On-line is potentially great if you know what you want, and if you find a good on-line nursery. What you don't really get with on-line is the opportunity to spot something different as you walk around, as in a physical nursery.
I agree - It is nice to wander around a good garden centre or nursery or open gardens; either to get ideas or to pick up the plants that you see "in the flesh". Online can't replace that experience unfortunately...
A bit of an over statement to say that garden centres don't stock anything 'different'. Pretty much true of Wyevale I agree, but there is a garden centre about 15 miles from where I live which is part of a smaller chain and they do stock 'different' stuff. I wouldn't bother going that far afield otherwise.
They have diversified greatly too over the years, but there is no doubting that their main purpose is the sale of plants and all things garden related.
They also have an area where they put plants which have either passed their flowering period, or are simply not looking great. They are still well looked after, unlike some places where they are just dumped in a corner with a 'reduced' sticker on them. As I am still remodelling our garden it's a great place to find stock.
I was surprised at how many types of hardy geranium there were for example until I came across Longacres Plants for Shade. I now regard them as 'local' as you get the plants usually within 48 hours.
The nursery I use currently lists 13 Astilbes, 27 Geraniums, 25 Iris, a couple of dozen Heucheras/heucherellas ...I could go on. I doubt my local GC stocks more than a couple of Astilbe varieties and probably only a handful of Geraniums and Iris. Their benches of perennials don't cover a very big area. Last time I was there I had a choice of three Iris.
The garden part is very small compared to the rest of the site. I know they have costs to cover over winter when many people aren't gardening as such, but it's quite sad. It's also the reason why everyone's gardens look the same!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think you've completely misunderstood what I said Redwing.
Up here - many gardens are full of Rhodies, Azaleas, Pieris, heathers etc because traditionally that's what grows well. That's fair enough, but the lack of choice in our GCs means many people are buying the same plants, so the gardens become similar. If people could just experiment a little more, there would be better diversity, and it would be great to see more variation in styles, but it's difficult to achieve that if they don't have the choice locally.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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Verdun you're still not funny!
On-line is potentially great if you know what you want, and if you find a good on-line nursery. What you don't really get with on-line is the opportunity to spot something different as you walk around, as in a physical nursery.
Any suggestions for good on-liners??
I agree - It is nice to wander around a good garden centre or nursery or open gardens; either to get ideas or to pick up the plants that you see "in the flesh". Online can't replace that experience unfortunately...
A bit of an over statement to say that garden centres don't stock anything 'different'. Pretty much true of Wyevale I agree, but there is a garden centre about 15 miles from where I live which is part of a smaller chain and they do stock 'different' stuff. I wouldn't bother going that far afield otherwise.
They have diversified greatly too over the years, but there is no doubting that their main purpose is the sale of plants and all things garden related.
They also have an area where they put plants which have either passed their flowering period, or are simply not looking great. They are still well looked after, unlike some places where they are just dumped in a corner with a 'reduced' sticker on them. As I am still remodelling our garden it's a great place to find stock.
I agree with you on the above, Verdun.
I was surprised at how many types of hardy geranium there were for example until I came across Longacres Plants for Shade. I now regard them as 'local' as you get the plants usually within 48 hours.
I've also being using Avon Bulbs for years.
The nursery I use currently lists 13 Astilbes, 27 Geraniums, 25 Iris, a couple of dozen Heucheras/heucherellas ...I could go on. I doubt my local GC stocks more than a couple of Astilbe varieties and probably only a handful of Geraniums and Iris. Their benches of perennials don't cover a very big area. Last time I was there I had a choice of three Iris.
The garden part is very small compared to the rest of the site. I know they have costs to cover over winter when many people aren't gardening as such, but it's quite sad. It's also the reason why everyone's gardens look the same!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don't think everyone's garden looks the same.
I think you've completely misunderstood what I said Redwing.
Up here - many gardens are full of Rhodies, Azaleas, Pieris, heathers etc because traditionally that's what grows well. That's fair enough, but the lack of choice in our GCs means many people are buying the same plants, so the gardens become similar. If people could just experiment a little more, there would be better diversity, and it would be great to see more variation in styles, but it's difficult to achieve that if they don't have the choice locally.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...