13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
Kevin, I think maybe it's not the cost per plant per se, but a few other things. One, we used to get three plants for that same price! Okay, maybe we were spoiled, but that's the way it was and we got used to it.
Secondly, the price for the-now-one-plant is for one plant of the same size as one of the three plants. (wow, that was an awkward sentence! Let me try to rephrase!). Not only are we paying, say, $12 for one plant instead of 3, but that one plant is really no larger than it was before, when it was one of a trio. Bluestone advertises that the single plant is larger, but I really see no difference. The POT is bigger, yes, but the plant? Honestly to me it just seems like a plant from the three-pack transplanted to a bigger pot.
Add in shipping, etc., and the price is way more per plant than it used to be.
I too hate shopping in general, and don't even really like nursery shopping. While I have some reputable nurseries near me, they cater to Fairfield County clients with mega-bucks to spend on their landscapes, clients who don't even usually do their own shopping (their landscape designers go to the nurseries to shop) and I find the plants to be expensive, not always in the best shape, and the nurseries have nowhere near the guarantee and customer service that Bluestone offers. So I would much rather continue to shop at a great place like Bluestone.
But if I have to pay $9 for a coneflower, I'd rather zip over to the nursery three miles away and buy a decent-sized plant in a good-sized pot, than order it on-line, pay for shipping, and have it arrive as a three-inch plant in a four-inch pot.
Yes, with coupons and sales you can get better deals, and that is what I now do, but I used to order plants at the drop of a hat with Bluestone throughout the season. Now I check out the local nurseries and limit my Bluestone purchases to sale time.
Some here may think that is better, as it supports local nurseries. To be honest, I'd rather support Bluestone, after all the years of great service and great plants (both better than the local places, IMO) and I hope the company continues to do well. I just can't justify spending the money for the new return there, and will limit my spending to sales.
Sorry to ramble!
:)
Dee
Have to add one thing. I got my Bluestone order this afternoon, and while the plants were small, as expected, they look very good. AND... an astilbe I ordered was huge by Bluestone standards! I think this is one of the biggest plants I've ever gotten from them. If they are going to start sending plants this size, it would, IMO, be worth it to continue to order. But I am hedging my enthusiasm - the other half dozen plants were the usual Bluestone size.
I'll just have to order something from the next sale to see about sizing!
Dee
torajima - I planted liatris several years ago for the butterflies but ultimately decided I didn't like them. Dug them up, gave away as many as I could find homes for and threw the rest over the hill behind my garage. When they came back even after such rough treatment, I decided to give them a second chance. I still don't like them but since the butterflies do, they're here to stay.
Fingers crossed my woodland phlox returns--I just planted it in May of 2011.
Usually peonies are moved and planted in the fall, though if they aren't bare root, they can be moved early spring. If you need to move it this spring, take lots of soil with it and don't damage the one leaf stalk.
Here's a page from the U of RI, so relatively close to you, about care of peonies.
Here is a link that might be useful: URI peony care fact sheet
JoyBee, you don't indicate what climate zone you're in, and it could make all the difference. If you are in a warmer zone, say zone 9 or 10, then it would be my guess that your local garden center is right in putting heucheras into the shade. Here in southern California, morning sun/afternoon shade is about as far as we can push the envelope, and dappled sun is even better.
Kay
Kato_b, that picture is gorgeous and makes me almost drool! It is such a shame that this species is so uncommon here.
Hmmm... Maybe regular Leucojum vernum is normally twin-flowered?
Please let me know if you will be able to get a few bulbs. Do you grow this in your own garden? How has it performed for you?
The photo was taken in another garden and the flowers are normally twin flowered. I have the single flowered version in my own garden but it's only just now recovering from a bulb fly attack which almost wiped it out!
They are easy to grow once they get going, but seem to do best in areas that stay wet. They get a little leafy after bloom but bloom so early it's another great late winter flower.
Mine are all done now but I did get one picture of the only bloom. I'll look into getting you a couple!
I have ZD and a different clem (viticella purpurea plena elegans) although the clem blooms the same time as jackmanii. Zepherine is a fairly early rose and has gone through the entire first flush by the time the clem begins to come on song. In the UK, we rarely get a good second flush with Zephy....but, because I do a summer prune, I do get fantastic new claret coloured growth in July/Aug which will look tremendous with a darker coloured clematis. Mine is a small flowered, deep red and harmonises with the new growth of Zepherine - the deep blue of the Jackmanii would look terrific too.
So, I was walking through the arbor where my ZD is, where I want to plant a clematis, and what do I see popping up at the base of the arbor? A clematis! LOL. I forgot I had planted a clematis there. I think it's a roguchi, and I think I plopped it there because it desperately needed to get out of its pot, so it's not a permanent home, at least not yet.
I did buy the jackmanii. I figure even if I don't pair it with the ZD, it's a good clematis to start with (not counting the roguchi, lol) and I'm sure I will enjoy it wherever I put it.
Thank you all for your help.
Dee
I have several of the Pow Wow ecinacea coming back. This is a first for me after many attempts. One thing I did differently was that i created a berm about 6 inches in height of soil mixed with ground pine bark fines ( sold as soil conditioner at Lowes). I Also planted them as early as I could get them and removed all the flowers they came with when I planted them. I lost three out of ten, but they died in August of some kind of fungul disease.
I lost three out of ten, but they died in August of some kind of fungul disease.
It is definitely not unusual to have health and or performance issues with coneflowers...read the link below.
Here is a link that might be useful: No more coneflowers for me
6 inches! Mine are still only half that (but look sturdy). Delphs are usually bone hardy so you could harden them off over the next week or so, then get them in the ground. But (there's always one of those), the worst thing about planting them out is not weather but exposure to the slug and snail hordes, all of which will crawl over any amount of coffee grounds, eggshells, brambles and dried holly leaves, to feast on gourmet delphinium.
When did you sow yours, Clairey? I did an October sowing and a January sowing - the early ones had to be chivvied over the winter and are actually weedier than the ones sown in Jan.
Just home from work and it's snowing steadily. The roads have hit that annoying state before the plows have any work to do, but they are surprisingly "greasy". We finished up 4 fixed frame awnings this morning and I smugly drove past the whole foods market secure in the knowledge that Shop 'n' Squat would have bulghar wheat in the "Birkenstock aisle" WRONG-O! I backtracked to the whole foods market for the bulghar... what I won't do for my winter-weary Idyllettes. ;) (made a mental note to spend more of our food dollars at the locally owned and operated whole foods market, too!).
Sue, we're in big trouble with this whole baby boom thing. I can almost feel pink and blue walls closing in on me... shudder. Kathy, this time I want to see some booties on the kid's feet. 'bug totally welched on the deal. I've been disconsolent ever since....
Marian, my grandmother used to use that phrase jokingly, but not exactly as it's usually heard. She always said it was a Scottish proverb (her family was from Nova Scotia) and that's all I really remember. So... I googled it this morning and turned up the little tidbits I shared earlier. I was particularly interested to find a similar sentiment echoed in different cultures, though not really surprised when I gave it some reflection. I chuckled at the image of Nolon lurking in the shadows waiting for breakfast... sounds like ME waiting for the helpmeet to rustle up some dinner-like chow! lol. Something else I thought about periodically at work today: early morning here in the temperate weather is invariably dew-y. I've never contemplated the possibility of early morning not being sort of humid and moist because I've never lived in an arid climate. So your casual mention of Idaho really made me think today. Ain't the internet great?
Denise, what a terrific exhibit the antique streetlights are. I am perpetually amazed at the inventiveness and "vision" of people. Two more Corgis?! combined with Ein you may just have the beginnings of a canine terrorist cell. ;) A Crabby Club, at the very least.
Saucy, my boss did her "winter thing" and flipped out about my preferred 6 AM start time. I was told I couldn't start at that time because it "stressed her out". So, I've sucked it up and gone in later (taking a reduction in hours) but have begun inching back closer to MY schedule. I have filled the "void" with more home work and time in the Salon, but it's time to get back on schedule, damnit. 300 is about the Spartan defence against the Persians at a crucial point of land, I believe. It's actually an amazing story of courage in the face of staggering odds... precisedly what one would expect from the warrior culture of Sparta. Didn't hear much favorable about the movie, but the real life history is very compelling. I took several classes in Greek history "way back when" and its history maintains a soft spot in my heart. I loved Classical Mythology, too. Tell us about the "little dogs" and how you plan to rustle 'em into shape. Did you catch the blip on the news about Georgia questioning the border with Tennessee... all about water rights. I thought of you instantly!
Martie, there was a great hour on NHNPR yesterday about anti-depressants and how they are now coming to believe that they're being overused for the general public. Drug therapy seems to be "quick fix" for the pain and doubt that plague major "events" in our lives. I was most impressed with the guest; his practical approach and his stalwart defence of the use of them for the mentally ill. Funny how I hear things over the course of the day and think of so many of you...
OK, the stove is now up to efficient operating temperature, the chill of a thermostat set at 60 is now being banished and I have to tend to a sink full of dishes before I may undertake the creation of Tabouli for tomorrow's fest. No onions, Sue... but there will be scallions (those are OK, right?).
OH, and Sue... thanks for the dates on the cottage, I'll pencil them in!
Hello guys, I am new to this forum. I have heard a lot about wedding receptions, but I do not know which one to choose. Las Vegas Wedding Photography I have heard about this Las Vegas wedding receptions. People say it is amazing. You get an unforgettable experience. Is it true? Please help!!
2 is possibly a jonquilla, 'Bellsong' maybe.
The multi-headed ones are likely to be Jonquillas or Tazettas (often fragrant) - no.3 looks a lot like 'Minnow'
The first one, with the really flat trumpet, looks like one of the split corona types such as Orangerie (might be division 11 or 12).
It's hard to do definite IDs on daffs unless you have an expert to ask.... but if they're newer common types I would guess 1) mondragon 2) precocious 3)not sure. I have falconet which is similar.... 4) maybe geranium? usually minnow is smaller and less stout than your daff. But again, it's hard unless you really know daffs.
I have 'Cinnamon Snow,' 'Regal Ruffles' plus a couple of others planted in a partly shaded area at the edge of my breezeway. 'Regal Ruffles' is the most mature and is currently putting on quite a show with more than two dozen blooms and as many buds yet to open. In my recent experience with them, these appear to be low-maintenance plants that give the early season garden some color and structural interest. Up to this point they also are apparently not bothered by predators or pests. What's not to love?
I only have various seedlings which I have collected from other people's gardens although Mr.Campanula drove 70 miles (laughable distance to Americans but we practically pack a suitcase here) to buy me a pure, clear yellow single (should get some interesting seedlings now).
I have never heard of plants such as Crimson Ruffles - we rarely get named plants over here apart from the 'Lady' series - although we can buy various breeder selections such as 'Ashwood' or Harvington Hybrids or Bradfield Stars - from the particular nursery which grows each strain. They tend to be Oriental hellebores, Hellebore X Hybridus. Many nurseries and seed catalogues will sell seed selections too, including Mrs Betty Ranicar....but seed is always a bit of a gamble.
I am personally loving the delicately nodding H.thibetanus and the smaller deep red flowers of H.atrorubens but have failed to hang on to H.lividus. The Christmas rose, H.niger is a bit dodgy too, although I do mean to try H.nigercors - it has taken me a while to come round to green flowers but having finally achieved a smidgeon of taste and sophistication (ahem)........
Right, so any bait you use would have to be something along the lines of Sluggo Plus that targets more than slugs and snails. Or agricultural grade DE.
I had issues with them one year when I had inadvertently created pill/sow bug habitat by letting a little 1" sedum spread around as ground cover, I removed that and the problem was solved.
You'll hear it said that they are only damaging in greenhouses, not so, they do like the tender growth of young plants as well as decayed plant material.
I still have not seen any blooms on any of the "Fire Spinner" plants. They multiplied like mad. If that sucker blooms it will be amazing. I moved one and was shocked at the root system on it. I've been told that the first year "Fire Spinner" establishes deep roots and it should bloom the next. I will definitely post photos if it blooms.
I've been told by the hybridizer that Delosperma 'Eye Candy' has now been renamed to Delosperma 'Ruby.'
Babs, your wisdom is invaluable. Thank you!
Well, just dig up whichever ones you don't and then pull up the seedlings as they occur. The seedlings have a very distinctive appearance - they are two-leaved (before the true leaves emerge) and usually red in colour. I thought I had a photo but unfortunately I don't... (and I haven't done it in so long that I can't remember how to post photos here anyway!) The seeds are ejected some distance from the parent plant but I'm sure you'll soon come to recognize the seedlings.
And nhbabs' warning about the sap is absolutely correct - wear gloves for handling plants in this genus. (I can get away with bare hands for pulling seedlings, but not for any work that might mean coming in contact with the sap - I have caused myself blisters from contact!)