What's on your wish list or what's new in your garden?

@Verdun - very true, with a more interesting range than typical garden centres. But if they are also buying in the plants, eg olive trees, then unfortunately they usually cannot compete with the bulk buying power of Morrisons.

 

@noisette47 - if you do have fresh seeds I'd love some please - and swap you things... or pay postage.
@alp - I have clematis Freckles - it's still flowering now even though flowered through winter. Do you want seed heads or cuttings?

 

Oh yes they can CarolineL....down here anyway.
And the quality.......usually superb.
I have a very large nursery a mile from me and is my first port of call. Greater variety of plants than my local Wyevale, for example, bigger and half the price.
If the plant is not available the nursery owner can usually get it.
But if Morrisons have a bargain grab it

 

I do agree: however, I would not class Morrison's Supermarket on a par with GC's

I *would* say that they offer plants at a thoroughly discounted price (which would leave local nurseries and even GC's aghast!) which is fab for the customer, but not so for the likes of GC's and specialist nurseries.

I can hold my hand up and state I have not only cashed in on the Morrison's bandwagon, but, even go as far as stating that the quality of the range they do sell has been top job with no complaints!

However: stuffing shelves full of the same product, all round, at all stores, at bargain prices, does mean that gardens become very ... ... "samesy" ... North, South, East and West. Plus, ASDA have cashed into the Morri band wagon and sell the same variety of plants.

Therefore, I would suggest, if local nurseries are to stay on top of the game, they not only have to compete on price for those same plants (market forces), but - and most importantly - they need to be offering something *other* than the quick-buck supermarkets. That would avoid the "samesy" look of many gardens

By that same token, many households would be thrilled to thru'penny bits simply to have a flourishing garden of any kind (I count myself thus ) and that is a good thing for beginner gardeners (and not to be sniffed at!) until the point arises whereby one moves a little to the right of "beginner" and wants something with an air of difference and a dabble of sophistication to challenge the mind and soul and take that person above and beyond the "beginner" level Cue specialist nurseries!!!!

Personally, without the likes of Morrisons, my gardening successes/knowledge/aptitude would have involved numerous, expensive exploits ... predominantly laced with big fat failures!

So, I think there is a time and place for the supermarket "sell 'em high; sell 'em cheap" model if it should then progress to a person seeing their successes and then deciding to explore further into the world garden centres (in-betweenies) or nurseries (specialisms)

Each has it's time and place

 

@CarolineL I'd would to have seeds please as it's unfair for you to post a plant. Would you like some helleborus seeds or yellow echinacea seeds in return please?

Thank you so much. I went scavenging for big pots and bamboo canes in this lady's house and her freckles still had flowers and green leaves. I so want to hide my horrible fences which are full of holes.

I went all the way to Grays to the big Morrisons only to find a tiny garden section. Went to the near one, but nothing exciting. I must say I was well chuffed to get all the lovely fuchsias for £1 each. Do hope they expand the range of their stock. Same old clematises ... Virginia creeper and pyracanthus .. Was disappointed on Wednesday as there was nothing worth buying.

 

@alp - I'll send some seed heads if you pm me but I'll also try to root some cuttings - that way you'll get something true to type.
@Verdun - yes, in Cornwall you have so many local PROPER nurseries - it is so unfair I have bought from some of them by post, but the mailing costs are pretty hefty.

 

I will pm you, @CarolineL Thank you for the kind thought. I'd never thought of that.

 

These. No idea.. I took them in Florida.

 

Hi Linz,
The last one is Ctenanthe Oppenheimerii Tricolor.

A relative of the Maranta grown over here as a house plant, needs warmth and a lot of spraying.

Mine's about 5' high and 4' wide.

 

No problem I do know what you mean though, about waiting for years for something to flower, only for it to be a disappointment. I try to convince myself that the single flowers with a pale blotch are really much more classy than doubles with a distinctive blotch...without much success Pm me your address and I'll send some asap.

 

The last one is indeed striking.

 

@CarolineL That is so kind- thank you very much and yes please! I would cover p&p of course and perhaps I have something here I could offer you as a swap in due course.

 

Clare and Ken (canine garden apprentice) Haha!

You'd better wake him up or he will learn nothing! What a lovely pic though..

 

@CarolineL I feel so out of depth here. I've never heard of Rucus and I will only have it if you have something from me please..