Since we are a little bit too far north for the black bamboo to survive the winters it must be taken in each winter. Truth be told, this poor fella hasn’t been outside in over a year. It spent the winter of 06/07 and most of 07 in my office and last winter and this spring under lights in the basement. I had needed to repot it and didn’t seem to get it done till recently. The previous pot didn’t have drain holes (terrible idea I know) and I didn’t want to put it out to drown till I got it into something with drainage. Its in a new home with new soil and loving it though the cat gave it a send off by chewing on a leaf or two. There are a couple of new shoots out and another one ready to make a showing. Its hard to tell in this photo but the older stalks are starting to turn black. When I got this plant it was a single stem with about a 4″ root.
Last year just before my surgery Eric had given me a box of light green hosta. Long story short it is still in the bag and the box is long gone. Last year was so dry I didn’t get it in the ground and it spent the winter in its open bag up against the cement foundation on the south side of the house. It doesn’t seem to be any worse for the wear and will get a new home (this time IN the ground) this weekend.
Bets were being taken as to whether the finger sized root of this peony would sprout let along survive the drought with little help from me AND come back even stronger this year. This little guy has a will to live.
A couple of sprigs two years ago has filled in the shaded area where the currants are nicely.