"Polar" wrote in message
I wouldn't mind trying alpines again. Last time I planted them,
quite a few years ago, they didn't do too well. Somebody told me they
were getting too much direct Western sun. True/False?

They're alpine! They moisture but sharp drainage, and the kind of partial
shade that a mountain understory plant would receive. They're more
adaptable than many alpine or rock plants, but direct Western sun sounds a
bit overwhelming.

They self-seed and volunteer a bit for me (always very welcome) and their
favorite places to show up are the cracks between the flagstones, which are
set in crushed gravel. They can take a lot more sun if their root run is
cool.

For those of you unfamiliar with them, alpine strawberries do NOT set
runners, making them ideal for borders and edgings. The strawberries are
borne in a flush in June, then sporadically until frost. They are smallish,
and never plentiful, but they are absolutely exquisite in flavor. There's a
yellow variety called 'pineapple crush' that I started from seed many years
ago--when they are dead ripe they are heaven on earth, with pineapple
overtones. The yellow varieties are supposed to be prone to bird damage,
but the birds have never bothered mine, red or yellow.

Cheers,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA