MD being naive again. Beginners and occasional gardeners who just want something quick and easy to brighten up their garden will buy what's under their nose but not go looking very far and that means supermarkets, DIY stores and big name garden centres selling mass produced plants that are easy to propagate. Most people shop for plants on impulse so if they see something good at the supermarket and it does well they'll buy more and then, if they get the bug, they'll discover that supermarkets do limited ranges and they may well make the effort to explore other sources.
These days, to stay in business and attract new customers, specialist nurseries need to have a website and do mail order in order to reach a wider public but will always attract customers seeking something special and who have the time and means to travel about looking for it. People that far along in horticultural terms will know about the RHS and its Plant Finder and also that specialist nurseries are out there..
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I agree hostafan not everyone wants to go to garden centres or nurseries I think there is room for all sorts I personally use online shopping so much more for plants but also local nursery. Not keen on big garden centres which sell just about everything you can imagine but if it gets people gardening it can only be a good thing and I expect many of those who start out shopping at supermarkets for plants will go onto other retailers and if they don't want to that's up to them!
Just spent a while reading back over the posts. Had a laugh at the names that remotes get called. In our house it is the "telebobble" - goodness knows why. It is just as easy to say remote.
Dove. Did I read that you had a holiday coming up? Will you be able to go? When I broke my hip a couple of years ago, it was three weeks from our holiday on the south coast and although I got most of my money back, I dearly wish I had tried to go on crutches. We missed the next year too, as my mother died just as we were about to go. As both times were in May, we now never book in May just in case!
Exactly so Debs. Whatever sparks the interest is to be applauded.
Supermarket, specialist independent nursery, one off garden centre, chain garden centre, village fete, car boot sale, table sale outside someone's house. There's a place for everything.
I feel MD is, as often the case, deluded into thinking we all have access to unlimited funds and can shop at lovely artisan nurseries.
I think it's easy to forget the harsh economic facts of life when you live like Monty. One stop shopping is the norm Today so many working people are time-poor and do not have the luxury of gardening for a living!
I don't think it's Monty bashng at all. He just doesn't live in the real world of the majority of people rushing frantically between home, job, kids activities and so on. He doesn't even commute to his main work in the garden or the writing cabin so what can he know about life outside?
We ave had a funny day. This pm, himself lit the bonfire so we could clear it off what we know to be a paved/shingle area where we thought we'd put th egarden table. First mistake was not closing all the house windows first. Doh! Smoke blowing in the bedrooms and downstairs.
Then, after clearing away the ashes, he started raking it all level and discovered the gravelly stuff is laid on a fibrous, felty membrane which he partially lifted while raking. Decided to take it all up and sow grass and we'll put the table on another spot that has old building foundations. Turns out the membraned area is Huuuuuuuge. It's going to take a few days for him to clear. Oops.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
MD being naive again. Beginners and occasional gardeners who just want something quick and easy to brighten up their garden will buy what's under their nose but not go looking very far and that means supermarkets, DIY stores and big name garden centres selling mass produced plants that are easy to propagate. Most people shop for plants on impulse so if they see something good at the supermarket and it does well they'll buy more and then, if they get the bug, they'll discover that supermarkets do limited ranges and they may well make the effort to explore other sources.
These days, to stay in business and attract new customers, specialist nurseries need to have a website and do mail order in order to reach a wider public but will always attract customers seeking something special and who have the time and means to travel about looking for it. People that far along in horticultural terms will know about the RHS and its Plant Finder and also that specialist nurseries are out there..
Totally agree Obs.
Anything which gets folk ,especially NON gardeners picking up plants is a good thing.
Once they get home they have to plant stuff,and maybe think , let's get more stuff/ clear this up a bit etc.
I bought 1st class clematis from Morrisons last year for £5 and hostas for £2.50.
All good, Unless you're sitting in an ivory tower wondering how to spend your vast fortune.
I've said before , when I worked in professional horticulture for 25 years, MD's opinions were always scoffed at by fellow professionals.
For Joyce and DD ,
http://thescribtree.co.uk/
reading back, ?
A A Milne
I agree hostafan not everyone wants to go to garden centres or nurseries I think there is room for all sorts I personally use online shopping so much more for plants but also local nursery. Not keen on big garden centres which sell just about everything you can imagine but if it gets people gardening it can only be a good thing and I expect many of those who start out shopping at supermarkets for plants will go onto other retailers and if they don't want to that's up to them!
Hi all,
Just spent a while reading back over the posts. Had a laugh at the names that remotes get called. In our house it is the "telebobble" - goodness knows why. It is just as easy to say remote.
Dove. Did I read that you had a holiday coming up? Will you be able to go? When I broke my hip a couple of years ago, it was three weeks from our holiday on the south coast and although I got most of my money back, I dearly wish I had tried to go on crutches. We missed the next year too, as my mother died just as we were about to go. As both times were in May, we now never book in May just in case!
Exactly so Debs. Whatever sparks the interest is to be applauded.
Supermarket, specialist independent nursery, one off garden centre, chain garden centre, village fete, car boot sale, table sale outside someone's house. There's a place for everything.
I feel MD is, as often the case, deluded into thinking we all have access to unlimited funds and can shop at lovely artisan nurseries.
LP, thanks for the link. I must try and go sometime as it's just off the A70 and there's no way I could miss it.
I think it's easy to forget the harsh economic facts of life when you live like Monty. One stop shopping is the norm Today so many working people are time-poor and do not have the luxury of gardening for a living!
Oh dear, I had no intention of starting a Monty bashing session. Must be more careful with what I post
I don't think it's Monty bashng at all. He just doesn't live in the real world of the majority of people rushing frantically between home, job, kids activities and so on. He doesn't even commute to his main work in the garden or the writing cabin so what can he know about life outside?
We ave had a funny day. This pm, himself lit the bonfire so we could clear it off what we know to be a paved/shingle area where we thought we'd put th egarden table. First mistake was not closing all the house windows first. Doh! Smoke blowing in the bedrooms and downstairs.
Then, after clearing away the ashes, he started raking it all level and discovered the gravelly stuff is laid on a fibrous, felty membrane which he partially lifted while raking. Decided to take it all up and sow grass and we'll put the table on another spot that has old building foundations. Turns out the membraned area is Huuuuuuuge. It's going to take a few days for him to clear. Oops.