Mark Meckes
30th April 2001, 02:01 AM
Hello to All, from my bamboo garden in the Pocono Mountains of North-East Pennsylvania.
I don't have an easy access to a computer while I'm here, and it's probably a good thing too, as I am busy digging out my bamboo plants and harvesting, sorting and bundling bamboo poles and pieces, and packing up personal things, and preparing for the Big Move back to Texas.
The spring season here in PA has been late to arrive.
Shoots of Sasa palmata (usually `early risers') are only just beginning to emerge (as of late April).
Here's a picture of one part of my garden,
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/521/thumbs/1Mvc-063f.jpg showing the Effects of winter on Phyllostachys species (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=548), which include stands of Phyllostachys angusta, P. aureosulcata, P. glauca, P. mannii and P. nuda ( 7-10 years after planting), prior to re-leafing and the arrival of new shoots.
Of the 50+ species of bamboo that I have tried growing on 1 1/2 acres here in NE PA in the last 15 years, 40+ varieties are surviving.
Some have become timid because of the cold and competition, while others are very vigorous.
Only a small number of species can be grown here that can produce quality woody craft materials.
The largest diameter I've grown is about 1+ inch (2cm+) and the tallest height is about 20+ ft.
(I also have larger bamboo material collected from other areas)
Now I too, have more bundles of materials piled up around the place, drying out, and awaiting their turn to be trimmed, cleaned, bundled, stored or used, based on age, and condition, size, strength and shape, plant part and ultimate destination.
Learning how to grow, maintain, harvest, process and use bamboo gives me a great appreciation of these plants in my garden.
I guess it's just as well!
Now to learn everything I can about bamboo and other plants of Texas and the South West USA ... and anywhere else of course!
Mark
I don't have an easy access to a computer while I'm here, and it's probably a good thing too, as I am busy digging out my bamboo plants and harvesting, sorting and bundling bamboo poles and pieces, and packing up personal things, and preparing for the Big Move back to Texas.
The spring season here in PA has been late to arrive.
Shoots of Sasa palmata (usually `early risers') are only just beginning to emerge (as of late April).
Here's a picture of one part of my garden,
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/521/thumbs/1Mvc-063f.jpg showing the Effects of winter on Phyllostachys species (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=548), which include stands of Phyllostachys angusta, P. aureosulcata, P. glauca, P. mannii and P. nuda ( 7-10 years after planting), prior to re-leafing and the arrival of new shoots.
Of the 50+ species of bamboo that I have tried growing on 1 1/2 acres here in NE PA in the last 15 years, 40+ varieties are surviving.
Some have become timid because of the cold and competition, while others are very vigorous.
Only a small number of species can be grown here that can produce quality woody craft materials.
The largest diameter I've grown is about 1+ inch (2cm+) and the tallest height is about 20+ ft.
(I also have larger bamboo material collected from other areas)
Now I too, have more bundles of materials piled up around the place, drying out, and awaiting their turn to be trimmed, cleaned, bundled, stored or used, based on age, and condition, size, strength and shape, plant part and ultimate destination.
Learning how to grow, maintain, harvest, process and use bamboo gives me a great appreciation of these plants in my garden.
I guess it's just as well!
Now to learn everything I can about bamboo and other plants of Texas and the South West USA ... and anywhere else of course!
Mark