2002 May 20: New growth is visible on the plant.
July 24: It's doing fine.
There are a few tall stalks.
July 31: First flowers.
September 7: It looks great now, with several flower stalks.
2001 August 4: I bought a plant from St. Mary's Nursery, $8.99, and planted it. It has 5 flower spikes. The instructions in the nursery's book said to leave short sections of the woody stems over the winter for growth to start on next year. The book described its hardiness as suitable for zone 4, but the tag that came with it says zones 5 to 9. I'll see if it survives.
December 2: I put a mound of dry leaves on top of it.