Albuca superfast germinators
Pelarg@aol.com (Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:22:29 PDT)

Hi Linda,
My zone would be 6 or 7. Temps rarely get below zero, but usually drop into
the single digits at least a couple of times per winter (this winter has
been mild, the lowest temps were maybe around 10F briefly). It does get colder
rather quickly as one moves north of here. This winter has been rainy with
brief cold spells, right now it is pouring outside.
Albuca shawii emerges fairly late, so the biggest danger to it around here
is me digging them up while planting other things.
As an indicator of this winters mildness, there are still a few green leaves
at the ends of the branches on an Artemesia afra. Usually it dies back and
resprouts from a few inches of stems at the base each year. I also imagine
that the figs in the neighborhood did not die back this winter, as they will
during a bad winter (like three years ago, I think), but it will be some time
before they leaf out.
Spring is beginning, with eranthis, iris reticulata, and crocus in bloom. A
daffodil planted against a wall in my school garden in Chappaqua is about to
open, rather earlier than others in the area. Also against the wall small
seedlings of the South African tree Leucosidea sericea are still in full leaf,
it is remarkably hardy for a woody SA plant.
Ernie

**************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL
Home.
(http://home.aol.com/diy/…)