is was prohibitively expensive to try zone pushing ... this was quite a few years back ... you should not be far from riches foxwillow ... see link.. why do you think new gold wont work???? its yellow greens pretty fast.. and should not really be dulled with summer shade as some all gold plants might ... ken i can not express how useful such a visit can be.. with a local expert.. who has real live plants.. rather than web pix and advice ... march is a wonderful time to be out playing with conifers.. on those days that are more spring-like than winter-like ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

I do no have 'Konigstein' or 'Lemmonhof' but I have been eyeing them up! I need more high-quality reds/pinks. Invincibelle is actually an H. arborescens so there you go....you didn't know you were into arborescens did you?! I just planted one in the fall so I am looking forward to it blooming this June based on all of the good things I have heard and seen. 'Nikko' is special since it was my (and millions of other people before 'Endless Summer' came out) first hydrangea: definitely a favorite and incredibly dependable; just about the best all around mac after Endless Summer...you will be happy :) I wish I could have more lacecaps but most of them aren't too keen on growing in 6A/5B. The ones I do have are in big pots and they are awesome, just awesome but big pots are expensive (and so are hydrangeas). I am going to buy one or two Twist-N-Shouts this year but I am super partial to the Teller lacecaps, one look at them and you are hooked ('Nachtigall' is my favorite but I also enjoy 'Blaumeise' and 'Eisvogel' which are nearly identical but 'Nachtigall' has the best leaves of the Tellers in my opinion). It is a total shame that Tellers aren't more cold hardy. I need an involucrata; thinking about 'Blue Bunny' from Proven Winners just because I am not an involucrata expert whatsoever and need something dependable (I guess you could say "Proven"). My tentative new additions for 2011: --'Twist-N-Shout' macrophylla lacecap x2 --'Kardinal' macrophylla lacecap (Teller Red) x1 --somehow I always manage another 'Endless Summer' x? --an involucrata x1 --another quercifolia; thinking 'Little Honey' x1