Re: Burpee/Heronswood where are they headed?
Hi Marge,
Of course you are right,and appreciate your forcing me to 'get real'..
Lazy man's mentality to fall into that trap of thinking 'in the box'
I.E.if one or two sources become main stream ,all is lost..
Reconsidering my statement has made me realize that more and more I am
searching out seed to meet my requirements..
The results has been very rewarding and grateful now for the 'changes'
that brought that about...As always you bring insight and the data to
back it up......
Thanks,
Connie
Marge Talt wrote:
> Connie,
>
> Seems to me that, at least at present, so many new species are being
> introduced to cultivation by our current generation of intrepid plant
> hunters that there is a pretty vast supply of 'new' plants that won't
> be on the mass market too soon.
>
> Really, seems the object in horticulture is to spread the word and
> get the largest number of people possible growing the largest number
> of plants possible. I'm for that as, personally, it is the plant I
> care about and not whether or not it's "new" or "rare" or offered by
> Home Despot or only obscure specialist growers. The important thing
> is for a plant to be grown and not lost to cultivation, which many
> hundreds are. RHS Plant Finder lists species and cultivars who are
> not available that were in past years and if you read any of the old
> gardening books, say by Gertrude Jekyl, you not only find plants
> whose names have changed, but plants that you couldn't find for love
> nor money anymore.
>
> There are also many plants who do not lend themselves to tissue
> culture or massive production, who will always be rare. Try to find
> any Veratrum species at any nurseries this side of the pond. I
> haven't yet (anybody who does know of a nursery selling this, please
> let me know!). I keep trying to grow these from seed, with very
> indifferent success.
>
> IMO, there are more lesser known plants than not and always will be.
> There are literally thousands of species of plants out there who are
> garden worthy. Most nurseries carry only a very limited list of what
> can be grown. Mass markets carry an even more limited list. I am
> always coming across a plant name on email lists or in seed lists
> that I have never heard of and have no earthly what it even looks
> like. Check out the NARGS seed list for some pretty obscure numbers,
> most of whom will never make it into the mass market.
>
> http://www.nargs.org/seed/exchange.html
>
> So, I say don't worry about running out of plants for the 'different
> drummer'...just keep your eyes out, you'll find them:-)
>
> My 2 cents FWIW.
>
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@clark.net
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> ----------
> > From: connie k.hoy <coneh@qwest.net>
> > Date: Thursday, February 01, 2001 3:05 PM
> >
> > Al,and interested others.
> > I had an interesting converstion with a Plant Broker of late
> Which in many
> > respects confirms your thoughts on this subject.
> > During this converstion he said what they aspire to,and are working
> on is to
> > 'clean-up'(remove virus',vector traits,etc.)from rare or little
> known, (at least
> > here in the USA) perennials and then bring them to market ..
> >
> > While I cant fault this I am curious how others are taking to the
> potential of
> > mass marketing what here to fore were if not rare were at least
> 'little known'
> > offerings.
> > Care to share your thoughts..??
> > I will go first in saying that is seems to be my nature to seek
> that which is
> > 'off-beat',lesser known..
> > My real concern comes with more and more of these becoming
> mainstream ,how will I
> > satisfy my 'marches to a different drummer'gardening nature.?
> > Connie
> >
> >
> >
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