Daylilies will grow for sure. We are in the middle of a very dry spell, so they will need extra water. My Dad planted amaryllis on his lot down on Weiss lake at Leesburg. He brought them from Mobile. They did well there, but it is about 75 miles further south and was on the lake front which moderated the temperature. I don't know about Huntsville, since I haven't tried them.

There are several people who live around here and I am sure they will check in soon. Welcome to Huntsville. I love it here.

Sherry, thanks for your reply. We were there last week. The drought is pretty bad, worst that I've heard of in Alabama in a long time. I'm originally from Mobile... I'm thinking Huntsville area will be colder than Lake Weiss. Don't want to grow all these amaryllis in pots - too many to bring inside during the winter. Might have to just plant them next spring and see what happens in the winter... otherwise, will have to get rid of them. Might try a raised bed for good drainage.

Deb

I tried growing hippies in the ground in E TX, z8a, and none survived. I'm afraid you'd have to dig them up or grow in containers that you'd still have to bring indoors but not as dirty a job.

Deb, I asked at Brooks and Collier today and he didn't think they would make it here. They had some very nice looking amaryllis bulbs by the way. He said even grown in pots or in the ground, before frost to dig them up and cut back and store over the winter in a cool dry place. If you have a lot of bulbs, you might want to try some of the most abundant in a well mulched bed on the south side of the house or fence and see.

All my amaryllis are in the ground and bloom every spring. I am slightly north of Montgomery.

well, dang, I was hoping these would grow in that area without lifting them in the fall. Gonna try them anyway, with lotta pine straw over them. Mama had them in Montgomery without a problem, but its colder in the north. i'll keep some of the better ones in pots, just in case, and plant others in the ground and see what happens. I have grown a lot of them from seed so I won't be out anything but a little water and my time if they die over the winter. I will concentrate more on daylilies, iris, and narcissus. Looking forward to getting back to the "green" part of the country. Sherry, thanks for asking at Brooks and Collier, and also thanks to Sowen. Will be interested in cuttings, seeds, and plant swaps next spring. The house we bought needs a complete makeover... the shrubs in the front are looking pretty bad from lack of water - they're turning gray. probably can't be saved, but I would like to put in azaleas anyway.

Your daylilies will be just fine. I usually let the frost take care of the foliage and then take the brown foliage to the compost pile. Some DL varieties will keep some of the green foliage thru most of the winter. The only thing you'll have to watch out for is deer munching on the foliage, if you have that problem where your new house is situated. They don't bother some of mine close to the house but a few are out where they can easily reach them. We're in the country outside of H'ville btw.

You might want to add some irrigation when you get your landscape project started. It will save a lot of headaches during a dry summer/fall.

OutsidePlaying, we'll be in the country outside of Huntsville also, so there's probably deer there. hopefully no black bears. I ordered some really pretty bicolor daylilies a couple years ago, got them in pots here, will be glad to get them into the ground next spring. i'm gonna order some more seed next year. Don't wanna put in irrigation system unless droughts are really bad. i'll set up sprinklers or hand water when I need to and see how it goes. shoot me an email - we might be neighbors!! (dbook9@msn.com)

Hi, Deb

im in grants,nm .trying to motivate my husband.

we want to move to Smith lake there in N Al. Made a trip

To the area last Jan. Beautiful area.

For your amaryllis you might try putting light bulbs in the beds

during the freezing nights, of course you have already covered

them with straw and a fabric of some kind.

While there last Jan did not need jackets.

there is a big leaf magnolia you may want to find, it's native to the

area. Leaves 3 ft long and the blossoms are huge.

sweet-Betsy no al z7 is in your area

Hi Jo, we're finally getting to make the move that we've wanted to do for so long. i'll try a few amaryllis in the ground next year, mulch them well, maybe cover with burlap too. if they don't make it, i'll just grow them in pots. hope to have a greenhouse in the future, with heat in it during the winter.

Magnilias do very well, here. The UAH campus has always had a large assortment of the pretty little deciduous varieties as well as evergreen M. grandifloras.

I've lived in Huntsville for about fourteen years and don't think that I've ever seen naturalized amaryllis. Daylilies do very well here; I just wish that people would plant more interesting varieties!

I find it difficult to encourage the use of irrigation systems for homeowners because so few understand how to make proper use of them. An irrigation system can encourage very shallow roots, water logged soils, or even soggy mulch but bone dry soil.

Welcome to Huntsville, I'm sure that you'll love it. Oh, don't be afraid of the red, clay soil! Plants of all kinds love it.

If we can get them out of my neglected bed by the back fence, I have at least two magnolias coming up there. I have two neighbors that have mature magnolia trees and they are reproducing. I am also going to cut back on the bearded iris. They are a pale lavender with a yellow throat.

OMG, Sherry, please think of me when you divide your iris if you need a good home for them. would LOVE to have a magnolia or two.. i plan on ordering some fancy iris in the next year or so, unless i can find them local. I will be planning flower beds this winter, when its too cold to be outside doing much, and will start digging and amending soil in the spring. There's a couple of mature pine trees hanging over the roof that need to be removed. Gonna try to get that done this winter so no plants will be harmed in the removal process. My mother always put dry cow manure in the soil in her flower beds, so i'll need to go down the road and see a farmer about some cow pies LOL.

Do you have messaging turned on? If you click on my name, you will see message over on the right side. When you get here we will have to get together. I'm not sure if the magnolias will come out or not, but I will sure try and maybe can get them in a pot for the winter, so they can grow some roots. I have some REALLY neglected beds and that is where they are. There isn't any room for them to grow where they are. If it will ever start raining so the ground get soft, I am going to try to get them out. No matter how much I water, the trees just suck it up. You are welcome to all the iris you want. They are pretty ,but I have no idea the name. They were a pass along in the 80's.

We have three really good nurseries in the Huntsville area. Bennet's, Earth Touch, and The Greenery. There is also Brooks and Collier, but they focus mostly on furniture with some plants. There are a lot more, but those are the ones I go to. You will also like Lewter's Hardware. It is a real old timey hardware store.

thanks Sherry, for the magnolia and iris offer. I will be appreciative of all that you offer to me, and NOIDS aren't a problem. I sent you a message on GW also. guess what??? according to the Weather Channel, should start raining around the 28th, just in time for us to start unpacking these three PODS... LOL

i do know for certain that these amaryllis will be hardy outdoors in north alabama. my sister lives in greenhill, north of florence, and they return each year. doubtful that the other large-flowered hybrids of peach, white, pink, etc. will survive.

Are you there yet?

Debbie said to tell you that they are here and are getting settled in. She can read Garden Web, but isn't able to comment yet. She is using her husband's laptop and can't log on.

Will probably be about 6 weeks before they have internet.

Deb, have you made the move?

let us know how you are doing.

jo

Josephene, we have made the move and finally settled... almost killed both me and Jim... LOL.... I'm NEVER moving again!!!! has been unseasonably warm here this winter - reminds of winter in PHX, but i'm sure we'll still get some really cold weather before spring. i'm getting out into the yard and planning flower beds now... won't plant till at least after Good Friday... have lots of plans... this yard is such a mess. the renters that were here didn't take care of anything... email me for more info (dbook9@msn.com).

Sherry, i'm looking forward to meeting you in person sometime this spring. so nice to have a kindred spirit close by.