08-16-2007, 07:47 PM
quote:
I noticed with interest that the silverswords were germinated in Volcano, our favorite place on the island (well, so far anyway). Would they thrive there as well or is it too low and wet (and maybe warm)?
As I understand, they took cuttings from the wild plants, propagated them and to produce seed plants. So, this was like captive breeding in birds. They also collected seeds from the wild plants, several of which species, flower once after 5 to 15 years and dies! The seeds are germinated in greenhouses under controlled conditions. I don't think they would grow at the 4000' elevation otherwise. The extant wild plants and outplantings are all at or above 6000'. The different species have different requirements, some need more xeric conditions, some need mesic to humic, i.e., bogs.
Art, do you have Yellow Star Thistle where you are? In the Santa Cruz Mtns., where we lived, Scotch Broom was spreading our way, but the star thistle was everywhere, including in the open space preserves. I remember buying star thistle honey from a beehive operator in San Jose some 20 years before. Little did we know that those bees were helping to spread this weed.