THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 23, 1995 TAG: 9504210108
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
I MET RICHARD Dufresne two years ago on a tour of small North Carolina specialty nurseries. At that time Dufresne was raising many unusual salvias at his home outside Greensboro. Today he is considered one of the leading North American authorities on salvias.
On May 6 Dufresne will headline Herb Education Day in Hampton Roads, bringing many of his plants to the Tidewater Community College, Chesapeake campus. His talk on ``New World Salvias Adapted for the Southland'' will include more than 80 slides.
The event, sponsored by the Herb Society of America, Tidewater Unit, also includes lectures on how to make herbal wreaths, culinary delights, herbal decorations and herbal picnics. Barbara Brawley will give a free lecture on how to grow herbs in Hampton Roads from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Demand for Dufresne's expertise has risen with the recent increase in popularity of salvias. Salvias are easy to care for and generally prefer sunshine and poor soil, which most gardeners have in plentiful amounts.
Dufresne recommends the following salvias, including some new varieties, as best for home gardeners:
Salvia, Raspberry Royal or Blepharo Phylla. This one has brilliant scarlet blooms that are much larger than most salvia. It's one of the Greggii hybrids.
Oresbia. This salvia has flowers that are gray-green. It grows to 3 feet high and spreads to 4 feet or more across.
Salvia Perovski atroplex or Russian Sage. This is the Perennial Plant of the Year for 1995. Although 15 years old, it remains popular with gardeners. It has gray foliage with blue blooms and needs full sun.
Salvia Buchananii. This salvia has fuschia-colored fuzzy blooms. Flowers are small, but the foliage is unusual. With glossy gray leaves and burgundy stems, it's as attractive when not in bloom as when it is. Dufresne says it makes an excellent container plant.
Salvia Microphylla or Wild Water Melon. This one has big pink flowers and glossy leaves.
Salvia, Eyelash Leaf. Excellent in a bed, this unusual salvia likes boggy soils and sand. It has hairs along edges of its leaves and blooms all season with long 2 l/2-inch scarlet blooms.
Salvia Guaranitica. This is the best salvia for hummingbirds. ``They fight over it,'' Dufresne said. It has deep blue blooms and bright green foliage and grows 3 feet tall.
Salvias need humus-rich soil, broken light and deep moisture, Dufresne said. ``They don't want wet feet but need moisture down deep,'' he added. Dufresne fertilizes only with Osmocote. MEMO: Dufresne's salvias, all priced under $5, and many other herbs will be
sold throughout the event. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo courtesy of RICHARD DUFRESNE
Salvia pulchella and many other salvias will be for sale May 6.
Graphic
HERB EDUCATION DAY
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
by CNB