All I wanted to know was if it was favored by bunnies…
As a garden communicator, when I write about a plant, I like to present as much information as possible,\’a0 at the same time making it readable. Also, most times, I have had a good experience with a particular plant, bringing me joy and I want to share this experience and hopefully encourage the reader to plant one in hopes they experience\’a0 similar joy. I don’t like to write about a plant I don’t have a personal experience with.
What I want to know about a plant may be different than what you want to know. The variables per reader are vast. Most gardeners will want to know about the plant’s USDA hardiness, sun requirements, soil type and the like. There are those plagued with deer who want to know if it’s deer resistance, with nearly every communicator qualifying the answer with, “But as you know, deer will eat anything if hungry enough.”
I need to know the plants water needs. I have a waterwise garden design, so I need to know if the plant of my desire will go into my oasis, transitional, or xeric zone. From there, I can decide if I have room, or if I really want it, I’ll make room by trading up. I find it frustrating when I see a plant I want and have to go to several sources to get all the info about a plant that I need.
When I’m gathering gardening info, I’ll gather even more info than I need personally, in the event I really like the plant and want to put it in a clients garden or if I want to write about it. For example, I am plagued with bunnies. I need to know if a plant is resistant to bunnies. I don’t have deer. However, I will want to know this information to file away for a client’s need or for a writing assignment.
The magazines (me included) are currently writing about the 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year,Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ ornamental grass. A timely endeavor. I like it. It looks good in the photos and I want it. But with having made too many plant purchase mistakes to mention, and finding that zonal denial only benefits the nursery or garden center, I’m getting to where I need to be gaining more knowledge and killing less. If a plant is listed as a bunnies favorite, I’ll stay clear of it. No use building a buffet line for those marauding, munching, members of the cute critter club.
Here is what I want to know about a plant.\’a0 The list started out organized and ended up random as I continued to think of things I wanted to know:
Hardiness range My garden, Helen’s Haven, is in Zone 7b. I have to really, really like it if it’s at the end of it’s zone. Preferable, I like to have another zone wrapped around it. I no longer buy zone 8 plants; those days will be here soon enough if you listen to the global warming conversations, but for now, I’m sticking to my zone.
Water requirement I will accept most conditions, dry, moist or wet. I don’t have all the waterwise zones covered, but I do have most of them including, sunny oasis, sunny transition, sunny xeric, shady transitional, shady xeric and a tiny bit of shady oasis. I need a plant’s watering need so I know where to plant it.
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