privet everywhere!

[lele]

I just have to share this! Some of you know I just moved and also know (Ian) how much I struggled feeding my little stickies last winter here in the States. Well, I was out collecting food for them and my cat(erpillar)s and kept coming across this large shrub that I couldn't quite id. it looked so familiar but didn't "make sense." When I did a scratch n' sniff it sort of reminded me of our wild cherry but I was absolutely sure it was not a cherry of any sort. I asked my new landlord when he got home and it's Privet - lots of it!!! It's odd to see it in this very large shrub form. I am so psyched! I have all summer to experiment in best freezing methods as well as trying to get some propagated. I have my own garage here so may set up some lights to get some started them move them up stairs as it gets cold. Anyway, just had to share! Unfortunately, it is too cold her for it to be evergreen. We have lots of honeysuckle, too :D

[Brian]

Sounds like you moved to the perfect house!

[robsorchids]

privet is easy to propagate so you should be able to take a good amount of cuttings now ready for dormancy in the winter

you could try keeping them indoors on a windowsill to 'trick' them into keeping evergreen.

i also get a good feeling when i find a good source of foodplants.

bye
rob

[Ian]

Awesome Lele! Sounds like you've picked a great spot for your sticks :p

[lele]

I swapped some eggs with someone from sticktalk who sent me some privet cuttings, too and they rooted in their moist toweling in the fridge - lol!!

I've had 17 schultei hatch so I will need a lot for the winter and I don;t think my windowsills are wide enough, rob :p I have grow lights and if the garage doesn't freeze I might be able to set them up in there. I also have this neat "cubby" closet that may work well. I think it is time to freeze the rest of my schultei eggs :(

[animalstorey]

privit can grow huge! found some old waste land where there is a whole row of privit trees!