There is a wide-spread surge of interest in ornamental grasses due to the sense of magic and amazing textures they bring to the garden. Miscanthus (Maiden Hair Grass) is a group of large ornamental grasses used for their elegant foliage and showy flowering plumes. Stipa tennuifolia (Silky Thread Grass) is enhanced when planted where a gentle breeze can sway the long delicate foliage as the late afternoon sun shines through from behind -- a must for any garden.

Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Avena Grass) is frosting on the cake for any garden. It pleases the eye with color and texture for the entire growing season. The stiff gray-blue leaves provide the foundation for the four foot tall flower spikes that ripen by mid-summer. Calamagrostis arundinacea 'Karl Foerster' (Feather Reed Grass, 'Karl Foerster') is one of the best ornamental grasses. Its wonderful, upright growth habit, makes it very useful to place behind perennials with a spreading or rounded shape.

These are but a few of the incredible ornamental grasses we carry at Bamboo Gardens. Many are available now and others will be here early May. Make a magical addition to your garden today! And, mark your calendar for May 5 to learn more about what is available. (See our workshop schedule.)

A Touch of Water

Elements of nature can be seen in a water feature. The beauty of granite carved into a water basin, the natural look of a bamboo water pipe, and the colors and textures of the aquatic plants all offer a sample of surroundings we enjoy. The peaceful, inspiring, element of water is one that is easy to achieve. Here are a few ways you can have water in your garden.

To create the Tsukubai, the "Basin and Water Pipe Set-up", first select a basin. There are several sizes and shapes available: Zenigata (Coin Basin), Tetsubachi (Iron Bowl), Natsume (Summer Eye Basin), Kiku (Chrysanthemum Basin), Roketsu (Inscribed Granite Basin) and Antique Rice Grinding Basin.

Then select a bamboo water pipe that suits your basin. You will also need a 5 by 5 foot piece of 45 mil, EPDM pond liner, a small submersible pump (80-90 gph depending on the height of your water pipe) some washed pea gravel, and Mexican pebbles or stones of your choice. Also get a 3 foot piece of rebar or small pipe.

The installation in brief is:

1. Dig a small depression where you want to set up the water feature.
2. Line the hole with pond liner.
3. Drive the piece of rebar into the ground outside the pond liner. Place the water pipe over it. (Poke through the bamboo node membranes as needed, but take care not to push the rebar through the top.)
4. Hook the pump to the tubing on the water pipe and set the pump onto the lowest part of the pond liner.
5. Fill the entire area with THOROUGHLY WASHED PEA GRAVEL.
6. Position the basin on the gravel bed.
7. Fill the gravel area with water.
8. Plug in the pump.
9. Adjust the basin or water pipe as needed and invite your friends to see your creation.

Stop by our nursery to see the displays and ask for our "How To" sheet, or send us a self-addressed envelope. Any of our staff will gladly answer questions about this set-up.

Bamboo as a Houseplant--Go Arrow!

According to an article in the fall publication of the American Bamboo Society's magazine, an excellent choice for a houseplant or interior plant is Arrow Bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica). This plant tolerates a wide variety of light levels ranging from a sunny window to areas that never receive direct sunlight. Unlike many of our other bamboo, Arrow can cope with the inadequate humidity that is often the case in modern homes due to central/forced air heating.

An excellent way to modify humidity levels with house plants is to fill the saucers with fish tank gravel or pea gravel, allowing your plantŐs roots to sit up out of the water that drains through. The water in the saucer will yield water vapor that provides increased humidity around the plant. Hose the dust off leaves a couple times a year and when it becomes root-bound, divide or put in a larger pot.

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