Re: plectranthus, P. Sheild et al

**H*@aol.com**

I've noticed similar trends regarding the threads here.  When I  started my 
nursery in the late 1970's we were able to out compete much larger  growers 
because they offered the same old thing year after year...and they still  do. We 
sought out the unique, propagated it then grew large crops for local  
distribution.  I was in the business though when perennials were in their  rebirth and 
the Perennial Plant Association was in it's birth.  There were  hundreds of 
growers who were growing unique plants all over the country but I  suspect that 
now some 30 years later many of them have retired or like  me....sold out to 
the larger guys who wanted their territory back to sell the  same old same 
old.  So now here I am traveling near and far trying to find  unusual perennials 
for my new garden and seems we're back to the same old same  old..a dozen 
hosta, a dozen peonies, maybe a new shasta every year or so, same  with coreopsis 
etc., etc..  But one thing still holds true...if you want  unique perennials 
you either need to find a garden center that grows their  own...and that's as 
rare as a perennial hollyhock...or you need to buy by mail  (internet).  
There's still great stuff available from niche growers all  over the country and 
Canada and as long as you order early and are willing  to grow them on for size 
you can still find some really great stuff.  I  think what garden writers need 
to do is to get as many of the mail order and  internet catalogs as possible 
and actually read them.  Become familiar with  the growers, their shipping 
methods and reliability...then write tons about the  good ones and simply ignore 
the bad.  It takes a good deal longer to  establish gardens this way but it's 
how you get great gardens these days.

Andrew Messinger
The Hampton Gardener

The Hampton Gardener is a Registered Trade  Mark
(Published every Thursday in the Southampton Press)

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