Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Linnaea-Twinflower

Propagating Linnaea or Twinflower can be done either in the spring or fall by gathering the stolons or creeping stems, the same way grass grows, however it takes years for the stolons to appear, but it is in the Honeysuckle family so its blooms are fragrant. It is one of the first plants to appear after a forest fire, it is found around Douglas Firs and Maples, and it prefers an east or north exposure in a sandy acidic soil either in full sun or partial shade. Its flowers are a pinkish white and blooms from July to September, reaches a maximum of 6" in height, is evergreen, and will tolerate light foot traffic.

Jasminum-Jasmine

Propagating Jasminum or Jasmine can either be done by cuttings or layering, anchoring a branch to the soil with a bent portion of a wire hanger, which from my perspective is easier if the soil is at optimum, well draining. Basically there are two types of Jasmine, winter and summer. Summer is white, blooms July to August and fragrant and winter is yellow and not fragrant, there is also a pink flowering variety. Either one can be used as a climber or as groundcover in full sun or partial shade. The winter blooms in late winter/early spring on bare stems, although it is considered an evergreen in Zone 6 and higher, is deer resistant and needs to be pruned after flowering if used as a climber. Jasmine is drought tolerant after maturing and can reach 12' in height.

Globularia-Globe Daisy

Propagating Globularia or Globe Daisy is done in the spring by dividing the crown however transplants are not easy to take so make certain there is plenty of moisture but do not drown. Deadheading after blooming will bring a second burst of blooms in autumn of violet-lavender color on plants whose average height reaches 4"-6". Globe daisy will take either full sun or partial shade in a well draining soil, even gravel, and is drought resistant. First bloom is May-June. The plant is drought tolerant and evergreen and deer may nibble although there are limited greens.

Erysimum-Wallflower

Propagating Erysimum or Wallfower by division can be hard because the plant becomes woody with age, lasts only 3-5 years, so many suggest a heeled softwood cutting, 2", after flowering or by seed at 70 degrees, which can take up to two months to germinate. It is an alpine type plant which will take full sun but not drought. It will reach heights of 12"-23". Although an evergreen it may not survive the winter in Zone 6. It blooms from spring through to mid summer, which are fragrant and the flowers attract butterflies and different varieties have different colors which range from yellow to orange to purple and Wallflower is deer resistant. It becomes leggy so after blooming trim back so the bush fills out.

Carex-Sedge

Propagating Carex or Sedge which is similar to Liriope’s growth pattern, rhizomes, underground root systems forming new plants away from the parent, so just dig up the “kids” in the spring and transplant. Some people prefer Carex over Liriope, generally as equally hardy in the same zones, but the blooms on Liriope are far more attractive, Carex’s is brown and blooms earlier in late spring to early summer. Generally the same leaf variations, green, variegated and for Carex there is a white leafed variety. Carex is evergreen in warmer zones and is deer resistant. It grows to a height of 8"-12" and will do well in either partial shade or full sun but needs a moist rich soil where Liriope seems to do well in poor soil conditions.

Update on "Cimson Sky" Good luck to the Mid-West!

The federal government has recommended a site in Kansas for a new $450 million laboratory to study biological threats like anthrax and foot-and-mouth disease, officials said Wednesday.

The Homeland Security Department's choice of Manhattan, in central Kansas, beat out intense competition from other sites in Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas.

Agency officials revealed their decision to several lawmakers late Tuesday, according to lawmakers and staff familiar with the briefings. The officials spoke only on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement won't be made until later this week.

The choice won't become final until sometime after a 30-day window period for comments on the decision, which could face legal challenges from losing states.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said the department would have no comment until the formal announcement.

The new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility would replace an aging 24-acre research complex on Plum Island, about a mile and a half off the eastern shore of New York's Long Island. Foot-and-mouth research has been confined to the island since 1955 to avoid an accidental outbreak that could lead to the slaughter of millions of livestock. The disease does not sicken humans.

Some farm groups have expressed concern about the risks of moving the lab to the U.S. mainland. The Bush administration acknowledged earlier this year that accidents have happened with the feared virus at the Plum Island facility.

But Homeland Security officials are convinced it can operate safely using the latest containment procedures. And Kansas officials are focused on the $3.5 billion economic infusion the lab could mean for the local economy.

A draft copy of Homeland Security's "Preferred Alternative Selection Memorandum," prepared by department Undersecretary Jay Cohen and obtained by The Associated Press concludes that the site on the campus of Kansas State University was chosen based on its proximity to existing biohazard research, strong community acceptance and a generous package of incentives offered by the state.

"The Steering Committee unanimously agreed that the Manhattan campus site is the preferred alternative and I concur with the Steering Committee's recommendation," Cohen states in the draft document.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said he was "very seriously" considering whether to challenge the decision.

"We've got a little time to prepare our appeal," Barbour said at a Jackson news conference. He added: "The bureaucrats who prepared the environmental impact study seemed to think that our partners in Iowa and Texas and Tulane couldn't get on the airplane and fly over here and do work."

The lab is expected to generate about 1,500 construction jobs and a permanent payroll of $25 million to $30 million for more than 300 employees once the project is completed by 2015.

Kansas officials mounted one of the most aggressive efforts to win the new lab, forming a special task force to lobby Homeland Security officials after Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., promoted its economic potential.

Roberts said securing the lab "would be one of, if not the greatest, economic development initiatives in state history."

The Kansas legislature approved $105 million in bonds to buy land, upgrade roads, install a security fence and build a utility plant at the site on the Kansas State University campus. The university already conducts similar research at its Biosecurity Research Institute, near the proposed site of the new lab.

Besides foot-and-mouth disease, researchers also would study African swine fever, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever and the Hendra and Nipah viruses.

Briza-Quaking Grass

Propagating Briza or Quaking Grass can be done either in the early spring, blooms April-June or fall by digging up the clump and dividing the crown, it will thrive in any type of soil and is drought tolerant once established. The blooms resemble rattlesnake tails, if creative, and flow like oats when in bloom and although colors are basically insignificant they can range from a greenish purple to a greenish tan. The plant should be trimmed back in late summer to tidy it up, in warmer zones it is evergreen, deer resistant, reaches a height of 12"-18" and prefers a cool season in full sun or partial shade.

Luzula-Wood Rush

Propagating Luzula or Wood Rush can be accomplished either in the spring or fall by digging up the clump and dividing the crown and transplanting the division to a new spot. It is evergreen and if brown tips appear in the spring just snip back the tops. It grows to a height of 12" and is a great ground cover for drought prone areas and its flowers are insignificant and Wood Rush will do well in either full sun or partial shade.