Honoring Heather Heyer:why not plant heather flowers.

[Norbert]

For someone I never knew, the death of Heather Heyer has touched me, as it has many.

I thought that a way of honoring her would be planting a heather plant. That way, when it is in full bloom, like just about now, I can look at it, remember the reason why I planted it and it will be a reminder of someone I will forever admire. Maybe all of is that can plant flowers can do the same.

I am a decent gardener but haven't grown anything like this. The only drawback I see thus far is they say it does best if you plant them in the early spring. I'm thinking there may be a work-around on this. If anyone has gardening tips I am more than open to hearing them.

[JI7]

1. i think the way she would want to be honored would be working on the causes she did

even in her regular job she would help people going through bankruptcy. she protested against bigotry.

i think both can be done.

[Lady_Chat]

3. +1 Flowers are lovely but I wish more could be done in her memory.

Perhaps some kind of fund could be started for the causes she was interested in? A lot of vigils and protests are taking place after what happened to her in Charlottesville, perhaps people could wear a symbol of the Heather flower, as a tribute to her? Some of the right wing sites have been brutal in their criticism of her, it's disgusting, I wish there was some way to counter that, by remembering her in a loving way.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Why not try the Gardening Group?

If anyone here knows, they will.

I imagine it would depend on the climate - and we certainly have a varied climate in this country. I remember seeing heather growing years ago when I was in Ireland - but they have a pretty temperate climate.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1159

[TexasProgresive]

4. I think that is a great idea.

I've only seen heather in Ireland. It would be growing on the rockiest places possible. I'm not sure where you are located. I don't think it would do well in my area because of the long hot summers. Besides which my soil is anything but acid. Heather, blueberries, azaleas and the like favor acid soils. In Houston people would mulch their azaleas with pine needles to help keep the soil acid.

I found a link that would be a good start for you.

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/shrubs/growing-heathers-and-heaths/
When people mention heather, they are almost always talking about two different genera of plants: heaths and heathers. Although both belong to the Ericaceae family, they are botanically different and are divided into the Calluna genus and the Erica genus. For practical purposes, however, they are nearly identical, sharing color, form, and growth habits. They are all evergreen, well-mannered, and low-maintenance plants that thrive in similar conditions of sunlight, water, and soil. Winter hardiness is the only major difference between species.

This one is interesting:

http://www.wildflowersofireland.net/plant_detail.php?id_flower=121
Also known as Ling, this well-known plant grows abundantly on acid soil over mountains, moors and bogs throughout Ireland. Its blossoms paint the landscape with a pale purple from July to October, its tiny 5mm long bell-shaped flowers growing in abundant spikes and its dark-green, scale-like leaves in pairs along the slender stems. This is a native plant belonging to the family Ericaceae