CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I love when readers write with answers, opinions and ideas. First, there's Bill Murray. I've heard of Mr. Murray's gardening prowess through several friends, and when he wrote to discuss holly bushes, I was thrilled.

"During my weekly avid perusal of your column I noticed the allusion to the Sky Pencil holly. I realized that I had not e-mailed you following my research into the mixed review question. I submitted a soil sample from the site in question (Sacred Heart) to the extension service for testing and they came up with a pH of 7.4, decidedly alkaline and not a good environment for hollies.

"Since the building appears to be brown Indiana limestone or a near relative, the result is not surprising and should have been apparent to me earlier. On the other hand, the Sacred Heart garden contains Ilex merservae (blue holly) and Ilex meservae (Dragon Lady blue holly) one of which is planted next to the building and thrives. These apparently are hybrids cultivated for their adaptability since they tolerate the high pH."

Save those geraniums

Elaine Ramsey writes, asking about overwintering geraniums.

"I was wondering if you could help me with my beautiful geranium potted plant that was given for a special occasion. With winter coming on, I need some suggestions. Would it survive as a houseplant? How can I winterize it for spring planting? Can I put it as is under the house to keep it from freezing and just let it die out and in the spring bring it out and start watering it?"

Good questions all. I've saved geraniums in the past by pruning them (get rid of dead leaves, etc.) and putting the pot in the basement. I let them dry out and left them there until March or so. I then brought the pot out into a warm, sunny location and watered regularly -- voila! New growth! I repotted the plant and enjoyed it for another season.

Also, I've been told you can uproot the plants and hang them, roots included, in a dark, dry place. Another friend told me they dig them up, shake off the dirt, and then put the plant out to dry for a few days. Then they put the whole thing in a paper bag, fold over the top, and hang the bag in the garage. Worth a try?

Howard O'Cull asks about pruning and fertilizing.

"Should Perovskia (Russian sage) be pruned in the fall? If so, how far should it be cut back? Or, should the plants be pruned in the spring? Or, is it wise to prune these plants? Please elaborate."

I prune my Russian sage in the spring, after the new growth has come out. I cut back to the lower three to four shoots to encourage more shoots to form from the base. Leave the stems in place to protect the plant through the winter.

Howard also asks:

"Should iris beds be fertilized in fall or spring? Is it OK to use bone meal? Or, what fertilizer, depending on the season, should be used? I've never known the answer to these iris-related questions."

Bone meal is good, as is superphosphate and 6-10-10 -- and it should be added lightly in the early spring and then a second time about a month after the bloom. By the way, now is the best time to thin iris beds. Thin them every three to four years.

Howard's final question:

"Should herbs, specifically thyme, rosemary, Greek oregano and fennel, be pruned in the fall? Moreover, could these plants be safely transplanted to a new bed in the fall or should this be done in spring?"

Woody herbs should be pruned in the spring. You don't want to encourage new growth this late in the season. If the plants are not leggy, no pruning is needed.

Faux pas redux

I've been chastised for being too harsh with my list of gardening faux pas -- while 99.9 percent of the responses added suggestions to the list and laughed along with me, one woman said:

"I think a person's home and garden is an expression of themselves and what they enjoy. I have an old wheelbarrow and a few birdhouses in my garden and I enjoy them every time I look at them. Why can't people just let others enjoy what they like and leave them alone? I realize too much mulch is harmful, but if it isn't illegal, immoral or life-threatening, we should leave others alone and not always be so critical. How would you feel if someone told you they didn't like your hairstyle, etc.? Let's not be so rude to each other, OK?"

That's the beauty of a garden -- to each his own!

Another reader, Sandy Goad, commented on the "empty bench" that I listed as a faux pas.

"As I was reading your column, there was a thought I wanted to share with you. I have taken great delight in creating a rock garden and adding to it things that bring memories of loved ones who have passed on. One of those is an 'empty chair.' Yes, just an empty chair sitting in my rock garden surrounded by chimes and plants planted in memory of my twin brother, Jim.

"I write an 'Empty Chair' column about grief for my local newspaper. No one really sits in the chair. It serves as a reminder that the chair isn't really empty at all if it brings to mind beautiful memories of a life well lived.

"So sometimes we don't always know the meaning behind the things that are placed so carefully in one's garden."

Sandy, this reminded me of my late, great mother-in-law. When her husband of many years died, she sat and looked at his chair for about two days. Then, in her pick-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps manner, she got up from her chair, walked around the table and sat in his. She said she didn't like looking at it without him in it, and she admitted that he had always had the better view out the dining room window!

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.