Crocus kotschyanunus ssp. kotschyanus 'Reliance'
Jane McGary (Sun, 16 Oct 2005 10:44:45 PDT)
Brook Klehm wrote asking about moving to the Pacific Northwest (Seattle)
from Sebastopol, California.
The rodent problems in the PNW will vary according to whether Brook is
moving to an urban or rural area. In urban areas, the worst problem is
introduced eastern gray squirrels. Gophers are present but not too common
west of the Cascades and rarely enter cities. I live far out in the country
and content with native Douglas squirrels, chipmunks, voles, field or deer
mice, and the occasional gopher, as well as deer and rabbits. I just
covered a planting of Iris cretensis with wire after rabbits ate it to the
ground for about the fourth time (fortunately, it's evolved with goat
browsing and will recover).
The winter survival of the Southern Hemisphere plants Brook mentions will
also depend partly on the microclimate where he or she relocates. Seattle
is colder, in general, than Portland, the city I live near, but presumably
it also has some of the urban "heat island" effect that makes it warmer
than the surrounding countryside. I have never heard of anyone growing
outdoors the plants Brook specifically mentions ( "anyone have experience
with Knowltonias in the Pacific Northwest? I'm
quite fond of the two species I have here: K. capensis and filia How
about the various Restios? I have thriving Thamnochortus insignis and
T. cinerius, Elegia capensis and E. fenestrata, Chondropetalum
tectorum, Rhodocoma capensis and R. gigantea "), though some Portlanders
have overwintered certain restios for a year or two. It sounds to me like
Brook will need a serious greenhouse to maintain some favorite species in
the long term, unless the new garden is in a very warm microclimate (for
instance, like Heronswood Nursery's property).
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA